Why does the Church say it's acceptable to be a patriot as well as a Christian?
The short answer
Patriotism isn't opposed to Christianity. We don't worship our country any more than we worship the people we love. God comes first, but that doesn't mean nothing can come second or third: render to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.
No opposition
Being a patriot is not opposed to being Christian. We don't worship the country we love, just as we don't worship the people we love.
God first
Because God comes first, it doesn't follow that nothing can come second or third. Jesus said to repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God (Luke 20:25).
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