I am an American; born here in the USA, lived here all of my life. I do like this country. I don’t always agree with the way it works or who’s running it but I’m here and I know that there are millions of people who are less fortunate in the world then me. I am thankful that I have the rights that I have and the access to so much. I know the “Star Spangled Banner” and I sing patriotic songs and like most of them.
However, on July 4th Sunday (or the Sunday closest to the 4th of July), I find it hard to be in worship in congregations that structure the theme around God Bless the USA/America. I find it hard to sit there and look at church chancels that are adorned with the American flag and if people noticed where I sit it’s so it’s not in my eyesight while I worship. It bothers me that people get all festive, wearing red, white and blue to worship, but can’t remember the colors of the liturgical year.
This bothers me because as Christians we are called to worship the God of all people and all nations. We are called to serve a God who doesn’t just speak English. We are called to be with our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in places of war, who live in places we have put in an “axis of evil.” We are called to be united with these people and the phrase “God bless America” leaves out the millions of people who profess a belief in God, through the Abrahamic faiths. We are forgetting to acknowledge that as much as God blesses us fortunate people here in the US, God also blesses the people of China, Sudan, Argentina, Greece, etc.
The other major reason a Patriotic Worship services bother me is because we are called as Christian to be followers of God. Worship should be about giving praise and thanksgiving to God, not about singing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Worship is the time to be set aside for God. This is sacred and holy time with God. We get enough “country” in our everyday lives already. Turn on the news, read the paper, it’s there. Can’t leave the country time outside the worship time? Can’t we hold sacred the time when we are uniting with other people of faith?
So yes, I would rather attend worship in a congregation that does not have the flag displayed on the chancel. Yes I would rather sing Christian hymns and skip over the patriotic section in the hymnal. But this does not make me less American. It is me simply asking to keep my God time sacred.
However, on July 4th Sunday (or the Sunday closest to the 4th of July), I find it hard to be in worship in congregations that structure the theme around God Bless the USA/America. I find it hard to sit there and look at church chancels that are adorned with the American flag and if people noticed where I sit it’s so it’s not in my eyesight while I worship. It bothers me that people get all festive, wearing red, white and blue to worship, but can’t remember the colors of the liturgical year.
This bothers me because as Christians we are called to worship the God of all people and all nations. We are called to serve a God who doesn’t just speak English. We are called to be with our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in places of war, who live in places we have put in an “axis of evil.” We are called to be united with these people and the phrase “God bless America” leaves out the millions of people who profess a belief in God, through the Abrahamic faiths. We are forgetting to acknowledge that as much as God blesses us fortunate people here in the US, God also blesses the people of China, Sudan, Argentina, Greece, etc.
The other major reason a Patriotic Worship services bother me is because we are called as Christian to be followers of God. Worship should be about giving praise and thanksgiving to God, not about singing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Worship is the time to be set aside for God. This is sacred and holy time with God. We get enough “country” in our everyday lives already. Turn on the news, read the paper, it’s there. Can’t leave the country time outside the worship time? Can’t we hold sacred the time when we are uniting with other people of faith?
So yes, I would rather attend worship in a congregation that does not have the flag displayed on the chancel. Yes I would rather sing Christian hymns and skip over the patriotic section in the hymnal. But this does not make me less American. It is me simply asking to keep my God time sacred.
I could sign my name to this post, for you have eloquently stated what I've felt for years. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you Nancy. We need to catch up and have some coffee sometime. I see a roadtrip coming.
ReplyDeleteI'll be in DsM on July 20 for a regional meeting. That's in the afternoon, I think but not really sure of the meeting time. Of course, we could maybe figure out a place half-way instead.
ReplyDelete