Patriotism

Patriotism can be defined as love and appreciation for one’s country and its institutions. Christian writers describe this love as virtuous when it reflects gratitude and respect within proper moral limits. Wayne Grudem connects this form of patriotism to the biblical commands to honor rulers and submit to governing authorities, showing that such honor acknowledges God’s ordering of human society without demanding unthinking allegiance.¹

Honoring and Appreciating Civil Rulers

Scripture guides believers to show honor toward their leaders. Peter instructs the church to “honor the emperor,” while Paul writes, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities... for there is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1) and describes those who govern as “God’s servant for your good” (Romans 13:4). These passages indicate that obedience and respect for civil rulers reflect recognition of God’s design in public order. Old Testament texts echo this pattern: “My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise” (Proverbs 24:21). Grudem explains that believers should offer gratitude and respect to those in authority, giving “taxes to whom taxes are owed... respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”² Such honor is not absolute, but acknowledges legitimate authority while maintaining discernment grounded in Scripture.

Patriotism as a Rightly Ordered Love

C. S. Lewis described patriotism as a natural extension of affection for home and culture. He wrote that there is “love of old acquaintances, of familiar sights, sounds and smells,” and that this affection “would be hard to find any legitimate point of view from which this feeling could be condemned.” He called this love “the first step beyond family selfishness.” Such patriotism, when genuinely rooted in affection and gratitude, fosters humility and understanding toward others. Lewis adds that it promotes good will toward those of other nations: “How can I love my home without coming to realise that other men, no less rightly, love theirs?”³ This perspective makes patriotism not aggressive but charitable, a love that can coexist with universal neighborly concern.

Guarding Against Blind or Excessive Patriotism

Grudem warns against “blind patriotism,” the kind that refuses to acknowledge or confront national wrongdoing. He affirms that “a genuine patriotism... would honestly criticize the government and its leaders when they do things contrary to biblical moral standards.”⁴ This kind of correction is itself an act of love for one’s country, because it seeks the true good of the nation. At the same time, he condemns the opposite error—constant contempt for one’s country—as destructive to national unity and gratitude. Such attitudes, he writes, “continually erode the ability of the nation to function effectively and will eventually tend to undermine the very existence of the nation itself.”⁵ True patriotism thus remains balanced—grateful and loyal, yet morally responsible.

Patriotism and God’s Purpose for Nations

According to Grudem, the foundation for patriotism lies in God’s establishment of nations. He refers to Paul’s words in Acts 17:26 that God “made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.”⁶ Love for one’s country, then, can be seen as part of acknowledging God’s purpose in creating distinct peoples and places. To honor one’s nation in a just and humble way is therefore consistent with honoring God’s order for human life.

References

Wayne A. Grudem, Politics - According to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010), 109.
Ibid., 109–111.
C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves, in The Beloved Works of C. S. Lewis (New York: Inspirational Press, 1998), 225–227.
Grudem, Politics - According to the Bible, 109.
Ibid., 112.
Ibid., 109.