I thank God that I am an American citizen and privileged to live in this country. Since September 11, patriotism has become a symbol of America’s unity against the perpetrators of this evil. In the D.C. area, thousands of cars proudly display U.S. flags. Many overpasses have a flag draped over the side. September 11 has unified Americans like no other event in recent history.

We are not only American citizens, but also citizens of the kingdom of God. “Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20, NASB). We are citizens of both America and heaven. The important questions are, “Where is our primary citizenship and loyalty? Are we first Americans and then Christians? Or are we first Christians and then Americans?”

During these tragic times, we respond and react with many emotions. We are shocked. We feel victimized. We grieve. We are appalled. We are angry that innocent lives were lost. We want justice. We want retaliation. We fear an uncertain future.

We contradict ourselves when we identify closely with America’s military goals and yet call ourselves peacemakers. As a nonresistant Christian, my primary loyalty must be to the kingdom of God.

Our reaction to this crisis, however, shows how we view our loyalties and our primary citizenship. We may say we are primarily Christians, and then Americans, but do our responses and our attitudes reflect those priorities?

During a time of national crisis such as this, it is easy to put our American citizenship ahead of our heavenly citizenship. We live on American soil, and so we identify with suffering and grieving in our land. The media’s spin on these events also influences our attitudes about our earthly citizenship.

I think we should read the Heavenly Post before we pick up the Washington Post. If we give first attention to the media’s influence before we immerse ourselves in the Word of God, we may elevate America above Christianity.

Our primary loyalty is also revealed in the way we talk to others about this situation. Do we include ourselves when we refer to the United States’ response or the government’s plan of action? If so, I fear our primary loyalty is shifting toward our American citizenship. As we identify with the USA, it blurs our distinctiveness as nonresistant Christians.

In discussing these issues, we should use words that do not unreservedly identify us with our government. We can discuss what “our government” or “our country” or “the United States” is planning rather than what “we” are doing.

Let us carefully consider our relationship with our country. We contradict ourselves when we identify closely with America’s military goals and yet call ourselves peacemakers. As a nonresistant Christian, my primary loyalty must be to the kingdom of God. I cannot say what the proper response of our government should be in this time of crisis. God has ordained government to keep order (Rom. 13). Thus it is responsible for the “punishment of evildoers” (1 Pet. 2:14, NASB). Though we do not always understand the ways of God, I am thankful that God’s ways are superior to ours.

This article is reprinted with permission from Where was God on Sept. 11? edited by Donald B. Kraybill and Linda Gehman Peachey. Copyright © 2002 by Herald Press, Scottdale, PA. Click here to order the book.