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A Nation to be Proud of
National patriotism is never higher than during the World Cup soccer/football games. From Europe to the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas, the team members carry our national honor with them. Many times the losers in a “football†match, in the World Cup finals, are often subjected to sanctions in their home countries because of being guilty of bringing national disgrace. Accusations and excuses abound. We expect a great deal from our professional sportsmen since they are representing… us.
With our sports, what else stirs the pride of our nationalism but the trappings of our government, the pomp and circumstance of an official visit from our leader? Those of us without a monarchy watched with wonder the wedding of Princess Diana to Prince Charles and expectantly wait, as well, for the royal pageantry of their son, Prince Williams, wedding. None were, or will be, more proud than the British.
Our military on display during national moments of remembrance or of celebration stirs our hearts with pride and even brings a tear to toughened, world wise, military eyes.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be from another country? Have you ever wondered how you could possibly ever be proud being from ________? Have you ever wondered why THEY could be proud being a ________? After all, compared to MY country, their country …….
I’ve talked to immigrants who love the country of their origin, their culture, history and traditions, but because of opportunity, escape from politics, or escape from their own past, etc., they have changed countries. To some degree, and for whatever the reason, none of them leave the country of their birth with their whole heart. They make sure those of the next generation learn import aspects of the culture and traditions of their genetics, “where they came from”.
In my reading through the Bible, those were some of the thoughts I was thinking as I read the book of Ruth.
A fellow, Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, with their two sons left the land of Israel (Bethlehem in Judah) to go to the land of Moab (Modern day central Jordan) because there was a famine in Israel. While in Moab, Elimelech died and his two sons married Moabite women. The two sons died leaving their Moabite wives widows, as well as Naomi, childless and alone. Even if Naomi’s daughters in law were Jewish, it would have been considered normal for them to go back to their fathers households but more so since they were of a different nationality and had few prospects if they stayed with Naomi. On her way back to Bethlehem, Naomi pointed out the fact of their few prospects to them and told her daughters-in-law to go back to their mothers’ house, ostensibly to be a help to their mother and hope for another husband. The women said no. They would go with Naomi. Naomi insisted they go, and live their lives to the fullest. Daughter-in-law Orpah kissed Naomi good-bye and then left, but Ruth clung to Naomi. This was their conversation:
And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. “Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.” When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. Ruth 1:15-18
Ruth not only changed loyalties, she exchanged her identification of who she was so to identify with what Naomi identified with, anywhere Naomi would go. Naomi’s people would be her people, her cultural traditions exchanged. She would exchange the gods she grew up with for Naomi’s God. Ruth’s statement was to turn her back on everything she knew previously, what was comfortable, to follow whatever Naomi did. Ruth was true to her words. She gained respect and a reputation even as a foreigner among a clannish people:
“…all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellenceâ€.
It wasn’t that many years before that marriage to Moabite women brought a plague from God upon Israel where many of Israel died (Numbers 25). The problem was the women induced the Israelite men to worship their gods. Ruth abandoned her nationalism to follow Naomi and her God. What was noticed by everyone was Ruth’s character, “a woman of excellence.â€
Could we do that today? Could we repudiate everything that we’ve known and accept every new thing that comes with our new life… and call it good? Can we erase our cultural traditions, assumptions, education, religion, language, even our accents in the purge of the old in exchange for the new? Is it possible to completely erase our former identities?
The Apostle Paul wrote about this very thing in his letter to the Philippians. He said to them; if anyone can be proud about their heritage, I can! He listed his points of pride in his nationalism (Philippians 3:4-6). He really didn’t sound like he had been any different than a World Cup soccer/football fan in what made him proud to be a Hebrew.
Like Ruth, the Apostle Paul commented on what he thought of his previous nationalism and what he exchanged it for:
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:7-14
Paul said he now considered what he thought previously was important as rubbish. The translators of my Bible didn’t translate this word “rubbish†accurately since the actual word was a bit too vulgar for their tastes. Let’s just say “manure†would be closer to the truth. That was what Paul thought of his previous nationalism. He exchanged it for a new nationalism:
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Philippians 3:20-21
Hebrews, chapter 11, talks about those who share the same viewpoint as Ruth and the Apostle Paul; by faith they obeyed God, leaving what they knew, what they could see, touch, and feel, in exchange for the unknown, obedience to God. Their faith was reckoned to them as righteousness because they believed God and then took action on what God told them. These, like Paul, turned their back on what they knew and looked forward to the promise.
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16
Verse 15 says if they had their concentration on where they came from, they would have returned to what they knew, but instead they were looking for a better country… the Kingdom of God.
For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. Hebrews 13:14
For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 2 Corinthians 5:1-4
The real question for each of us to answer; is it possible to be followers of Jesus Christ like Ruth followed Naomi or the Apostle Paul followed Jesus Christ and for us to NOT abandon what makes us proud here on earth? Is it possible for us to have a different attitude than what the Apostle Paul had? This is what Paul said:
Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Chris ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Philippians 3:15-21
Maybe we can straddle the fence, get the best of both worlds. Isn’t that pragmatic? Jesus calls those who think that way lukewarm.
‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Revelation 3:15-16
Here we are, back to those translation sensibilities. When Jesus said “, I will spit you out of My mouthâ€, literally it says I will vomit you. In other words, you make Me sick! You can’t live in, and identify with, hell for breakfast and dinner and somehow hope you’ll get heaven for dessert.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3
By the way, Ruth the Moabitess? She married the guy who recognized she was a woman of excellence. His name was Boaz. Boaz and Ruth’s son was Obed, King David’s grandfather. This Moabite woman, who left everything she knew to become one of the people of God also became a part of the line of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5-16). Jesus was her great, great…. grandson.
What line are you a part of?
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