What is Patriotism in the USA?

My fellow readers and especially those who love the Lord and are seekers of truth; in light of the unexpected events of 2020 and the disturbing events of January 6, 2021 at the Capital, I wanted to share excerpts from an address given by A. T. Jones at the Metropolitan Temple, San Francisco, California on June 14, 1896 with the title given to this blog post. This address was given over 100 years after the independence of this Republic and when there was cause to look intently at what it really meant to be “patriotic”. Many who congregated that day and took part in the storming of the Capital building consider themselves “Christians and Patriots”. It seems that in a now divided, United States of America, there is cause to look again.  The intent in sharing, is that we be reminded of what was precious and noble about this country.

Here is the excerpt from that address:

“FELLOW CITIZENS, LOVERS OF RIGHT AND TRUTH: as announced, I am to speak to you this afternoon on the question, What Is Patriotism in the United States?The first point in this inquiry is, what is patriotism in any country? What is patriotism in itself? {1898 ATJ, WIP 1.1}
Patriotism is usually defined, in brief; as love of country; but love of country is more than the love of the mountains and hills, the plains, valleys, rivers, and rills, of which the country is composed.

More fully defined, patriotism is the spirit which prompts obedience to the laws of one’s country, and to the support and defense of its existence, rights, and institutions. Thus, love of country is really love of the institutions and the principles which make a country what it is in all respects. {1898 ATJ, WIP 1.2}

If love of country were simply love of the mountains and hills, valleys and plains, rivers and rills,—the landscape,—of which the country is composed, there could never be any such thing as civil war; for plainly there could never be any dispute over that, among people inhabiting the same territory. It is evident, therefore, that patriotism in truth lies in love of the principles and institutions which make a country what it is in all respects it is loyalty to those specific principles and institutions. Hence, the patriot is correctly defined as “any defender of liberty, civil or religious.” {1898 ATJ, WIP 1.3}

What, then, is patriotism in the United States? In order that this question shall be rightly answered, it is essential that we study the fundamental principles which characterize this nation, which are the basis of its government, and which have made it all that it has ever been among the nations of the earth. Having learned this, and knowing that patriotism is the spirit which prompts obedience to the laws of one’s country, and the support and defense of its principles and institutions, it will be easy for all to discern what is, and what is not, patriotism here. Firm allegiance, strict adherence, to these fundamental principles is in the nature of the case patriotism. Any forgetting, any ignoring, or any disregarding of these principles, however much those who do so may proclaim their patriotism, is in truth, the very opposite.”
{1898 ATJ, WIP 2.1}     
There can be no question but that the Declaration of Independence was the beginning of this nation. And the first principle embodied in that immortal declaration is that “all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.” {1898 ATJ, WIP 2.2}

The first and greatest of all the rights of men is religious right. And “religion” is “the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it.” The first of all duties is to the Creator, because to him we owe our existence. Therefore the first of all commandments, and the first that there can possibly be, is this: “Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12: 29, 30 KJV). {1898 ATJ, WIP 2.3} A. T. Jones, June 14, 1896

Since the first of all rights is religious, then the second is civil.  “And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31 KJV) 
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Gal 5:14 KJV)

It is those truths that have guided the forefathers in making the Declaration of Independence and with firm conviction were prepared to sacrifice all, including life, for that conviction.

Patriots are men and women who will conscientiously search out  matters, weighing every detail until they arrive at truth and then take their stand. Having arrived at truth, conviction takes hold and they stand in defense of those truths though the heavens fall. 

Anything short of this, regardless of who utters it, it is not patriotism.

“…because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
2 Thessalonians 2: 10-12

I will end here with a quote from God’s word and a caution from Thomas Jefferson which is almost prophetic in its tone:

“The spirit of the times may alter, will alter.  Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless.  A single zealot may commence persecution, and better men be his victims.  It can never be too often repeated, that the time for fixing every essential right on a legal basis is while our rulers are honest, and ourselves united.  From the conclusion of this war, we shall be going downhill.  It will not be necessary then to resort every moment to the people for support.  They will be forgotten, therefore, and their rights disregarded.  They will forget themselves, but in the sole faculty of making money, and will never think of uniting to effect a due respect for their rights.  The shackles, therefore, which shall not be knocked off at the conclusion of this war, will remain on us long, will be made heavier and heavier, till our rights shall revive or expire in a convulsion.” Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, Query XV11.  In American  State Papers, page 101.  

“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD; but they that deal truly are his delight.” Proverbs 12: 22