Faith Facts

• European soccer fans attending U.S. matches demonstrate more visible American patriotism than many native-born Americans, highlighting a troubling decline in national pride
• American patriotism has declined sharply, with only 38% of adults expressing extreme pride in being American in 2024, down from 70% in 2003
• Reclaiming patriotism requires teaching accurate history, celebrating American achievements, and rediscovering the biblical principles that made America exceptional

A curious phenomenon has emerged at soccer matches across America. European fans, visiting our nation to watch their teams compete, wave American flags with genuine enthusiasm. They marvel at our freedoms, our opportunities, and our heritage. Meanwhile, many Americans sit quietly, uncertain whether expressing love for their country is still acceptable.

This irony should trouble every believer who values the blessings God has bestowed upon this nation. When foreigners celebrate America more openly than Americans do, something has gone profoundly wrong.

The numbers confirm what many sense intuitively. Recent polling shows American patriotism at historic lows. Only 38% of adults now express extreme pride in being American, down from 70% in 2003. Among younger generations, the decline is even steeper. Our educational institutions, entertainment industry, and cultural elites have spent decades teaching Americans to focus exclusively on our nation’s failures while ignoring or dismissing its extraordinary achievements.

This crisis of patriotism threatens the very foundations of our republic. A nation that does not love itself cannot long endure. When citizens view their country primarily as a source of shame rather than gratitude, the bonds that unite us dissolve.

The solution begins with truth. We must teach the complete American story—not a sanitized version that ignores genuine failures, but one that honestly grapples with both our shortcomings and our remarkable progress. America was founded on revolutionary principles: that rights come from God, not government; that all people are created equal; that citizens can govern themselves. These ideas transformed human history.

Our nation has imperfectly but persistently worked to fulfill these founding ideals. We fought a civil war to end slavery. We extended voting rights to women and minorities. We defeated fascism and communism. We created prosperity that lifted hundreds of millions worldwide out of poverty. We sent missionaries and aid to every corner of the globe. No nation in history has done more to advance human freedom and dignity.

Christians especially should appreciate America’s exceptional character. Our founders built upon biblical principles of human dignity, limited government, and moral responsibility. The First Amendment protections that allow churches to operate freely, believers to worship openly, and ministries to spread the Gospel represent precious liberties unavailable in most of human history.

Reclaiming patriotism requires intentional effort. Parents must teach their children America’s true history. Churches should celebrate religious freedom and pray for national renewal. Schools need curriculum that presents balanced perspectives rather than ideological indoctrination. Citizens must speak up when they encounter anti-American propaganda masquerading as education.

We must also distinguish between healthy patriotism and blind nationalism. Loving America does not mean believing it is perfect. It means recognizing that despite real flaws, our nation embodies principles and has achieved results worth preserving and defending. Patriotism includes both gratitude for our blessings and commitment to continued improvement.

The European soccer fans waving American flags understand something many Americans have forgotten: this nation remains a beacon of hope and opportunity. They recognize freedoms here that their own countries lack. They appreciate an openness and optimism that distinguishes American culture.

If visitors can see our nation’s value so clearly, surely Americans can rediscover it. The alternative—a generation that views its own country with contempt—leads only to national dissolution. A house divided against itself cannot stand, and a nation ashamed of itself will not survive.

Patriotism is not outdated or unsophisticated. It is essential. It connects us to those who sacrificed to build and defend this nation. It inspires us to preserve and improve what we have inherited. It reminds us that American liberty is not inevitable but must be cherished and protected by each generation.

The path forward requires courage. We must resist cultural pressure that treats patriotism as embarrassing or patriotic expression as provocative. We must teach our children that loving America is both rational and righteous. We must reclaim our history, celebrate our achievements, and work to address our remaining shortcomings.

When European fans can find reasons to wave our flag while Americans hesitate, the problem is not with America. The problem is that we have allowed critics to define our national identity. It is time for Americans who love this country to speak up, stand firm, and pass on patriotism to the next generation.

Our republic depends on citizens who believe it is worth preserving. Patriotism is not in peril because America has failed. It is in peril because we have stopped teaching why America succeeds. That is a failure we can and must correct.

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