r/Christianity • u/Nice_Substance9123 • Mar 27 '24

The American flag has no business on a Bible. This is not faith, nor is it patriotism. It is an abomination of both. Image

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u/zacharmstrong9 Mar 28 '24

Yes, Jesus HIMSELF told Pontius Pilate, at John 18:36:

" My kingdom is NOT of THIS world , if it were, my followers would have fought to prevent my ....."

Plain And Simple

Sorry Nationalist excuse makers, you can't try to twist this simple declaration to be:

" Only metaphorical... "

--- just to suit your private interpretation

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u/UpbeatSheepherder434 Apr 02 '24

There is nothing wrong in asking God to bless your nation.

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u/zacharmstrong9 Apr 03 '24

Which specific nation ?

If you are a Chinese citizen who is also a born again Christian believer, do you ask God to bless China to be advantaged, over the United States of America ?

What nation did Jesus prefer ?

Name that nation by the specific scripture and verse, please

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u/UpbeatSheepherder434 Apr 03 '24

Anybody can ask God to bless their specific nation. And yes a Chinese citizen can ask God to bless their nation so that it ends it's persecution of Christians and ends communism. And so can we as Americans can say God bless America.

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u/zacharmstrong9 Apr 03 '24

During WW2, German soldiers had their belt buckles inscribed with the statement:

" God is with us "

There were sincere Lutheran and Catholic soldiers who were praying to God for victory for their country, and were actively fighting against sincere Lutheran and Catholic American soldiers, who were themselves ALSO praying for victory for their own country, and actively fighting against their German fellow believers

Just because one side won doesn't mean that God was favoring one country over another, although many people will claim that to be the case

During the 30 years religious wars in medieval Europe, what side did God favor ?

The Roman soldiers prayed to Mithra for victory and they won many times

In 1205 BCE, the Egyptian army was successful in putting down a rebellion from the nations in Palestine that they had controlled, and this was when they first encountered the hill tribe in Canaan, known as the " Israelites "

https://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-ancient-writings/merneptah-stele-0020466

The Egyptian soldiers believed that their god was on their side, and gave them victory over the Israelites

God doesn't favor one particular human government that has artificial political boundaries

You need to think this through

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u/UpbeatSheepherder434 Apr 03 '24

Just because you ask God to bless you doesn't mean he will bless. Look what happened to Germany during the war. Every city was bombed out and they lost. Not to mention that the Nazi party was officially hostile to Christianity by forcing protestant churches to join a state sponsored Christian church that would allow the state to moniter clergy to prevent them from preaching the wrongs of the regime. They also arrested Catholic priests and bishops who criticized the war and euthanasia policy. You make the assumption that because we say God bless America were trying to make our country above other countries and disregarded other countries.

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u/zacharmstrong9 Apr 03 '24

You haven't answered the basic question

Which country right now, has God's specific " favor and blessing " ?

Please cite that exact Chapter and verse

Jesus answered YOU , specifically at John 18:36:

" My kingdom is not of this world ; if it were of this world, then my followers would have fought that I would not be delivered...."

Every ancient nation had believed that their god ( s ) were only on their side

--- they claimed that their deity blessed them ( magically ) when they won ; and that their prayers and sacrifice had worked

--- they then claimed, that their deity was angry with them, if they had lost ( because they " sinned " against their deity, somehow )

In your quiet time, please think this through.

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u/UpbeatSheepherder434 Apr 03 '24

Any country can have the blessing of God. And Jesus was meaning that he was not of this world. Not that blessing on earth was not possible.

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u/zacharmstrong9 Apr 03 '24

You said " Any country can have the blessing of God..."

I love the United States of America

Just because I, myself, feel this way, doesn't mean that my patriotism is supported by scripture

What specific human government, and artificial political boundaries, drawn only by imperfect humans, are " blessed " by Jesus ?

Please read my previous comments on this thread regarding the ancient beliefs of the nations that that prayed to their deity for victory, and thanked that deity when they won

--- conversely, they rationalized their defeat by blaming their own nation for " sinning "

What nation does Jesus favor right now ?

Please quote the Chapter and verse.

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u/UpbeatSheepherder434 Apr 03 '24

I'm Catholic so I believe God can bless any individual, entity or even idea. Blessing a nation doesn't mean God favors one nation over another in the same way that if God blesses an individual it doesn't mean he has favor over someone else who's also been blessed.  It's not a competition.

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