Whose Side Is God On?

Many churches today do not recognize a tension between being a good Christian and being a patriotic citizen. In fact, many churches have no problem in singing patriotic hymns and pledging allegiance to the country in worship services. These attitudes are in sharp contrast with the declaration of the early church that Christ is Lord, which was understood to mean that Caesar was not. They thought of Christ as the real ruler who would ultimately prevail over earthly rulers who controlled by means of coercive violence.