Christian Patriotism

CHAPTER XIII. CHRISTIAN NATURALIZATION

PATRIOTISM is not only love of the country of one’s birth, but also love of the country of one’s naturalization. CHPA 80.1

Christian patriotism, therefore, is not only love of the country of one’s Christian birth, but also of one’s Christian naturalization. CHPA 80.2

Naturalization is that procedure through which persons born in another country—aliens, foreigners—become citizens of a certain country of their choice. CHPA 80.3

Is there, then, anything in Christian experience that corresponds to naturalization? Is there such a thing as Christian naturalization? Read Ephesians 2:11: “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being ALIENS from the commonwealth of Israel, and STRANGERS from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” CHPA 80.4

Aliens become citizens of a government by naturalization. And when in the act of being naturalized they take the oath of allegiance to the new government, the new sovereign, here are the specifications—copied from a gentleman’s certificate of naturalization. You and I were aliens. We have become naturalized into the commonwealth of Israel, the kingdom of God. And now what is involved? Read:— CHPA 80.5

“This is to certify, etc., that J—B—’on being admitted to citizenship by this court, took the oath to support the Constitution of the United States of America, and that he then did absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, State, or sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to the emperor of Germany,’ etc., etc.” CHPA 81.1

If he had been a British subject, it would have read, “and particularly to the queen of Great Britain and empress of India.” CHPA 81.2

How much did he have to renounce?—“All allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate State, or sovereignty whatsoever.” And what in particular?—“And particularly to the emperor of Germany.” CHPA 81.3

And how fully? and for how long?—“Absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity.” Thus he is to turn his back “absolutely” upon all his former “allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, State, or sovereignty WHATSOEVER.” That is in general. And in particular, to the one to whom he was particularly subject. That is, in earthly governments, the way aliens are naturalized. CHPA 81.4

Now how is it with us, who “were aliens”?—“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but CHPA 81.5

FELLOW-CITIZENS with the saints [not fellow-citizens with sinners but “with the saints,” Deuteronomy 33:2; Jude 14] and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner-stone.” Ephesians 2:19, 20. Thank the Lord! CHPA 82.1

That certificate of naturalization declares that, whatsoever the man may be, he, “on being admitted to citizenship, ...did absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, State, or sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to the” sovereignty to which he had formerly been particularly subject. CHPA 82.2

In becoming a citizen of the commonwealth of Israel, a fellow-citizen with the saints, did you “absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, State, or sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to the” one to which you were formerly subject, as every alien must do to become a citizen of an earthly government? CHPA 82.3

If not, then do you count citizenship in the commonwealth of Israel, fellow-citizenship with the saints, of as much value as any alien must count citizenship in an earthly government? Do you count fellow-citizenship with the saints of as much value as an alien counts fellow-citizenship with sinners? CHPA 82.4

In truth and in fact, is citizenship in the commonwealth of Israel, is fellow-citizenship with the saints, of as much value as is citizenship in an earthly government, as is fellow-citizenship with sinners? CHPA 82.5

If citizenship in heaven, if citizenship in the commonwealth of Israel, if fellow-citizenship with the saints, if to be of the household of God, is indeed as valuable as is citizenship in an earthly government, then in order to be truly a citizen of the commonwealth of Israel, just as certainly as to be a citizen of an earthly government, it is required that every such one shall “absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, State, or sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to the” one to whom, when an alien, he is subject, which is “the prince of this world.” CHPA 83.1

And if this is not done, what then? If all allegiance to every prince, potentate, state or sovereignty whatsoever, other than that of the commonwealth of Israel, other than that of heaven, other than that of the saints, other than that of the household of God, is not absolutely and forever renounced and abjured, then there is certainly attempted a divided allegiance. CHPA 83.2

But will a divided allegiance answer? Will a divided allegiance be accepted? Will any earthly government accept a divided allegiance? If any alien asking to become a citizen of an earthly government should refuse to make that renunciation, full and complete as it is; if he should ask to have the renunciation divided, that he might retain and show some fidelity, only a little, to some foreign prince, potentate, State, or sovereign; would he be accepted? Everybody knows that he would not, for even a moment. How, then, can it be supposed that such reserved, such divided, allegiance could be accepted in any one asking to be a citizen of the commonwealth of Israel? CHPA 83.3

It is not enough, however, to inquire whether a divided allegiance will be accepted. The true question is, Can there really be any such thing as a divided allegiance? And the true answer is, No; for it is written, “No man can serve two masters.” CHPA 84.1

It is therefore certain that no alien, seeking to be a citizen of the commonwealth of Israel, can ever expect to carry with him there any shadow of allegiance to anything in this world or of this world. It is written: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15. Princes, potentates, States, and sovereignties are only of this world. To retain allegiance or fidelity to any of these, is to retain allegiance and fidelity to the things that are only of this world, and, so, to the world itself. CHPA 84.2

Christian citizenship is citizenship in heaven; for “our citizenship is in heaven.” Philippians 3:20. Another translation reads, “For our country [the State to which we belong, of which we by faith are citizens] is in the heavens.”—Alford. Another, an interlinear, word for word, translation gives it, “For of us the commonwealth in the heavens exists.” CHPA 84.3

Christian citizenship is citizenship in the commonwealth of Israel; for we are no more “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,” “no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” Ephesians 2:12, 13, 18, 19. CHPA 84.4

Christian patriotism is love of the country of one’s citizenship. And true citizenship is the absolute and everlasting renunciation and abjuration of all allegiance and fidelity to every other prince, potentate, State, or sovereignty whatsoever. CHPA 85.1

Is yours a true Christian citizenship? Are you a Christian patriot? CHPA 85.2