Nationalism and the Prophetic Critique

Abstract

The 1998 celebration of the centennial year of Philippine independence provides the backdrop for the reexamination of our identity as a nation and as a church denomination. One of the most pressing questions engendered by that celebration concerns the assertion of our nationalistic goals and aspirations in an age of rising globalization. In this paper the teachings of the prophet Jerimiah provide the philosophical underpinnings for the theological paradigm that will be used in probing whether nationalism could provide a viable ideological base for a people's struggle for national liberation. Central in Jeremiah's teachingsis the concept of "transformation" which involves, among others, a new liberating, covenant-based, and pro-people consciousness, Jeremiah's concern for the integrity and freedom of one's nation and his conviction that the cry for freedom by the elite leaders of a nation cannot be set apart from the cry of the poor and the marginalized for redemption from their plight find echoes in the contemporary cry in our country for an independent foreign policy in which the superpowers of this world and the powerless and voiceless enjoy equally responsible and meaningful participation in law and policy. Finally, this paper expresses the view that it would do this country good to heed Jeremiah's cry. For our nation to be truly free and respected in the community of nations, it must contribute to the upliftment of its own people as well as others, instead of simply dreaming of becoming like the other more advanced nations and forgetting all about becoming a people of God.