In Luke 18: 9-14, Jesus speaks a parable of two praying men. The first man, a Pharisee, is wealthy, educated, and held in high regard by all people. The Pharisee is a proud and loud follower of God who knows what God expects and does it before all people. The kind of man other people want to know, but also the kind of man they do not want to be around due to his loud and proclaiming self-righteousness.
The Pharisee goes up to the temple to pray and thanks God that he is not like other men. The Pharisee is correct that other men are extortioners, unjust, and adulterers. There is no doubt mankind is sinful. The problem is the Pharisee reminds God that he is a good boy who fasts twice per week and tithes 10% of all that he has, unlike the publican who walked in with him.
The other man is a functionary of the Roman State. In other words, he collects taxes for Rome and preys on his fellow man to the benefit of Rome. The Publican is the worst of the worst. He knows he is wrong for doing it, but it provides his living and he needs to eat, right? His family needs food and it is just a job. This man can barely enter the temple because he knows how bad he is. He stands as far back as possible and keeps his eyes glued to the ground in shame. He wants mercy and forgiveness, but he also dreads the eyes of God resting on him for even a second.
This second man knows he cannot stand before God; he is a sinner. In his prayer he asks God to have mercy on him, because he knows he needs it and does not warrant God's forgiving grace. He knows his life is a wreck and he has been a bad man and struggles to do right.
Jesus tells his audience the Publican left the temple that day justified and forgiven, whereas the other man who exalted himself before God left with his sin intact, even if he fails to acknowledge it.
This is the story of the American Christian, especially on holidays like July 4th. The American Christian gathers together and thanks God they are American and not like those other people around the planet without the power to extort and engage in endless war. The American Christian, in their mind, owns a special place in the Kingdom of God because of their geographic birthing. Americans have a special blessing by birth. All those other Christians in the world were cursed by their birth and if they are collateral damage in America's financial and military crimes, well they should have either been born American or left their shores as long as they do it LEGALLY and moved to America as soon as possible.
I am sure you have heard it said. You may have even said it yourself. Thank God I am an American. If God loved foreigners, He would have made them American. This sentiment is common in the American church, but it is most obvious on Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, and Independence Day. On these three days Americans cannot help themselves but roll with the pigs as they justify the crimes of government.
On these three days, Americans exit the temple after exalting their country while ignoring it's crimes. They elevate the Nation before God, but their words go unheard and their deeds stay on their heads. These are days of infamy before the Throne of God.
Meanwhile, those poor Christian souls around the world not celebrating these holidays barely survive despite US efforts to kill and subjugate them into economic bondage. These poor Christians know they are not worthy of eternal life, but are only granted it through the power of Jesus' blood and the mercy of God. They realize they have no standing before the throne on their own, but Jesus brings them in through the work of his shed blood on the cross.
These people are justified and clothed in righteousness while those proud Americans are covered in filth for exalting themselves before the throne of God. Please saints realize your identity card does not curry favor with the King. It more than likely is causing you real damage because the crimes are done in your name and very often with your willing compliance. Leave the State and enter the Kingdom. There is plenty of room.