The Christian Looks at Nationalism

GOLDEN TEXT: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people [margin, Heb. to nations].” —Proverbs 14:34

AMOS 2:4-7

THE nation of Israel was given God’s Law as a standard of righteousness, by which the people were to be governed. When the people, under the leadership of their rulers, were faithful to this Law, the nation was blessed, for they were thus exalted in the eyes of the Lord, as our Golden Text indicates. Throughout the ages the nations of earth as a whole have not appreciated the high standards of God’s righteousness, nor have they made any special efforts to adhere to them.

Even God’s nation, Israel, was prone to forget God’s Law. Our lesson assignment in the Book of Amos reveals that at the time of this prophet the righteousness of Judah was at a very low ebb. God punished his people for their sins. What was in some respects their final punishment came upon the nation in 606 B.C., when their last king, Zedekiah, was overthrown, and the people taken captive to Babylon. From that time on the nation continued to be a vassal to the Gentiles. Thus were the people as a nation reproached for their sins.

ACTS 17:24-26

Paul’s sermon on Mars’ hill was addressed to the people of Athens—who were Greeks, hence Gentiles. These were not God’s professed people. They had never entered into a covenant with the Lord; had never agreed to keep his Law. They were worshipers of idols, and took much pride in their magnificent temple, which towered majestically above Mars’ hill.

Paul took the occasion to tell these Greek philosophers that it was the true God they referred to as the “UNKNOWN GOD” who had made the worlds and all things therein, not one of their gods of wood and stone. This true God, he explained, did not dwell in temples made with hands, no matter how beautiful they might be. King Solomon recognized this, and after he had completed the glorious temple in Jerusalem, in his prayer of dedication he acknowledged that even the heaven of heavens could not contain the mighty Creator, much less the house he had built.—I Kings 8:27

Paul realized that no effort had ever been made to enlighten the Athenians. He knew, indeed, that although a general call to repentance went forth into the world beginning with Pentecost, the object of this call during the Gospel Age was to seek and prepare a people to be associated with Jesus in the future conversion of the world through the agencies of his messianic kingdom. Knowing this, Paul remarked concerning the lack of knowledge of the true God manifested by the Greeks that “the times of this ignorance God winked at.”—vs. 30

God did not wink at the ignorance and sins of the Israelites. They were his people. They had agreed to keep his Law, so he held them responsible, and punished them in keeping with what his justice required. But with the Gentiles it was different, and still is. None of the Gentile nations has ever been accepted by God as his. He has never given any Gentile nation his Law.

Individuals in all nations are accountable to God for their conduct in proportion to their knowledge of him and of his righteous laws. Those who have endeavored to serve him to the best of their knowledge will be appropriately rewarded. Those who have been willful in their opposition to what they have known to be right will be punished in keeping with the measure of their guilt. “Whatsoever a man soweth, that he also reap,” Paul wrote. (Gal. 6:7) While this statement applies particularly to Christians, in principle it is applicable to all.

Paul explained further that God “winks” at the ignorance of the people at the present time, because he has “appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained.” (vss. 30,31) It is thus clearly implied that the world’s judgment day will be one of enlightenment. Isaiah foretold as much. He said that when the Lord’s judgments would be abroad in the earth the people would learn righteousness. (Isa. 26:9) Micah also indicated that the people would be judged and taught at the same time.—Micah 4:2

As Christians we should be thankful for the many promises of the Bible which indicate that God’s plan extends to all nations. He loves the whole world, and gave his Son to redeem all from sin and death. The Christian should endeavor to attain and maintain God’s viewpoint of the nations, and rejoice in his loving plan for all mankind.

QUESTIONS

Explain the bearing the Golden Text had on God’s dealings with natural Israel.

To whom was Paul’s sermon on Mars’ hill preached?

Has God ever endeavored to convert the people of all nations?

When will the true God of the Bible be revealed to all mankind?

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