Quote from Forum Archives on November 12, 2001, 2:32 am

Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>

Standing Shoulder To Shoulder Together As We
Fight the Good Fight of Faith

A personal letter of encouragement to you, written solely to "lift up hands that hang down".

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SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #202 ---- 11/12/01

TITLE: "True Patriotism"

My Dear Friend and Fellow Soldier in the Trenches:

What a privilege it is to greet you at the end of such a special day . . . . Veterans' Day here in the United States. When I think about it, I am reminded again of just how privileged I am to be able to write letters each week to you, and how honored I am to count you as a friend and partner in the greatest cause in the world . . . . the proclamation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are both of all people most blessed with such an honor.

ODDS AND ENDS:

1. It is not good for me to write too much late on Sunday nights! (Though here I am doing it again!) Not only does my grammar suffer, but I can even age a person far beyond his actual years. My father will be only 87 and not 97, as I stated last week.

2. Here's a great opportunity for you and your people to bless others. The national shoe box collection week for Operation Christmas Child is only days away: November 12-19. There's still time to pack a shoe box and brighten the heart of a needy child this Christmas season. Visit Operation Christmas Child at this address www.samaritanspurse.org/index.asp?section=Operation+Christmas+Child&subsection=How+To+Pack+A+Shoe+Box to find out how easy and fun this can be. (Filling a shoe box makes a great family activity!) If your shoe box is already packed, visit www.samaritanspurse.org to find the drop-off location nearest you.

3. I remember this event years ago. Thanks to a good friend who sent this provocative article to me:

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And Nobody Listened!

In a University of North Carolina lecture several weeks ago they played a video of Oliver North during the Iran-Contra deals during the Reagan administration. There was Ollie in front of God and Country getting the third degree by some senator.
'Did you not recently spend close to $60,000 for a home security system?'
Oliver replied, 'Yes I did sir.'

The senator continued, trying to get a laugh out of the audience, 'Isn't this just a little excessive?'

'No sir,' continued Oliver.

'No. And why not?'

'Because the life of my family and I were threatened.'

'Threatened? By who.'

'By a terrorist, sir.'

'Terrorist? What terrorist could possibly scare you that much?'

'His name is Osama bin Laden.'

At this point the senator tried to repeat the name, but couldn't pronounce it. A couple of people laughed at the attempt. Then the senator continued. 'Why are you so afraid of this man?'

'Because sir, he is the most evil person alive that I know of.'

'And what do you recommend we do about him?'

'If it were me I would recommend an assassin team be formed to eliminate him and his men from the face of the earth.'

Naturally the senator disagreed with this approach and that was all they showed of the clip.

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3. My pastor friend, Tom, sent this one. Hopefully it will bless you.

If you can start the day without caffeine;
If you can always be cheerful;
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it;
If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you any time;
If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong;
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment;
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend;
If you can honestly say that deep within your heart you have no prejudice against creed, color, religion, or politics;

Then you are almost as good as your dog!

4. For those who discount the spiritual roots of our country and who claim President Washington was a Universalist, consider this prayer he offered: "Direct my thoughts, words, and work, wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by the Holy Spirit. . . . Daily frame me more and more in the likeness of Thy Son, Jesus Christ."

TRUE PATRIOTISM:

For those of us in America, this is a special season of the year containing several national holidays that are part of our fiber as a country. Some are days of purely sentimental value while others speak strongly of our history, our heritage, and our hope that drives us as a nation. Three such days are Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas.

Today as I write to you, it is Veterans' Day. Though we now call it "Remembrance Day", I still like "Veterans' Day". Originating after World War I as an effort to honor those who died therein, it speaks clearly of its purpose ---- to honor all those who have served in our military branches of government defending and protecting our land and our liberties.

I remember as a boy how each Memorial Day in May and each Veterans' Day in November I would watch the parades and go to the cemeteries filled with uniform grave markers and lined with American flags, where I would stand in silent participation in the ceremonies held on those sacred sites. I was fortunate to live in Springfield, Illinois on two separate occasions not far from the home and the tomb of Abraham Lincoln,one of America's greatest presidents. My favorite playing and bike riding territory was Lincoln Park just six blocks from home.

Days such as these still make me feel very patriotic. Whenever I see the American flag flying in the breeze, something wells up inside that makes me proud to be an American. In spite of our many flaws and failures, America is still absolutely the greatest country in the world, no exceptions.

However . . . . .

There is something that really bothers me about all this.

For several weeks, especially since the 911 call came, I've had this gnawing feeling that not everything we think, feel, do, and see pertaining to America is actually all that patriotic. In actuality there probably aren't as many true patriots in our country as we would like to think. It may well be that I'm not nearly as patriotic as I think I am. Simply flying the American flag, pasting bumper stickers all over my car, or having my eyes well up with tears when I sing the "National Anthem" or "God Bless America" neither means I'm patriotic or that I'm a real patriot.

True Patriotism goes far deeper than that.

True patriotism declares, "give me liberty, or give me death", rather than "give me the right to be happy and safe". Unfortunately, much of what we are seeing right now is more nostalgia than it is true patriotism. And, it's alright to be nostalgic . . . . . just don't call it being patriotic.

True patriotism is a lifestyle, not a momentary reaction to a crisis. True patriotism suffers long, rather than bravely being inconvenienced momentarily. Patriotism is much deeper than wells of emotion gushing forth in a moment of crisis. It is broader than and more substantive than "baseball, hotdogs, and Mom's apple pie".

So, all of this has set me to forming some type of definition, or, better yet, description of true patriotism. It would do us good to be sure we know what it is, and what it isn't. Otherwise, we'll end up with a deceptive conclusion as to our level of true patriotism.

So, for what it's worth, here's what I see patriotism to be:

1. True Patriotism has a Cause that is just and honorable. This is what drove the men and women of the Revolution to forsake all and do what they did. This is what led people like Washington, Jefferson, Hancock, Franklin, Hale, Revere, and others to risk all they owned, all they loved, and their own lives in order to see a new nation become a reality. Patriotism without a cause is not patriotism; it is nothing more than reckless rebellion looking for an excuse.

2. True Patriotism has a Country that is worth appreciating, defending, and even dying for. Is it possible to be patriotic if you have no country? I'm not sure . . . . but it doesn't seem likely. A person without a country is an alien in a far away land. How can you be patriotic about that? When we begin to take our country for granted, we cease being patriotic.

3. True Patriotism has Character that creates a solid foundation. That character has both the elements of integrity and honor. When you read the stories of our forefathers, you realize they were men and women of integrity and honor. True patriotism has character that declares that certain things are not only worth dying for, but also worth living for. And the living of it will manifest it with integrity, honesty, and honor.

4. True Patriotism has Consistency. It is not conditional to crises or momentary events. It manifests itself in good times and casual times as well as times of crisis such as we have recently experienced. But what about the days of peace, prosperity, and security. What about those times when things are going so well that we feel completely unthreatened, and when God is in His heaven and all is right with the world? True patriotism raises its standard even during those time. It is neither a "fair weather" feeling or an opportunistic sensation. True patriotism manifests itself in the home and on the job as faithfully and enthusiastically as it does at a ball game or at Ground Zero in New York City.

5. True Patriotism has Conduct that is consistent with its cause and character. It is so important to the genuine patriot, that he's not only willing to give blood or run into a burning building to rescue somebody, but he is also willing to respect and support his leaders, obey traffic laws, be honest with his income tax returns, and keep silent when tempted to criticize or bad mouth somebody with whom he is displeased.

Well, there are probably other elements of true patriotism that I've missed. But, one thing is clear to me . . . . .

In some ways, genuine patriotism is much like real discipleship. Maybe Biblical discipleship could be described as . . . .

SPIRITUAL PATRIOTISM:

Is it appropriate to think that there is such a thing as spiritual patriotism? Maybe . . . . or maybe not. At the moment, it seems to me there are certainly some valid parallels.

1. Is it not possible . . . . no, is it not necessary that in order for our Christian faith to be valid, there must be a cause that is just and honorable? If there is no cause, then why be a follower of Jesus Christ? He'd be no different than any other religious leader or teacher . . . . except in one way: He'd be the biggest liar the world has ever known. If the Gospel has to cause, . . . . no reason, then what good is it? So maybe there is such a thing as spiritual patriotism . . . . something that drives us to follow Jesus for a cause greater than any country's cause . . . . . that all the world should be saved through Him.

2. Then what about a country? It is because of a country . . . . yes, even a kingdom . . . . . that is worth promoting, proclaiming, and dying for. Ask Peter, Paul, Huss, Zwingli, Martin Luther, Bill Wallace, and others. Ask John Weaver, a young American missionary in northern Afghanistan who refuses to leave his post even though all other missionaries have fled to safety. Is it only because he believes in the country of Afghanistan and its people, or is it because he knows of another country whose leader is anxious for millions of Afghanis to come there someday? It's true, . . . . we have a kingdom not governed by mere man, but rather by our King.

3. Let's consider character. True discipleship, or "spiritual patriotism" is contingent on true character. Whatever things are true, just, honest, . . . . you get the picture. If a person is truly "patriotic" as to kingdom work, he will neither intentionally mar the good name of the Lord Jesus Christ nor mutilate his own testimony and reputation before men by compromising matters of character. He will be a person of integrity and honor who is trustworthy, true, honest, and just. Spiritual patriotism requires it and is impossible without it.

4. Spiritual patriotism also manifests itself in consistency in our walk with Christ and our example before men. No matter whether it's in the heat of revival, the thrill of a great praise service, or the darkness of a hospital room filled with hopelessness, that disciple will be consistent in his walk with Christ. He will not be like the proverbial reed in the wind, bending whichever way is convenient. He will never yield to compromise; yet, at the same time, he will never lose his compassion. Even when he must speak the truth when it hurts, he will do so with love and with grace. He will walk a straight path with a steady gait.

5. Finally, true discipleship conducts itself in a way that mirrors both the cause and the character of its King. Old fashioned traits such as love, joy, peace, gentleness, meekness, longsuffering, and self control will be its trademarks. "What you see is what you get" will be its motto. It will heed the admonition that "no unwholesome word proceeds out of your mouth, but only that which edifies . . . ". It will go the second mile, and the third, and the forth, . . . . and as far as it takes in order to lift up the hands that hang down or help a brother get further along the way by carrying his burden for him.

FINALLY:

So . . . . as I finish my letter nearing the midnight hour this Veteran's Day, I'm so glad these days have given us opportunity to demonstrate our patriotism again in such a deep and meaningful way. I'm proud to be American, and I'm grateful for being American.

But, I'm more grateful for the opportunity to learn a little more deeply what it means to be spiritually patriotic . . . . . to be a faithful, loyal, follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You see, being a patriotic American requires that one be an American. But, being spiritually patriotic is for all believers around the world. And, frankly, that's much more exciting than being a patriotic American.

So . . . . hello, there, patriot! I'm glad I can march alongside you in this incredible parade of the ages, heading toward our final country . . . . and our coming King!

Have a great week . . . . . and show your patriotism!

In His Bond and for His Glory,

Bob Tolliver -- Rom 1:11-12
Copyright November, 2001

Life Unlimited Ministries
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