Tomorrow is July 4th, Independence Day, here in the United States, a big day of celebration

for us here.

Every year it raises questions for Christians about nationalism and what's a healthy

level of patriotism, Matt, a podcast listener writes in to ask this,

Pastor John, hello.

Obviously, as Christians, we are to live as strangers, exiles, aliens, and pilgrims

on this earth.

Is there an appropriate place in the Christian life to be patriotic?

If so, what is it and what point does our patriotism go too far, Pastor John, what would you

say to Matt?

Yes, I think there is.

And I think it's right or at least it can be right and good.

It is true.

And we need to stress it at the beginning, maybe stress it at the end.

We are pilgrims here.

We are exiles, refugees, sojourners.

Peter says, Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles abstain from the passions of the

flesh that wage war against your soul.

Paul says in Philippians 320, our citizenship is in heaven.

That's number one.

That's foundational.

That's relativizing to all human allegiances.

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