{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/62f666df7b877c0013d8f803/6377cc693e348f001109dd5f?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Can I be thankful for my country?","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/cover/1660315199855-0e01e3ab33aeb0e5fa2ddbdd1b2f4eb8.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Should I be thankful for my country?</p><p><br></p><p>Letter:</p><p>Joseph America of Freedom, Idaho</p><p>Dear Mike and Ethan,</p><p>I was told in my young adult class that being proud to be American is a form of idolatry because it is not God’s perfect kingdom and there is no proof that we are working with God’s plan for the world. Does that mean I can’t be thankful to live in America?&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Defining our terms.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Proud</strong>.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Idolatry</strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>What doest though think it means to be <strong>Thankful</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Pros </strong>for being thankful my country:</p><ul><li>Being thankful where you live is a form of honoring authority</li><li>There are many amazingly beautiful things in my country, Grand Canyon, Desert, Mountains, Rivers, Creatures etc.</li><li>We can’t control where we are born so we should be thankful for what we do have</li><li>Despite your countries flaws, God has used it for his glory and goodness</li><li>Being thankful is showing God that you recognize his good gifts</li><li>Being miserable about your country is a different form of idolatry</li><li>For every negative thing we hear on the news our country (and hopefully other countries) are doing lots of righteous things that are not being reported.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><strong>CONS</strong></p><p>Possible reasons why I might not want to be thankful for my country.</p><ul><li>My country isn’t a Godly country.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Internationals are often told we are a christian nation, we don’t act like it</li><li>My country is greedy and selfish&nbsp;</li><li>Our country and its leaders (like every country at some point) have done sad things.</li><li>Old church song “This world is not my home,&nbsp;</li></ul><p>This world is not my home I'm just a-passing through</p><p>My treasures are laid up Somewhere beyond the blue</p><p>The angels beckon me From heaven's open door</p><p>And I can't feel at home In this world anymore</p><p>Oh Lord, you know I have no friend like you</p><p>If heaven's not my home Then Lord, what will I do?</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Is there a difference between being grateful and being an idolator?</li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.&nbsp; (attitude)</p><p><strong>16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.</strong></p><p><br></p><p>Psalm 106:1 \"Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.\"</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:17</strong></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Being Thankful isn’t the same as idolatry&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>For all the negative things it would be foolish to say that God isn’t or can’t be doing lots in our country at the same time.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"Michael Mordenga"}