Why I am no longer proud to be an American.

I once saw a sign that read, “Texas proud.” This got me thinking. Can pride ever be a virtue?

Am I proud of our nation? The fact is there are a lot of things about this nation I am not proud of. I don’t like how we have one of the most permissive abortion laws in the world. Even European nations place limitations on second and third term abortions.We are not a perfect nation, we never have been. But, the past centuries have seen their own evils just as vile as the ones we face today.

I have done little to make our nation better. I have no right to be proud nor should I be even if I had contributed even in some small way. The apostle Paul once asked the Corinthians this question, “who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Corinthians 4:7) I think we Americans can ask ourselves that same question.

Everything we do have has been given to us be God. When I saw that sign I realized that my American pride was a sin. I was robbing God of something that belonged to Him alone. Pride is not a virtue but a sin – a sin that oozes the slime of hatred for God. We need to repent of our American pride and how we look down on those born abroad .

But what about the feelings I have towards this country?

I do feel something. I get goose bumps when I hear Rick Green and David Barton talk about our founding fathers and our godly heritage. I like how free we are (no thanks to the Bush administration or John McCain though). I enjoy our freedom of religion and I savor the fading mist of our freedom of speech even as it fades into memory.

What I feel about this nation and the state of Texas is not pride, not any more. What I feel is thankfulness. What I have as an American I have been given. God endowed us with certain inalienable rights and He rose up men who understood that the just powers of government are not derived through the sword but through the consent of the governed. I thank God for His sovereign intervention to allow our nation to survive these last many years.

I am also thankful to the millions of men who have given their lives to protect our constitution and our lives from enemies abroad. I am thankful for the statesmen who have stood on principle throughout the years to preserve our constitution from her domestic foes. I thank God for sending periodic revivals and great awakenings to keep us following Him. God has blessed us. We have nothing that we have not been given.

No I can’t be proud that I am an American and neither should you. But I thank God that he placed me in this place at this time. I wouldn’t want to be from anywhere else.

3 Comments

Justin on February 14, 2008 at 12:56 am

I agree with you 100%. I read article by Craig Smith a while ago that I thought was good that relates to what you’re talking about. He basically writes about how unhappy and ungrateful we, as Americans, are while enjoying freedoms that no one else in the world dreams of. I think sometimes our pride stems from ignorance of just how blessed we are. I think if more people – especially Christians – saw America for the land of opportunity that she is, our attitude would be one of gratitude and humility. Heres the link to the article even though you’ve probably already read it. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53028

TaxmanT on March 25, 2008 at 12:27 am

Observation #1 Definitions (Dictionary.com):
Pride:
a becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one’s position or character; self-respect; self-esteem.
pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by or belonging to oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself: civic pride.

Aren’t you 2 a little young to be so skeptical and cynical? Hasn’t 9 days in Ecuador sobered you up, with its 95% income tax non-compliance, 75% of goods smuggled in due to high tariffs, and if you want your deliveries protected, higher your own police? Gentlemen, yes we are first believers, 2nd Americans.

There is a bad pride and a good pride.

I think what you mean by pride is the “bad pride” is it not?
a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.

Anonymous on September 11, 2010 at 7:19 pm

you probably already know that the us has been founded by GOD no man can change this road we are unless it JEHOVA FATHER<ELLOHIM

Justin on February 14, 2008 at 12:56 am

I agree with you 100%. I read article by Craig Smith a while ago that I thought was good that relates to what you’re talking about. He basically writes about how unhappy and ungrateful we, as Americans, are while enjoying freedoms that no one else in the world dreams of. I think sometimes our pride stems from ignorance of just how blessed we are. I think if more people – especially Christians – saw America for the land of opportunity that she is, our attitude would be one of gratitude and humility. Heres the link to the article even though you’ve probably already read it. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53028
TaxmanT on March 25, 2008 at 12:27 am

Observation #1 Definitions (Dictionary.com):
Pride:
a becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one’s position or character; self-respect; self-esteem.
pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by or belonging to oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself: civic pride.

Aren’t you 2 a little young to be so skeptical and cynical? Hasn’t 9 days in Ecuador sobered you up, with its 95% income tax non-compliance, 75% of goods smuggled in due to high tariffs, and if you want your deliveries protected, higher your own police? Gentlemen, yes we are first believers, 2nd Americans.

There is a bad pride and a good pride.

I think what you mean by pride is the “bad pride” is it not?
a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.
Anonymous on September 11, 2010 at 7:19 pm

you probably already know that the us has been founded by GOD no man can change this road we are unless it JEHOVA FATHER<ELLOHIM