JESUS Himself was a Patriot. He made numerous Patriotic Statements about about ISRAEL, as well as JERUSALEM.
Our Forefathers, wrote Patriotism in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Pledge of Allegiance, and many other famous American Documents. WHAT HAPPENED? WHY IS PATRIOTISM DYING OUT?
Ezekiel 34:30-31 (NRSV)
[SUP]30 [/SUP] They shall know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, says the Lord God.
[SUP]31 [/SUP] You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture and I am your God, says the Lord God.
Psalm 81:13 (NKJV)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] "Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways!
Matthew 2:6 (HCSB)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah: because out of you will come a leader who will shepherd My people Israel.”
Matthew 23:37 (NKJV)
[SUP]37 [/SUP] "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Matthew 5:35 (NASB)
[SUP]35 [/SUP] or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.
See, JESUS remained Patriotic, even when leaders were evil.
I went to nothing BUT Public Schools, because we could not afford Private Schools, HOWEVER:
When I went to School the Ten Commandment were Framed and Hung in the main hallway of the School.
When I went to School saying the Pledge of Allegiance, was done every morning in School.
When I went to School the School Library, in the Main Study Hall, had four copies of the Bible.
When I went to School, we could pray in School, some of the Teachers lead the Prayers, especially our COACH.
When I went to School, we sang some hymns both in Boys Glee and in the HS Choir.
When I went to School, we had Baccalaureate Services every year, where all the local Ministers gave short sermons.
When LIBERALS pushed there anti-God agenda onto the rest of America, PATRIOTISM was the NEXT thing they attacked.
NOW anti-Patriotic attitudes are openly and proudly displayed,
Patriots are made fun of or ridiculed.
Disrespect for the FLAG is Blatant, and CHEERED.
ANTI-USA protesters and slogans are spreading like a CANCER.
Romans 13:1-8 (NKJV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
[SUP]2 [/SUP] Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
[SUP]3 [/SUP] For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
[SUP]4 [/SUP] For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
[SUP]5 [/SUP] Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.
[SUP]6 [/SUP] For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.
[SUP]7 [/SUP] Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
[SUP]8 [/SUP] Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
1 Peter 2:13-17 (NKJV)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,
[SUP]14 [/SUP] or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
[SUP]15 [/SUP] For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--
[SUP]16 [/SUP] as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
[SUP]17 [/SUP] Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
I REPEAT:
WHAT HAPPENED? ? ?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I want this debate to be open to EVERYONE, and EVERY topic Related to Patriotism.
I expect PATRIOTS and NON-PATRIOTS to join in.
I know this will lead to a heated debate, so CHECK YOURSELF and PUT A REIGN ON YOUR TONGUE. We do not WANT ANY ARGUMENTS. Stop at the level of Heated Debate.
Hint:
Zealously STANDING UP FOR YOUR BELIEFS is a Heated Debate.
Name Calling is an Argument.