Patriotism means loving God and country

by Scott Thomas

Maybe it’s because I now host a conservative topical talk show. Maybe it’s because I’m another year older and, prayerfully, another year wiser and more in touch. Maybe it’s because we’re at war. But, this past Monday, Memorial Day occupied a more substantial place in my heart and mind than it had in previous years. At the outset of this column, I’d like to offer a sincere and heartfelt thank you to everyone who has, in any way, served our great country in the armed forces.

And I want to say something about patriotism.

Patriotism isn’t just flying your flag on a national holiday. Patriotism isn’t just reacting emotionally when our country is attacked, like we were on 9-11-2001. And it’s certainly not over-reacting emotionally by going way over the top and wearing red, white, and blue ties, t-shirts and underwear.

Patriotism isn’t loving America while hating those who are against us.

Patriotism in the United States is loving God and country — in that order — and appreciating the blessing it is to live in freedom. Patriotism is acknowledging and showing our appreciation to God for the blessing of freedom by taking care of this country, participating fully in that freedom, and wholeheartedly, without reservation, supporting those who are willing to fight and die to protect those freedoms.

Let me be clear on this. I do not think you can fully be a true American patriot without first loving the God who blesses this nation. Sure, an atheist can fly a flag, pledge allegiance (without mentioning God), even fight and die for our country’all legitimate patriotic acts.

But, without recognizing the God who makes this country possible, can you fully be a patriot? Without God, there is no free United States, because freedom, even the freedom to not believe in Him, comes from and is ordained by God Himself.

Left to our own hearts, we would either endlessly seek the power to control people or we would acquiesce to being controlled. That’s the way it worked everywhere before God chose to bless the founders of this country with freedom and, with the exception of those nations who have tried to follow our model, that’s still the way it works today.

Like it or not, believe it or not, the difference between the United States and the rest of the world is God. To the extent that this remains a nation built on faith and one that exercises its faith, we will remain the great country we are.

Should we, the faithful, allow the secular and evil to continue to advance their causes, this country will diminish.

So, I ask you, in the shadow of Memorial Day, when we honored those who have served and died defending our freedom, on a day when we proudly and patriotically flew our flags, on a day when we enjoyed the freedom of a day off from the job we are free to have, in a career we are free to choose and pursue, I ask you to consider the real source of patriotism, the real reason for patriotism, and to re-commit yourself to patriotism.

Love your blessed country, and always, daily, remember to worship the God who blesses it.

Hey, Scott. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln called. They want you to shut the fuck up. And Pat Tillman’s waiting on the Other Side to kick your scrawny arse. Moron. Don’t you get it? You, and people like you, are the problem.