But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20, NIV

I love my country. There is no country on Earth in which I would rather live. I spend most of my vacations exploring the natural places, the history, the cities, and the small towns of our country. I would love to go overseas, but I am so fascinated by the United States that I have a long list of places I still want to visit in this country. Unless I’m on a mission trip, I have stayed in this country, except for brief side trips to Mexico and Canada.

I’m not blind enough to reality to think that our country is perfect. Like every other human organization, our country has weaknesses and has made serious mistakes and has even committed many sins. It often frustrates me. But I am proud to be a citizen of the United States of America. I deeply love my country.

Nevertheless, my first allegiance is not to the United States of America, but to God’s Kingdom. That is where my permanent citizenship lies. That is the kingdom that I most want to see prosper. Serving that kingdom is where I spend the bulk of my time, prayer, and energy. I am first a citizen of God’s kingdom. And secondly, a citizen of The United States of America.

Knowing that—God’s Kingdom first; Earthly Kingdom second—explains much about me and the church:

For example, it explains why we don’t display a United States flag in our worship center. It’s not a lack of love for our country, as I tried to explain to one gentleman who inquired. It’s that our church is devoted to God, and so we display the Cross in the place of honor in our worship center. It is a meeting place of the church—part of God’s kingdom.

It explains why we don’t endorse candidates for public office. Individually, most of us have strong opinions and we do vote. But as an organization, we promote Jesus and we don’t want to get sidetracked in elections.

It explains why I preach to the personal character of public leaders—which is clearly Biblical—and not their politics—which is usually not.

It explains why we don’t ask citizenship questions when we help people or when they come to worship. We are more concerned with their citizenship in God’s kingdom than their earthly citizenship.

It explains why we are deeply involved in mission work both financially and personally. Our love for people and their need for Jesus doesn’t stop at a border.

It’s why we preach love and compassion to and for all people. We are not just focused on the citizens of this country. Our love for people is not based on earthly citizenship, skin color, language, ethnicity, religion, or morality. We love all people.

It’s why I’m not part of the “Christian nationalism” movement. God’s kingdom and the United States of America are separate and cannot be merged. I want—as much as humanly possible—for our country to support Godly ideals and Christian values and to make it possible for the church to flourish. A “free church in a free state” is what I long for. 

Please do not misunderstand me. I love the United States of America. I follow her laws, support her constitution, respect her leadership, pray for her success, participate in her elections, pay my taxes, and exercise my right to voice my opinions. If God had not called me to the ministry, it is possible that I might have followed my father into the military service of our country. (Many people don’t know that I was born on a military base in Japan while my father was in the United States Air Force.)

But as much as I love my country, my greater love is for God’s kingdom.

Jesus made a very bold statement in Matthew 10:37, “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Clearly, He is not saying don’t love your father or mother or son or daughter. That doesn’t align with the rest of the Bible.

He is saying that we are to love God first and that we are to have clearly defined priorities.

For that reason, my love for God’s kingdom exceeds even my great love for my country.

God and His kingdom come first.