It was a mostly normal Sunday morning. My wife and I left for church wondering if it would happen. It did. The Pledge of Allegiance was said. The National Anthem was sang. Everyone stood. We sat. It was uncomfortable, I admit.
This was about two years ago. I don’t even remember if it was Memorial Day, The Fourth of July, Veteran’s Day, etc. These holidays tend to run together in appearance during Sunday worship service. So where is our patriotism? Wait!
Did you catch that? Sunday worship service. We gather Sunday morning to worship God and be fed by Him. This discussion is nothing new to us. My father-in-law served and retired after almost 30 years. We’ve had some interesting discussions on this topic. We love him and are thankful for his service. Our objection to explicit patriotism during corporate worship comes from our desire to be Christocentric. But can’t you worship God by thanking Him for this country?
Yes and No
Yes, we can certainly worship God by thanking Him for the blessings He has given us in this country. Just as Christians in countries like China or Iraq can thank Him for the blessings He’s given them. The most important blessing of them all is Jesus Christ. Having peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ is a radical thing in countries like China and Iraq. In the USA, you can find Jesus on billboards and bumper stickers. Even our poor are “rich” in a sense. We’ve been so blessed that we often don’t see it. We start to worship the creation rather than the Creator. This brings me to “no”.
No, we can’t thank God for what He’s done if our focus is not on God. We don’t need 800 American flags up in front of the church. The Pledge of Allegiance during worship service is not an act of worship towards God. It’s more like taking the bronze serpent that God graciously gave and worshiping it. We sing “God Bless America” when we should be singing “God Forgive America”. Based on what we’ve done with what God has given us we should be thankful He doesn’t remove some blessings! Dr. John MacArthur offers a perspective on this in his sermon Can God Bless America? Even so, God in His continues to be gracious to us. How should we react though?
Then how?
There are much larger issues than patriotism overshadowing the worship service. Those are different topics for a different time. I want to graciously offer another perspective on the topic at hand. I understand not all churches are over taken by patriotism on certain US holidays. Though there are many. I’ve seen them and sat through them.
I appreciate our Armed Forces. It takes certain personalities, gifts and desires to serve in such capacities. The same goes for our everyday public servants from police, fireman, EMTs, social workers, etc. As Christians in those occupations all have the responsibility to serve God through their work. God should be praised for all of these types of work. These non-military workers don’t get national holidays. We have a bit of a cultural issue to deal with which is always tough. Even for Christians.
Understand that …there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. [Rom. 13:1-ESV] We praise God for our government not the government itself. We are to pray for …all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. [1 Tim. 2:2-ESV] And not just general prayers, but also for them …to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. [1 Tim. 2:4-ESV] We honor those who serve and have served in the Armed Forces by thanking God for them. We thank God that He gave them the ability to perserver in the hard times of service. Even the Apostle Paul counted his life as nothing as he boasted in the Lord.
I understand it’s not the actual people asking to the center of focus. They are merely accepting recognition. I ask that God be the One being recognized and the praises are sung to Him and about Him. What separates our celebration from the world’s is Jesus Christ Who is the very reason we gather on His day. Let’s not move the focus on Jesus for certain holidays. There are six other days of the week to celebrate US holidays.
A Prayer
We should just have a regular worship service with a simple recognition, prayer (see above) and thankfulness towards God if we are to celebrate certain holidays inside the church. I offer a prayer for Memorial Day 2009.
Heavenly Father. Oh great and wondrous God. You have blessed us beyond measure with your Son Jesus Christ. We thank you! Thank you that you have put us in a country that we may worship and serve You freely. Thank You for those You’ve used to keep that freedom and establishments in place. We praise You that You’ve done so inspite of ourselves. I pray Father that you would bless Your sheep who are serving in military capacities among the world. I pray that they would be faithful servants that their lives would reflect Christ for that world to see. I ask that You would convict those unbelievers who are around Your sheep to bring them to repentance and faith. Please let us all be good stewarts of the grace You’ve given us to live among the government You’ve put in place. Help us to take the Gospel as we are going and living. May those who have served in our military be a testimony of Your sovereign hand as they share with others what You have done for them. For your sheep currently on active duty and their families, please give them comfort. Help them focus on Christ as they live through tough times. I pray their lives would be a testimony of faith and reliance in Jesus. Help them in times when they must serve under ungodly leaders. Strengthen their faith. I pray that You would give wisdom to those in our government that they would make wise decisions for the country. I ask that you would convict us Christians to live out the Gospel under these great freedoms You’ve given. Help us all to be faithful. I ask all of this in Jesus name.
Amen.
Mark Lamprecht
Mark Lamprecht blogs at http://hereiblog.com on various cultural issues from a Christian worldview
