America, the Land of Liberty

Everywhere we look these days it seems like there is someone else screaming about the injustices of the United States.

• We were terrible to the blacks
• We were terrible to the native Americans 
• We were terrible to the poor
• We were terrible to the Chinese 

Turns out Columbus was a bad person. So was, the way many tell it today, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln. Oh forget it! It’s useless trying to name all the scum that has surfaced in the history of the US.

But I listened to the final episode of a podcast called Revolutions. The host did not publicly note the significance of this, but he did remark that, in 1848, at the bitter end of all the world revolutions of that year, all of those failed revolutionaries fled for their lives to, you guessed it, the United States.

Truth be told they weren’t the only ones making their way to America. They came from Spain, France, Russia, Ireland, Germany. Name the place, name the culture, name the race, creed or religion and you will find people from them who came here for a better life. Did it work out for everyone? Of course not. Success in life is not guaranteed by governments, no matter how beneficent. But they did come and they did have a chance, and many more of them than not did improve their place over where they had been.

No one has ever claimed the earliest people in our country were perfect. But I for one am thankful for the country they created and I am thankful to be a part of it.

“I pledge allegiance to the flag

Of the United States of America

And to the Republic for which it stands

One nation under God, indivisible 

With liberty and justice for all”

Marvin McKenzie

In the fields

Our Nation's Flag at Half Mast

Our nation's flag is at half mast today — an action meant to recognize the useless violence upon the victims and families of the Las Vegas shooting.
These were innocents. Moms, Dads, Sons, Daughters, Brothers and Sisters murdered for - whatever the reason, it is no good reason.
Details are sparse at this early hour. We have no clue why or how a man was able to gather a collection of guns into a high rise hotel room where he killed fifty eight and injured another five hundred fifteen that we have knowledge of so far before turning the gun on himself.
Police, FBI and Homeland Security will investigate. They will do their best to find out why he did what he did, how he did what he did and what we might do to prevent such acts in the future.
For now all we can do is pray for those in the hospital and the families of those who have died. Our President, in a speech given shortly after the shootings, offered words of Bible and of comfort for the victims. He did one other thing - he ordered the flag representing our nation to be flown at half mast.
This is why refusal to stand at our national anthem is such a wicked thing. This is why it is not an issue of free speech or a statement of moral injustice. This is why Americans have reacted so negatively to the movement of disrespect.

This flag represents - us.
It represents those who have gone before us. Those who left home and loved ones to create a new home is this land. Those who dreamed of a new kind of government, one built on the principle that all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. Those who fought and died for that new government. Those who brought it into being. Those who forged the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
It represents the soldiers. Men and women who, for these two hundred forty-one years, have defended those principles. It represents the law enforcement personnel, the legislative, judicial and executive branches of our country who have made it to function.
More than that, it represents - us.
Common Americans who live and work right here - in the United States of America . Christians and non-Christians alike who get educated, get jobs, get married and raise kids, grow old, and die.
When we salute the flag we give honor not merely to the principles America was built upon but the people America is composed of.

The 45th President

Donald John Trump was sworn in today as the 45^th President of the United States of America. His inaugural speech was unique from those of recent memory.

Trump’s speech was not great by any means. He is not a polished orator. His gestures are far too repetitive and distracting. He cites no grand references to men of the past. He made few statements that will live on in the minds of thinkers or in the speeches of others to follow.[1]

Trump offered little to reconcile the parties. He spoke just as he did on the campaign and, honestly, just as plain Americans wanted him to. He evoked our confidence that he, perhaps for the first time since our founders led this nation, will work from the position of American interests and not political ones. He wasn’t trying to get himself re-elected in four years already. He wasn’t ensuring his party has favor in the future. 

President Trump rose to the podium to announce an interest in advancing the United States of America, and with it – Americans.

Here’s praying that he can do it!

Marvin McKenzie

In the fields

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[1] I did appreciate the phrase, “When you open your heart to patriotism there is no room for prejudice.”

The Patriotic Principle

In view of the upcoming Memorial Day it seemed appropriate to place this larger piece in the blog today. I am in complete agreement that country, patriotism and memorializing men should not cloud out the worship of Christ on Sunday. To have respect for those who have given their lives for our nation, that must be once again instilled in us.

This is the first chapter of a small book I wrote entitled, The Patriotic Principle

1 Peter 2:13-15
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: (KJV)

Would patriotism be right if you lived in - RUSSIA? Or, is it right to be patriotic only if you live in the United States? It all depends on what you mean by patriotism. The word itself means allegiance, and loyalty.

We could define patriotism as GOOD CITIZENSHIP and in that light it does not matter what country you are from, good citizenship ought to be the norm for the Christian.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PATRIOTISM
A. Pray for those in Authority
1 Timothy 2:1-3
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; (KJV)

Our first and most important responsibility is to pray for those in authority. We Christians should know the names of as many in authority as possible, and earnestly, genuinely pray for them. Not just the
• President
• Senate and Legislators
• The mayor
• The police officers
• The firemen
• Judges

The more of these people we can pray for by name, the better.
B. Submit to their leadership
1 Peter 2:13-15
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: (KJV)
We are to obey the laws our government establishes.

C. Pay your taxes
Romans 13:6-7
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. (KJV)

Along with paying the taxes that are due we are to give honor to those in authority; treat them with respect.

D. In our country, vote.
This is not the privilege of every country. However, here in the United States, we have the right to influence our country through the vote, and it should be considered the responsibility of every Christian to exercise their vote for moral good.

PATRIOTISM IS "BOUNDARYLESS"
A. It is unbounded by time.

Patriotism was first seen in the Jewish community during Moses' day. And, in fact, patriotism was instilled in them because of their religion. Their nation was so tied to their faith that they almost could not help but be patriotic.
• Their first and second national leaders were both divinely called.
• Their land was divinely given
• Their government was divinely ordered

So, the principle of patriotism reaches far earlier than just in our own country's 235 year history.

B. It is unbounded by nationality.
Patriotism is not just an American thing, it is a Christian thing. We have just said that the Jewish race is a patriotic people. But, the principle of patriotism holds true for all other nations as well.
• Russia
• Germany
• Japan
• England
• France

The responsibilities of good citizenship hold true no matter what country you are from. The United States has a unique type of patriotism though. It is more than good citizenship. It springs from the belief that our country was founded for something special.

Just as the Jews saw themselves as a unique nation, called out by God for His own purpose
• America has a heritage that is unique.
• America has been uniquely blessed. And
• America has been uniquely used to influence this world for right.

I would remind you, however that just as God removed His blessings from Israel because she fell away from God, God can, and may already have, remove His hand of blessing from America.

THE LIMITS OF PATRIOTISM
Acts 5:29
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (KJV)

A. Our responsibility to obey stops when the government wants us to disobey God.
• Daniel prayed to God even when there was a law against it.
• The three Hebrews wouldn't pray to the statue even when there was a law to do it.
• The Apostles witnessed for Christ even when ordered not to

B. Our responsibility stops ONLY at that point.
In every one of these cases, these men were still obedient to all other responsibilities of good citizenship.

C. Our responsibility to give honor does not stop even at that point.
In each one of the above cases you will find that they still paid honor and respect to these men for the positions they held.