National pride

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD (Psalm 33:12).

People take pride in their national identity. Whether you are a native of America, Russia or Iran, you probably believe that your country is the best place in the world to live. But how can you evaluate such a claim?

Some people judge a country on its economy. What is the average standard of living? What kinds of opportunities exist for investment and entrepreneurship? How many of the citizens live in poverty?

Other folks evaluate a country based on its style of government. Some believe that democracy is best; others want things run by religious leaders. There are people who fear the chaos brought by political change; they prefer having one strong, experienced leader to be in charge for the long haul.

Some judge a country based on its technology. They want the military to be equipped with the most advanced weapon systems available. They want the best possible health care for their families. They want cutting edge electronics to make their lives easier.

Still others judge a country based on its culture. They are concerned with human rights and personal freedoms. They value social customs and long-held traditions. They prize the art, music and literature that make their homeland different from all others.

I would like to suggest a different way of evaluating a country. Try looking at it from God’s perspective. How well does the nation honor God’s laws? Is respect shown to elders and people in authority? Are the citizens protected from violence and hatred? Is marriage honored as a special relationship between man and woman, a union that only rarely ends in divorce? Are people punished for stealing or lying? Are the children taught to be responsible for what they say and do? Do the courts enforce personal accountability, but also show mercy to those who are genuinely sorry for what they’ve done? Most importantly, how does the nation treat Christianity? Are Jesus’ followers permitted to gather freely? Are they allowed to talk openly about their faith at school, at work, and in public? That’s the kind of nation that I could be proud of.