Dear Friends,
These weekly letters were originally inspired by MaryAnn Nguyen-Kwok, who was an associate pastor at Coast Vineyard before becoming the senior pastor of Chinese Community Church in Tierrasanta. Last week, as we were coming up on Independence Day, she posted on Facebook her weekly letter to the congregation at Chinese Community Church. It explains the difference between patriotism and nationalism. I found it helpful and thought you might too. So I've included it below instead of my own weekly letter.
Michelle
Dear church,
It’s almost July 4th. Every year, our family has a tradition on the 4th where we take a family photo. Then, when the kids were little, we’d go watch a local parade. But more recently, we’d just slip over to my sister’s backyard to watch some fireworks from a distance. We do this because we feel a sense of gratitude to be a part of a country that holds the tenets that all people are created equal and where freedom is given to make personal choices. As a child of immigrants, I have a keen awareness that if it weren’t for these founding principles, I would not be who I am today: a healthy, happy human being, a Christian, a pastor, or have a loving partner who treats me as an equal, or a parent to two amazing teens. This country was the space where these things could happen, and so I’m grateful. But at the same time, I know it was ultimately God who brought all of it about. And it’s to God that I feel an outpouring of gratitude on this day.
My gratitude for this nation is what is called patriotism. Patriotism is defined as a love for one’s country and its foundational principles, while also allowing and welcoming constructive criticism for the possibility of improvement.
But, patriotism differs from nationalism.
As we approach Independence Day, I’d like to take this opportunity to address a movement called nationalism that has gained popularity. As your pastor, it’s my responsibility to teach you the distinction and to warn you against this unbiblical ideology.
Nationalism is an ideology that asserts one's nation is superior to all others, demanding unquestioning loyalty and prioritizing that nation above other nations. It seeks to merge earthly political power with the spiritual mission of Christ. Some have put the word “Christian” in front of the word “nationalism” to gain followers, but in reality, the Bible reveals that the ideology of nationalism contradicts Jesus’ teachings and God’s heart.
Here are a few reasons:
1. The Kingdom of God is not of this world. In John 18:36, Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” God’s Kingdom is a spiritual kingdom that Jesus inaugurated at the cross and tomb and that will one day come in fullness. In contrast, nationalism goes against this teaching as it seeks to establish an earthly, political utopia instead of focusing on the eternal, spiritual Kingdom that Jesus inaugurated.
2. The Kingdom of God is multi-ethnic and global and not defined by one ethnicity nor a geopolitical boundary. Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." In contrast, nationalism exalts one geopolitical nation as superior to others and can lead to exalting one race over all others (e.g. it can provide a cover for white supremacy).
3. Citizenship to the Kingdom of God is our actual citizenship. In Philippians 3:20, we are taught that our citizenship is in heaven. Our primary allegiance is to the Kingdom of God, and our primary purpose in life is to invite everyone into God’s Kingdom. It’s our mission, our purpose, and our priority. To place our allegiance to an earthly political nation is to elevate a human institution to the level of ultimate devotion, which is what the Bible warns against. And it’s to miss our mission.
4. Citizenship to the Kingdom of God is voluntary. The Bible teaches that our faith must be voluntary. God has given us the free-will to decide and wants us to decide. Faith must be an individual’s response of the heart to God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). In contrast, nationalism seeks to force Christian faith and values and morality through state power. It forces outward compliance without transforming the heart, which entirely misses what Jesus is about.
5. The foundations of the Kingdom of God are defined by the “Sermon on the Mount” (Luke 6). The Bible teaches Christians to love one another, love your enemy, and bless those who persecute you. It teaches that the poor and the lowly are blessed. In contrast, nationalism relies on the use of state force, coercion, and division to maintain order. It identifies enemies as scapegoats to be squashed, and it also exalts the rich as superior to the poor.
When someone or something claims to be Christian but does not uphold what Jesus taught or how he lived, let the Spirit help you to reject following in their path.
As disciples of Jesus, my hope is that our priority will always be Jesus and the Kingdom of God. My vision is that our church would lay aside ultimate allegiances and prioritization of nationalism, nationality, ethnicity, and political platforms if they are usurping God’s place in our lives. May Jesus be our all in all.
MaryAnn Nguyễn-Kwok
Senior Pastor, CCC
