‘Here’s your sign’ was a phrase coined by comedian Bill Engvall; the ‘sign’ should be worn by stupid people bearing the warning that they are, in fact, stupid. When someone does something stupid, you can simply tell them ‘Here’s your sign…’
In the lost luggage section of an airport…
Bill Engvall: She said, “Can I help you?” I said, “Yes ma’am, you lost my luggage.” She looked me right in the eye and said, “Has your plane landed yet?” “No, princess, I’m having an out-of-body experience! I’m just checking on it! Here’s your sign.”
In the article “9 Sins the Church Is Okay With”, Frank Powell opines about a list of “sins of his choice” (with no data, just his myopic opinion) that he believes “the church” is ok with. “Ok with?” or “for which the church is ok”? I digress.
He actually starts his article with very clear thinking. His thought process is fairly clear until he hist his #8 of 9 ‘sins’ where he inserts ‘The Sin of Patriotism’:
Cue the nasty e-mails. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t picture Jesus waving an American flag while showing off his “I love ‘Merica” tattoo. Jesus wasn’t against the government. In fact, if you’re a Jesus follower, the Bible calls you to pray for your nation and for your leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-4). But Jesus was very clear about how God’s name would become famous throughout the world…the church. Not the government. Not a nation. The church.
What the heck? This little wannabe ‘theologian’ working on this PhD in Barista tosses out ‘The Sin of Patriotism’? How about telling the long list of Pastors and Patriots of the Revolution that they were sinners because they fought and killed, plus the many that died, because of their love for this country and the religious freedom for which it was founded?
It is true, following Jesus means putting Him first. Yet, there is nothing at all wrong with loving our country and fighting for its freedoms. In fact, IT’S FREAKIN’ AWESOME!
Yes, it is very easy to put Jesus first and be an all out red, white and blue wearing, flag-pledging, Constitution-loving patriot. In fact, it has been the people who “cling to their Bibles and guns” that have preserved our religious freedoms. The kind of freedoms that allow for this kind of writing, and even the stupidity, of blog posts that include ‘The Sin Of Patriotism’.
Mr. Powell, “Here’s your sign”.
SEE ALSO: IF AMERICA GOES DOWN THE TOILET: I’m Blaming Lame Pastors
