Category: Questions and Responses

The Case for Patriotism as a Mutually Exclusive Allegiance

On By Tyler BoydIn Christian's Relationship to Government, Kingdom Life, Questions and Responses

This article grows out of my previous articles, “The Case Against Christians Saying the Pledge of Allegiance” and “Why Christians Keep Talking Past Each Other About Politics.” In the latter, I argued that Scripture recognizes two different categories of allegiance.

The first category is the kind of allegiances that can be properly ordered beneath our ultimate allegiance to Christ. A Christian can be loyal to his wife, faithful to his employer, honor his parents, and love his neighbors without compromising his devotion to Christ. As long as these allegiances are properly ordered, they can even be expressions of our loyalty to Christ.

The second category is the kind of allegiance that are inherently rivalrous. Idolatry is not avoided by simply putting God as the highest-ranking among various gods whom we serve. Adultery is not made acceptable by simply loving another woman a little less than your wife. James describes friendship with the world in this second category when he labels it as adultery (James 4:4). Some allegiances cannot be properly ordered, but must be avoided entirely.

The question, then, is where patriotic allegiance belongs. Is allegiance to an earthly kingdom something that can be properly ordered beneath our allegiance to Christ, or is it inherently rivalrous, and thus to be avoided altogether?

In my previous article, I examined the case for the former. Here I want to make the case for the latter. I believe allegiance to an earthly kingdom is fundamentally incompatible with allegiance to Christ. Here’s why:

1 .Because of the Origin, Nature, and Destiny of Earthly Kingdoms

When Paul wrote Romans 13, the Roman Empire was not the first earthly kingdom God’s people had ever encountered, nor would it be the last. Before Rome there had been Greece, Persia, Babylon, Assyria, Egypt, and the various nations of Canaan. Each of these kingdoms had exercised power over God’s people at various points in history. And each eventually fell. Rome was powerful, but Rome was simply one kingdom in an unbroken chain of successive earthly powers.

The origin of each of these earthly kingdoms reaches all the way back to Genesis 10-11 and the events surrounding Babel. It was there that mankind was divided and scattered into the nations of the earth. These first nations were formed in the context of, and as the result of, rebellion against God.

But alongside the story of these earthly kingdoms, Scripture also tells the story of God’s kingdom. From the shadow of Babel, God called Abraham. From his family he established the nation of Israel as His own possession. Israel was not just one nation among many. They were God’s holy nation, and as such, they were set apart from the ways of the nations that surrounded them.

Throughout the Old Testament, the pagan nations of Egypt, Canaan, Assyria, Babylon, and others are continually found to be in conflict with Israel. But the prophets offered hope of a coming kingdom which would triumph over all the other kingdoms of the world. It would be through this coming kingdom that God’s blessings would ultimately be extended even to the Gentiles.

Daniel 2 provides one of the clearest pictures of this expectation. The kingdoms that held, and would soon hold dominion over the world are represented by a great statue. This statue is then crushed in pieces and destroyed by a stone “cut out by no human hand” (Daniel 2:34). Daniel then explains this dream by stating, “The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44). Notice that the coming Kingdom would not merely stand alongside the statue, or even form the new head for the statue. The coming kingdom would ultimately break in pieces and destroy the other kingdoms.

The contrast becomes even clearer in Daniel 7. The kingdoms of the world are portrayed as beasts, but in contrast to these beasts comes “one like a son of man” who receives an everlasting kingdom that would rule over “all peoples, nations, and languages” (Daniel 7:13-14). The dominion of the beasts is ultimately taken away and destroyed, while the kingdom of the son of man would hold dominion forever (Daniel 7:26-27).

The conflict between these kingdoms and God’s people continues to be apparent throughout the whole New Testament. From Jesus’ birth to the cross, to the persecutions in Acts, to the “beasts” and “Babylon” of the book of Revelation, these earthly kingdoms consistently present themselves as enemies of Christ and kingdom. But just as we see in Daniel, the New Testament likewise speaks of their future destruction at Christ’s return (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:24; Revelation 11:15).

The bottom line is this: from Genesis through Revelation, earthly kingdoms are continually portrayed as entities that are inherently rivalrous with Christ’s reign. They were born in rebellion against, exist in conflict with, and are destined for destruction at the hands of God’s Kingdom. This understanding is foundational for understanding what the Bible says about how God’s people relate to earthly kingdoms.

2. Because Israel Was Forbidden From Yoking Itself to Earthly Kingdoms

How, then, were the citizens of God’s holy nation, Israel, commanded to relate to the pagan nations that surrounded them? They were forbidden to form alliances with those nations and their gods.

God told Israel in Exodus 23:32, “You shall make no covenant with them and their gods.” The same warning appears repeatedly throughout the Old Testament (Exodus 34:12-16; Deuteronomy 7:1-6; Joshua 23:12-13). Their covenant relationship with the LORD prohibited them from allying themselves with rival kingdoms and their gods.

Israel was warned repeatedly against trusting foreign nations for security and deliverance. When Israel looked to Egypt for military protection, Isaiah condemned them:

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help
and rely on horses,
who trust in chariots because they are many
and in horsemen because they are very strong,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!

Isaiah 31:1

The problem was not simply that Israel was trusting Egypt too much and God too little. By the very act of seeking security from Egypt, they were failing to trust the LORD.

The prophets even described Israel’s alliances with pagan nations as adultery, portraying Israel as an unfaithful wife chasing after other men (cf. Ezekiel 16 & 23). This helps explain James 4:4: “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” When James warns the church of adultery, he is drawing upon this Old Testament picture of God’s people pursuing alliances with pagan powers.

Israel belonged to God, yet they lived among other kingdoms that did not. The kingdoms of the world were of a different nature, and Israel was forbidden to yoke itself to them.

3. Because Jesus Established a Kingdom

This brings us to the ministry of Jesus. The central message of Jesus’ forerunner, John the Baptist, was summarized as: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). Likewise, Jesus proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

Jesus did not come to teach people how to create new and improved versions of the kingdoms that already existed. He was given numerous opportunities to seize earthly political power, but he refused this option each and every time (Luke 4:5-8; John 6:14-15). And He commanded his disciples to do the same (Luke 22:25-26). Instead of working with and through the powers these kingdoms offered, He came announcing the arrival of an entirely new kingdom, the kingdom of God.

And this kingdom had a King. One of Jesus’ favorite ways of referring to Himself was “the Son of Man,” drawing directly from Daniel 7, where the Son of Man receives an everlasting kingdom over “all peoples, nations, and languages.” That’s why He announced at His ascension, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).

This is also why “Jesus is Lord” became the central confession of the early church. This was more than simply a statement about Jesus’ divinity. It was a declaration of His reign. Christians were proclaiming that Jesus, not Caesar, was Lord.

This helps explain the accusation made against the Christians in Thessalonica:

They are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king, Jesus.

Acts 17:7

The charge was accurate. Christians were proclaiming another King. And if we have given our allegiance to Jesus as King, we cannot simultaneously give our allegiance to rival kings.

4. Because of the Spiritual Dimension Behind Earthly Kingdoms

Scripture also presents earthly political powers as part of a larger spiritual conflict. Deuteronomy, Daniel, and many of the Psalms associate earthly kingdoms with spiritual powers that stand behind them (cf. Deuteronomy 32:8; Daniel 10; Psalm 82). Paul says that Christians should wrestle against these “rulers,” “authorities,” and “cosmic powers” (Ephesians 6:12). The book of Revelation even says that these earthly kingdoms receive their authority from the “dragon” (Revelation 13:2). These passages reinforce the biblical picture of earthly kingdoms existing within a world in rebellion against God. Recognizing the reality of these rebellious principalities and powers explains why it is appropriate to compare allegiance to these kingdoms to the sin of idolatry.

5. Because of the Early Christian Martyrs

The early Christians understood the importance of refusing allegiance to these earthly kingdoms. As I documented previously, Christians in the early centuries refused to swear allegiance to Caesar, even when doing so cost them their lives. Polycarp’s response perhaps says it best: “How then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” Polycarp understood that swearing allegiance to Caesar was incompatible with his loyalty to Christ. He could not give Caesar even a lesser allegiance, for he served Christ as King. Because he already belonged to that King, he could not give allegiance to another.

What About Romans 13?

Of course, many will continue to point to Romans 13, 1 Peter 2, 1 Timothy 2, as well as Jesus’ command to “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” And they are right to do so. These are important passages that teach Christians to submit to governing authorities. We are commanded to pay taxes, honor rulers, pray for them, and obey the law, provided that obedience to those authorities does not conflict with our obedience to Christ.

But none of these passages teach allegiance to earthly rulers. Submission is not the same thing as allegiance. Submission is something we do because of our allegiance, but in each of these passages, the allegiance in view is allegiance to God. We submit to earthly rulers, not because we have pledged loyalty to them, but because we have pledged loyalty to God.

Just as Romans 13 teaches, we trust that God is properly ordering earthly kingdoms and using them as His ministers to accomplish His purposes. Paul says that God uses governing authorities to execute wrath on wrongdoers, building on how God used kingdoms such as Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon to accomplish His purposes in the Old Testament.

But God’s ability to use these kingdoms for good is not contingent on those kingdoms willingly and knowingly giving him their submissive obedience (cf. Isaiah 10:5-15; Habakkuk 1:9-11). None of these passages teach that God expects his people to become part of these kingdoms. We can submit to government without belonging to it. We can, and must, submit to these kingdoms, but we cannot pledge our allegiance to them.

We have pledged our allegiance to another king. Jesus is Lord. We should honor earthly rulers, obey their laws, and pray for those in authority. But we must never confuse submission with allegiance to rulers and kingdoms that are inherently rivalrous with Christ and His kingdom. Because we have pledged our allegiance to Christ, and because we recognize these earthly powers as rivals to Christ and His kingdom, we cannot give our allegiance to these rival kingdoms.

Christians and Entertainment: Where Do We Draw the Line?

On By Tyler BoydIn Christian Living, Questions and Responses

A reader named James recently submitted a thoughtful question in response to my 2019 article, How the Early Church Approached Entertainment:

I want your opinion on the early church fathers and sports as entertainment today. Like football, basketball, baseball, or other sports. What about UFC or boxing? Which would be considered acceptable, and which would not? We’re called to not be of this world, but does that mean we shouldn’t enjoy certain things in it? What about movies that don’t glorify sex but contain some violence—like The Avengers? Or what about neutral music and neutral movies? Where should the early church fathers and we as Christians stand?

This is an important and relevant question in today’s entertainment-saturated world. As I discussed in the original article, early Christians were generally cautious about entertainment, particularly forms that glorified immorality, idolatry, or violence. The gladiatorial games, for example, were strongly condemned because they promoted bloodshed and desensitized people to human suffering.

Sports and Christian Values

Applying this to modern sports, we should ask: Does this sport encourage godly or ungodly values? Sports like basketball, baseball, and soccer emphasize skill, competition, teamwork, and discipline. Even football, though physically intense, is primarily about strategy, coordination, and perseverance. Most fans do not watch these sports to revel in violence but to appreciate incredible displays of athleticism and the enjoyable experiences with friends and family they foster.

Moreover, sports can teach and celebrate many positive values. Through sports we see the importance of discipline, as training and hard work are required to succeed. We see the importance of teamwork, as cooperation, communication, and humility lead to success. Many young people learn the importance of perseverance by pushing through the challenges sports present.

Paul himself seemed to appreciate the value of sports. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, he used the image of a runner striving for a prize to illustrate spiritual discipline. In 2 Timothy 4:7, he described his faithfulness as “fighting the good fight” and “finishing the race.” These references suggest that Paul, if not an active participant, at least saw athletic competition as a useful metaphor for Christian life, one that emphasizes endurance, self-control, and focus on the ultimate goal.

However, not all sports are the same. Combat sports, like UFC, raise more concerns because their primary goal is physical domination and injury. This more closely resembles the violent spectacles early Christians opposed. If Christians watch sports such as football or hockey primarily for the violent hits and fights, they should probably reconsider what they are feeding into their minds. Additionally, many modern sporting events are accompanied by nationalistic hymns or militaristic displays, which closely parallel the idolatrous practices the early church renounced. Therefore, while a Christian might participate in or enjoy sports, they should carefully examine their hearts to ensure they are not cultivating violence, pride, or idolatry in the process.

Movies, Music, and Media: Drawing the Line

A common question arises: Where do we draw the line in entertainment? How much bad language, how many sexual references, or how much violence makes a movie inappropriate?

This question is much like asking: How many grains of sand make a pile? If you see ten grains, you wouldn’t call it a pile. What about 50? 100? 10,000? A million? Where exactly does a pile begin?

Drawing the line is tricky.

But just because it’s difficult to define doesn’t mean there is no such thing as a “pile” of sand—or, in this case, that no movies, shows, or music are inappropriate for Christians. Some entertainment clearly glorifies sin, while others may contain minor questionable elements without promoting sinful values.

Drawing the line is tricky. I’m sure there are many Christians who won’t watch The Avengers or other Marvel movies due the amount of violence. Others will contend that the comic-book genre gives this violence a specific context, and does not necessarily celebrate immorality the way other movies do. But when movies explicitly promote sexual sin, greed, or rebellion against God this should certainly give us pause. The key is discernment: Are we watching, listening, or participating in a way that glorifies God?

The Real Question: Not Just Avoiding Sin, But Pursuing Holiness

Ultimately, entertainment choices should not be guided by a mindset of “How much can I get away with?” but rather “How can I glorify God?”

Rather than merely avoiding what is sinful, we should actively seek what is good, pure, and noble (Philippians 4:8). Entertainment itself is not inherently sinful, but in a world that constantly competes for our attention, we must be careful not to become desensitized to sin or enslaved by our entertainment habits. We would be wise to remember Paul’s warning, “but if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey” (Romans 6:13-18). Do not allow yourself to become a slave to entertainment.

If you have never turned off a TV show or movie you really “wanted” to enjoy, or purposely taken a step back from a sport you love to consume for the purpose of your spiritual health, there is a good chance that sports may have become an idol in your life. We may not always agree on exactly where to draw the line, but one thing is certain: As Christians, we must never stop drawing the line.

How Should a Christian Approach the Issue of Illegal Immigration and Deportations?

On By Tyler BoydIn Christian Living, Christian's Relationship to Government, Kingdom Life, Questions and Responses

Earlier this week a Christian friend sent me the following request for an article:

I’ve seen lots of liberals and conservatives arguing over deportations. There are lots of emotions on both sides, and I haven’t had the chance to think through it. Can you write an article on the subject of how a Christian should approach the issue of illegal immigration and deportations?

This is an important question, and yes, it is often an emotionally charged issue. As Christians, we must ensure that our perspective is shaped by Scripture rather than political partisanship. To do that, we need to carefully consider a few key biblical principles.

What Does the Bible Say About Immigration in General?

Before addressing the more complex issue of illegal immigration, it’s important to remember what the Bible says about immigrants – often referred to in Scripture as “sojourners” or “foreigners.” On this, the Bible is clear. Immigrants must be treated with kindness and fairness. This begins with God’s commands to Israel in the Old Testament. Many foreigners in Israel were there for economic reasons, much like many immigrants today. God explicitly and repeatedly commanded Israel to treat them well.

You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 22:21

When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 19:33-34

He [The LORD] executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 10:18

Furthermore, Israel was commanded not to return runaway slaves to their masters.

You shall not give up to his master a slave who has escaped from his master to you. He shall dwell with you, in your midst, in the place that he shall choose, within one of your towns, wherever it suits him. You shall not wrong him.

Deuteronomy 23:15-16

While this passage does not explicitly refer to foreigners in particular, and arguably does not provide a direct parallel to illegal immigration, this shows that in the case of slavery, when certain individuals escaped difficult circumstances and found refuge in another land, God desired his people to prioritize hospitality over their legal (or rather “illegal”) status.

The New Testament does not speak as directly to the issue of immigration. We do, however, see in the parable of the Good Samaritan that our neighbor is defined as whoever we love and provide care for, regardless of their nationality (Luke 10:25-37). Among those who have been baptized into Christ, “There is neither Jew nor Greek” for they are all “one in Christ” (Galatians 3:28). Christians are even commanded to love their enemies, providing for their needs (Romans 12:20).

Therefore it is plain to see that God expects Christians to love, do good, and care for others, including immigrants. This stands in stark contrast to the harsh and vindictive attitudes that are often prevalent in the world around us, and sometimes influence public policy. Our primary concern should be to reflect Christ’s love when we interact with people, regardless of their nationality or legal status.

Does This Mean Christians Should Oppose Deportations?

This is where the discussion becomes more complex. The thing is, at least among the vast majority of Christians, there is little debate about how Christians are expected to personally treat immigrants in general. The question of illegal immigration and deportation requires careful consideration of additional biblical principles.

First, while Israel was commanded to care for foreigners within its borders, they were never given the responsibility to change the immigration policies of surrounding nations. The prophets often rebuked Israel for mistreating immigrants (Malachi 3:5; Ezekiel 22:7, 29; Jeremiah 7:5-7, etc), but they never once rebuked Israel for failing to make other nations more hospitable to foreigners. There was no command for Israel to use its power, wealth, or alliances to change the policies of the ungodly Gentile nations.

This is not because God was not concerned with the injustices of other nations, but because he desired Israel to demonstrate his wisdom to those other nations by following his law (Deuteronomy 4:5-8), not by directly seeking to reform other nations’ policies. As Gentiles, such as Rahab (Joshua 2:11), Ruth (Ruth 1:16), or Naaman (2 Kings 5:15) came to recognize the wisdom and power of the Lord, they were drawn to leave their former allegiances, and were welcomed as they embraced Israel and their God.

Similarly, in the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles also never attempted to change Roman public policy, even though Rome was guilty of many injustices. The closest Jesus came to commenting on Roman law was when He was asked about paying taxes to Caesar (Matthew 25:15-22), and even then, He turned the question around into an opportunity to teach people about the importance of giving their allegiance to God. If Jesus had desired to change Roman public policy, He had the opportunity when Satan offered Him “all the kingdoms of the world” and all their “authority and glory” (Luke 4:5-7). Yet Jesus rejected this as a temptation.

Likewise, the apostles never campaigned to change Roman policies. The early church was known for “turning the world upside down” (Acts 17:6), but not through political activism. Instead, they focused on living a radically distinctive lifestyle, as salt and light (Matthew 5:13-17), faithfully following Christ’s commands while submitting to governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17).

Would Jesus and the apostles be concerned with how Christians treat immigrants? Absolutely. If Jesus and his apostles were around today, would they have opinions about immigration laws and their enforcement? It wouldn’t surprise me. But just as we see in the example of Jesus himself, and in the example of the early church, our focus should be on living out the gospel, proclaiming our allegiance to a different Lord, and maintaining citizenship in a heavenly country, not political reform of earthly kingdoms.

How Should Christians Handle Situations Involving Illegal Immigrants?

Since the Bible calls us both to love immigrants and to submit to governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7), we must proceed wisely, carefully considering each of these obligations.

  • Show Love and Compassion to Immigrants, Regardless of Legal Status.

This is especially important if we find ourselves counseling immigrants who have become Christians, and have begun to wrestle with the implications of their illegal status.

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

James 1:16-17

We must avoid harsh, vindictive attitudes toward those who are in difficult situations, even if those difficult situations are brought on by their own choices.

  • Recognize that God Appoints Governing Authorities for a Reason

In Romans 13:1-7, Paul commands the Christians in Rome to remain subject to the governing authorities. He states that “there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” He teaches them that God appoints the authorities as His ministers for their good, and as an avenger to carry out His wrath on wrongdoers. As governments bear the sword enforcing their policies, they do not do so in vain. God has a purpose for them.

It’s important to remember that Romans was written while the wicked Nero reigned as emperor. This passage is not suggesting that God endorsed Nero’s numerous unjust uses of the sword. It simply reminds us that “all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). This means that even bad things, such as tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword (Romans 8:35) can work together “for good.” In the same way, God uses the governing authorities, even the wicked and unjust ones like Nero for the good of His children.

  • Encourage Submission To Laws Where Possible

Since we recognize that God has a purpose for the governing authorities, we should submit to their authority. The only exception to this rule would be if obedience to God necessitates disobedience to their commands (cf. Acts 5:29).

If an illegal immigrant becomes a Christian, we should encourage them to consider what submission to governing authorities looks like in their situation. Some cases may require difficult decisions. Each situation should be handled with wisdom and compassion, and a desire to please our Lord in everything He has required of us. Ultimately we are to subject ourselves to human institutions, and to those who enforce their laws, not because we view ourselves as their servants, but because it is the will of God (1 Peter 2:13-17).

For example, I once knew a young man who confessed to his close friends that he was brought to the U.S. illegally as a child. After this young man became a Christian, and after much prayer and counsel, he decided the right thing to do was to return to his home country as soon as arrangements could be made. It was a difficult decision, but he made it out of a desire to live faithfully. Each case is unique. It is important to surround fellow Christians with wise counsel and prayer.

  • Avoid Unnecessary Involvement in Enforcement

It is important to remember that while governing authorities do not bear the sword in vain (Romans 13:4), God has called us as Christians to live peaceably with all, providing for physical needs when they are present (Romans 12:18-21). Christians are not called to act as enforcers of immigration law. I do not find anything in Scripture that would require Christians to be snooping around, asking unnecessary questions, calling tip-lines, or otherwise trying to expose someone’s illegal status. God has appointed governing authorities to bear the sword, and he has not given that responsibility to His children.

So, What Is the Christian Perspective on Illegal Immigration?

In short, Christians are called to live as citizens of another kingdom (Philippians 3:20) while respecting the earthly authorities under which we live.

  • We should love and care for immigrants (Luke 10:25-37)
  • We should submit to governing authorities as much as possible (Romans 13:1-7)
  • We should be distinct from the world, in that we must not be vindictive or harsh, but instead show the character of Christ (Colossians 3:12-14)
  • We should not become obsessed with political activism, remembering that our mission is to seek first God’s kingdom, and to proclaim the supreme authority of His Son (Matthew 6:33; 28:19-20).

As strangers and exiles in this world (1 Peter 2:11), we must let our ultimate allegiance to Christ shape how we engage complex issues like illegal immigration. We are neither enforcers of government policy, nor the enemies of the governing authorities. Our primary mission to to bring the light of Christ into every dark corner of this world, drawing as many as possible out of the domain of darkness into the Kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13).