Loving God and Country
I love my God and my country; there is no dichotomy between the two. As Jesus loved his Father and Israel, so can we love both. If asked, "Which parent do you love more?" and you love both equally, you would say, "Both." Verses about loving God more than others or hating others (Luke 14:26, Matthew 10:27) are sometimes misquoted. Luke 14:26 says, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple." Matthew 10:27 states, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." Jesus also said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). Scripture offers two ways to read these verses: either love others as yourself, or "hate" them by comparison to your love for ...