Christian Patriotism
The following address was adapted from a longer essay written by a PCA student and delivered in the Spring of 2026 as part of his Senior Capstone project.
At large, culture tells Christians to stay silent, keep their religion to themselves, and obey the government. But God gives us the ability to oppose this command through patriotism for our nation. Patriotism, while not the main goal of a Christian citizen, is a fundamental part of our mission. Christians are called to glorify God and enjoy him forever. In doing so, we ought to spread the truth of the gospel and the peace that Christ gave us through his death. All of these things should add to our patriotism, not only in the kingdom of God, but also in our earthly governments. President Theodore Roosevelt explained that patriotism is not as simple as standing with specific leaders, but is rooted in defending the values and seeking the good of your country as a whole. In short, patriotism is a requirement for Christians, for we are to obey our heavenly and earthly authorities and seek to bring truth and peace to our homeland.
We are commanded by God to show reverence to the authority that He has put in place. Romans 13:1 states, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” This verse shows that God is the foundation of all authority, which is fundamental to our faith. However, the end of this verse is equally important—yet hard to deal with—because we often prefer only to obey the rules of those we deem good authorities. Jesus tells the Pharisees in Mark 12:17 to “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” In saying this, Jesus shows the Pharisees that God is the ultimate authority, but that God has also established authoritative boundaries for those He places in positions of power. This limits them from claiming His rule as their own, but still gives them power to rule over His subjects. This means that as long as our leaders are not forcing us to give our government the things that are God’s, then we must obey them.
Christians must also be willing to be under authority, even when we do not always agree with that authority. Augustine concludes his work, The City of God, saying that man is designed to be under either a heavenly or earthly authority. Even though mankind always desires more power, whether we are willing to admit it or not, structure is a necessity in our lives because it is in our nature.
The reformers had first-hand experience with evil authorities. Yet even they knew that government was necessary, even if it wasn’t being carried out correctly. However, this led the reformers to demonstrate their patriotism by defending their country and churches against the evils of corrupted authority. Their patriotism for heavenly and earthly government brought many to jail and some to death. But their deaths were the building blocks that led to the reformation of the church and government. This shows that, regardless of how godly the leaders in a country are, Christians should still be devoted to the country, with the hope of bringing it closer and closer to Christ every day.
The importance of defending the truth is foundational in much modern literature and necessary for righteous characters. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, for example, Atticus Finch shows us what it means to pursue truth through justice. Atticus’s Christian patriotism is evident in his decision to stand up for Tom in the Deep South, where African Americans were often viewed as inferior to other men. Throughout the book, he shows his children what many men fear: standing for what is right and rejecting faulty social norms. Through his desire for justice and truth, he proved that he was a patriot for his country who stood by the same values that our founding fathers wrote into the Declaration of Independence. This view from Atticus would have been rare for its time, because there was extreme prejudice against people of color. However, Atticus did as all Christian patriots should, and saw them as more than just a color; he saw Tom as a human being, as a United States citizen.
In a world of despair and anguish, Christian patriots should be the calm in the storm, bringing peace to those who are suffering, yet still upholding justice and discipline if need be. J.R.R. Tolkien shows this throughout the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but especially in his portrayal of Denethor and Pippin. Throughout their relationship, patriotism and peacefully respecting authority are exemplified. First, we see Pippin, who has no ties with Gondor other than through Boromir, pledge himself to servitude to alleviate the passing of Denethor's eldest son. He proceeds to follow the Steward of Gondor’s every command, protecting Gondor from the evils of Mordor at the risk of his own life. This is where we see the next aspect of respecting authority, because Denethor—when he needed him more than ever—dismissed Pippin from service. Once he was dismissed, you would think all the patriotism Pippin had felt towards these people would have left him, but instead, we see him immediately help Faramir, who was not only his friend but the heir to the stewardship in Minas Tirith. Pippin was well aware of this position and knew that Denethor had taken his own authority beyond its measures. This brought him to rebel against the overstepping steward, follow the correct authority in the situation, and prove his patriotism to Gondor.
As Christians, we often hide behind our worldview, claiming that the only thing truly important is spreading God’s Word throughout the nations. However, Christ didn’t just spread the Word of God, but also lived as a good citizen, obeyed his authorities, and glorified God in every aspect of his life. We are called to be Christ-like and should strive to live as patriots of our country, seeking to be a strong foundation of our kingdom on earth, as well as those who proclaim the good news of Christ. We are called to be stewards of what God has given us, and, through patriotism, we can do that for our country and leadership. In doing so, we are not only glorifying God but also preparing our country for future generations.
Zayne Hilliard
2026 PCA Graduate
