We’ll celebrate America’s 250th anniversary July 4, 2026, at least many of us will. Patriotism in this year of the Semiquincentennial is waffling.
Hi, I’m Rex Rogers and this is episode #268 of Discerning What Is Best, a podcast applying unchanging biblical principles in a rapidly changing world, and a Christian worldview to current issues and everyday life.
The 250th birthday of the founding of the United States of America is July 4, 2026. It’s called the somewhat less than elegant term, “Semiquincentennial.”
I was around for the nation’s 200th birthday, the Bicentennial in 1976. Back then, patriotism was everywhere apparent, people prepared floats and marched in parades, special programs on television presented the nation’s past, and in general the public seemed excited about the event. In January 1976, we were blessed with our first child, a baby girl, or as everyone said back then, a “Bicentennial baby.”
Surveys indicated Americans were proud of their country in the high 80 or even 90+ percentiles. It was an exciting time and we enjoyed it thoroughly.
For the Semiquincentennial, it’s different. It’s not that no one is patriotic or that that there are no special events or displays of patriotism, but by comparison it is muted, and of course, some are openly non-patriotic. Surveys are indicating about 49% of the American public are proud of their country, a drop from fifty years ago of about forty percent. 83% of Republicans say they are proud to be American – 43% of independents – 31% of Democrats. 66% of those 65 and older while only 34% of adults aged 18 to 29 say they are proud to be American.
Patriotism has become a victim of contemporary politicization or polarization. It is increasingly difficult to separate love or respect for country, heritage, ideals from politics or personalities.
Even Christians are polarized. I know Christians who are:
· not patriotic because they don’t like Donald Trump. –But hey, don’t political leaders come and go?
· not patriotic because they are disillusioned by events and issues. –True, since COVID things have not been a bowl of cherries in America, but I’m not at all sure these are the worst of times. We live in a fallen world, so things are not the paradise of the Garde of Eden, but still, there is much about America that is good and positive, like our basic freedoms for one.
And I know Christians who are:
· patriotic to the point of wrapping the Bible in the flag. – Frankly, they sometimes get themselves twisted up with unwise theologies like Christian nationalism, and some of these folks seem to worship the nation as much as the Lord.
· patriotic to the point they shout, “My country right or wrong but right or wrong my country.” – This triumphalist, often arrogant, view, is not biblical to say the least. No country, no leader, no political party, nor you and I are beyond the need of the continual critique of a Christian worldview.
So, what I am saying is that patriotism is a choice, and you can think yourself into a cul-de-sac of unhappiness and a nihilistic view of life in America that lacks perspective and is dangerous to yours and the well-being of others.
Years ago, I read a book by the Dutch theologian, H. M. Kuitert, entitled Everything Is Politics, But Politics Is Not Everything. I’ve never forgotten that title. His point was that while virtually all activities and relationships in life involve politics with a little “p,” that is, politics as the art of the possible – negotiation, trade-offs, decision-making. Sure, everything is politics in that sense.
But his bold point and caveat was, politics—meaning big “P” politics in Washington, DC or state capitols, is not the end-all, be-all of life. Partisan politics is not salvific, that is, political solutions cannot meet the spiritual needs of your heart. Politics, big “P” and political personalities in many cases cannot even address, let alone resolve, the existential questions in your life. Politics, while important and not evil as such, cannot fulfill your greatest needs and bring you peace and well-being. Politics is not as important as family, church, vocation and community.
So, if this is the case, politics is not everything, then perhaps we are better served to engage it with perspective, approach government and deploy politics is a manner that seeks to honor our neighbors and the Lord.
The American political system is one based upon a government of laws, that is a constitutional republic including shared powers, separation of powers, and checks and balances, all protective devices conceived by the Founding Fathers to protect us from our own human passions.
From its inception in the Declaration of Independence, the American political vision acknowledge that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” The Founders sought to create a government that would protect and perpetuate freedom, so they conceived a system they called “ordered liberty,” an oxymoron seemingly, but liberty by law.
No nation in the history of the world had ever been formed in this manner, which is why America has been called “The First New Nation.” No nation in the history of the world had ever been formed in a manner that based its hopes for existence on the consent of the governed and self-rule, which is why the Founders spoke so often about virtue—the moral character of the citizenry required to support a free society. The Founders honestly did not know if what they created would last, which is why even George Washington referred to the new nation as “The Great Experiment.”
America’s ideals and the system of government of America’s founding resulted in freedom and flourishing like no other civilization in history. No nation or people have ever been as blessed as the citizens of the United States. This is why scholars then and now referred to something they called “American exceptionalism,” not that American citizens were somehow better than others in the world, not that America was somehow chosen of God over others in the world, not that America is more beautiful than any other nation, No, it is that America was launched on a foundation of exceptional ideals—the rights to life, liberty, and equality all given not by government but by God.
Patriotism at the Semiquincentennial is waffling in America, but any serious review of the nation’s heritage and its current reality must result in amazement and gratitude.
In particular, Christians should exercise a biblically sound patriotism that:
· Respects legitimate governing authorities.
· Avoids panic when culture declines.
· Avoids triumphalism when culture prospers.
· Anchors hope in God’s eternal kingdom.
· Begins with gratitude – for national blessings = liberty, order, security.
· Engages civic life thoughtfully.
Yes, as believers we belong first to Jesus Christ, but we can and should love our country where God has placed us. It is our home. We do not worship the nation, but we pray for its leaders of all political persuasions, and we work for justice and peace. In the words of Scripture, we “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1 Pet. 2:17; Rom. 13:1).
In the 20th Century, during the lifetime of many listening, America with its Allies defeated Fascism in WWII—Mussolini and Hitler, the Nazis. And during the 20th Century American helped to stymie Communism in Cold War: President Reagan’s “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” And the Berlin wall came down in 1989, just months before the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics.
Communism as a political philosophy still exists and is at deployed today in Russia, North Korea, China, to name a few. But it is different from what the Soviets pushed on the world.
Now in 21st century, America must stand again for freedom. We must defeat Leftism and Islamism, both of which have serious footholds in America and are now working together in what’s called the “Red/Green” Alliance. The warped and evil ideas and beliefs propagated by these “Isms” are incompatible with the freedom that is our birthright from 1776. They must be stopped.
I do not believe the USA is on the “wrong side of history” and somehow irredeemable, so I reject the nihilism of the contemporary Left. In America, we’ve done what is right in our own eyes, we’ve built our Towers of Babel and crafted our own versions of the Golden Calf. We’ve ignored or insulted America’s exceptional ideals. We’ve turned from truth and embraced travesty. We’ve traded virtue for license.
But we still are given the opportunity to work toward “a more perfect union,” to realize the poetry and promise of America’s moral vision, the “last best hope on earth.”
Well, we’ll see you again soon. This podcast is about Discerning What Is Best.
If you find this thought-provoking and helpful, follow us on your favorite podcast platform. For more Christian commentary, see my website, r-e-x-m as in Martin, that’s rexmrogers.com, or check my YouTube channel @DrRexRogers.
And remember, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm.
© Rex M. Rogers – All Rights Reserved, 2026
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