Okay, Old Covenant. God cared about nations. In particular He cared about Israel. That is not to say he did not have aims at saving all people of all nations, but it is to say Israel was the key to the whole plan.
But in the New Covenant, does God care about nations at all? Does He even see borders? Or in His vision, are there only two nations (and sorry pre-millenial dispensationlists, not the US and Israel). Does he only see one “nation” of believers and another of the lost? Or does he still care about nations? Because while there is a little bit of unease in my heart when people start talking about globalism, I am never sure why. Even if one reads the scriptures in the sense that at the end there will be one great global evil kingdom and leader, that does not necessarily mean then that we guard against that by rigid nationalism. It does not even mean that globalism itself it a bad idea or any worse than any other idea.
It was fine for Israelites to be nationalistic, for to be nationalistic was to trust in the promises of God.  But is it similarly okay for Americans to be nationalistic? As most people know, I am not a big fan of many of our President’s ideas and actions. But I have been interested by his comments. He likes to speak about issues with reference to interests beyond the national level. And again, initially it makes me uncomfortable, but I am not sure why other than selfishness. But then when I hear the opposition say that it is wrong for our President to consider anyone else’s interests other than the USA’s, that makes me unequally if not more uncomfortable. I am not sure that is proper that one entrusted with such power should only consider his nation’s well being. I am not sure it is right for me to think that way either. Does God think that way? Does He even care about the interest’s of the USA? If He does, then I should. And conversely, well, you know.
(PS: I think my main problem with globalism is that the global ideas I here are most time contrary to the faith I hold because they are built mainly without reference to any specific God since that would offend some. I encourage all to check out http://parentalrights.org for one example of what I mean. But alas, just because the world has bad idea does not mean that we should not be concerned with what they really need.)
I have always seen the role of government to enforce “civil law” where certainly believers and non-believers alike abide by it for the purpose of maintaining order in soceity. The line is drawn if the civil law violates God’s Law. Christ encourages the Jews to pay taxes to Ceasar, for example. Certainly in this case the Jew is giving money to an empire that does not follow God’s Law, and in fact was militaristic right up until its collapse. But paying taxes did not violate God’s Law. (Of course, Christ also knew He would use this very empire to help solidify the Church.)
However, Daniel, Rack, Shack, and Benny (Kids got me hooked on Veggietales) were compelled not to bow down to the conquering kings of Babylon as that would have violated God’s Law.
I would submit that because the globe has shrunk, the answer to Christ’s question, “Who is your neighbor?” is “everyone.” There is no place left in the world that we can say, “They’re too far away to be my neighbor so I don’t have to help them.”
To some degree, I think it is selfish of us to want a govenment that is interested only in us. It makes us more secure, and if we’re more secure, maybe we don’t have to trust in God as much…
In the biblical examples I cited, the children of Israel could either trust that God would protect and nurture them, or turn from Him to accept the civil leaders.
So in answer to your concern about nationalism, I say pray that God will work through civil govenment to do His will on earth. If it be His will to use the USA to help people here at home and around the world, wonderful. If he finds that the hearts of president’s Congressmen, Senators, and Judges are hardened as Pharoh’s was, then pray that He protects us as he did the Israelites in Egypt, and that He use us to continue His work in maintaining the body of believers already in His Church as well as reaching those who are still dead in their sins (Which we pray for regardless of the position of the civil government.)
The US was founded on religious freedom (a few theists, but quite a few deists in the founding fathers.) The Christian has been free to worship and share their faith. Clearly in the popular interest of political correctness, this has eroded. Corporate worship in church may go on unimpeded, but talk about you faith in a public place, at work, school, etc. and someone claims their rights habve been violated.
Remind me which bill of right gives the right to not be offended? I must have been absent that day in US Constituition Class.
We are but strangers here, and I feel stranger and stranger every passing day…
Since you invited comments, I’ll submit a few thoughts. Normally, they’d be a bit better, but my thinking cap is sitting askew this week.
I’m going with the good ole answer, “Yes.” In a sense, “yes,” there are only two nations in the eyes of our Lord. The Church as the true Israel and the nation of the unbelievers. I mention Israel here because the Lord did not simply set up Israel as a country. They were to be a light to all nations, a shining holy city on a hill where everyone came to worship the one true God. This is the spiritual aspect of the nation of the Church. All, including Jews, are to be drawn to the light of Christ and his gift of salvation. Our country is no longer of this world. We are a part of the kingdom of God.
Here’s an intersting little tag: At least in the Old Test it seems like God always speaks about his nation in the singular and other nations in the plural.
Then, “yes,” God is interested in countries too. He raises up and takes down governments and the like. He is indeed still taking an active role in the goings on of this fallen world. He didn’t save us and then leave us just like he did not create the world and then leave it to go its own merry way. He works in this world to accomplish his will of leading people to a knowledge of him, and in the end everything that happens is in some way connected to that purpose. As far as I can tell from Scripture God does not have one nation that all must come to or be a part of. Any nation of people who follows the Lord can be God’s country. Although, we all know Texas already has that status.
I’m not overly concerned about globalization. If it’s a good one world government that promotes freedom, justice and supports the idea that you can work hard and succeed, then it wouldn’t be too bad. The current approach to globalization, however, worries me. Thankfully it seemse like it is ultimately doomed to fail because they do not promote any true unity. Some are dictators. Some are in democracies. Some believe everyone must be made equal, while others think you should earn what you have. With so many disparate views there cannot be any one true government. It’s just a bunch of people pretending they’re together. The worry comes in that I think the current globalization efforts would take away freedoms we have and tear down the efforts of individuals to work hard to achieve success.
Really, the Church is already a global nation. God, family, country, world is a realatively simple summary of who our neighbors are. Christians help victims of tsunami, hurricanes and famine wherever they may be. We consider other Christians, even in different denominations, our brothers and sisters in Christ whether they live in China, South Africa or the good ole USA.