Question

Answer

It is absolutely true that our first allegiance is to the kingdom of God. We are to seek first the kingdom of God. But we are also to be good citizens (Rom. 13:1ff.) of the country of which we are earthly citizens. Jeremiah told Israel to pray for the good of the country in which they were exiles (Jer. 29:7). Paul happily used his rights as a Roman citizen without seeing a conflict with the kingdom of God (Acts 25:11). Now, had any of these been told to violate the law of the kingdom of God, they would have been required by God to refuse. Peter told the Sanhedrin, "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).

Let's put this in other but similar terms. We have given our hearts to our Lord Jesus Christ. And we are part of his bride, married to Christ. Yet we are permitted to marry wives here on earth and that does not conflict with our marriage to Christ. We can be loyal to Christ and our wives.

It seems, then, that we may commit ourselves to loyalty to the flag and to the United States of America, for which it stands, without at the same time committing ourselves to doing sin if that country should require it by law. Just remember to put crown and covenant first in your heart!