Happy 4th of July, everyone. Hug your family, call your friends, and appreciate what it means to live free. I've often said that I have seen much of the world and I know the value of living in the most free, most prosperous, most advanced nation in the history of the world. The dream that our Founding Fathers had is still alive in many ways. This is not to say that we are blameless or holy, I've seen enough of us and the world to know better; it is only to say that there is much good to be loved and appreciated here.
Something has bothered me increasingly in recent years though, and it gets more severe this time of year. Like I said, I've lived here and overseas and visited many other countries in my life. I love America very much, but I don't mistake it for my home. I've frequently expressed my discomfort with the blurred line between Nationalism and American Evangelical Christianity. Bob Hyatt says it better than I here. I don't mean any offense here, and I don't mean to criticize your church if it holds 'America' themed services around the 4th. I just can't help but wonder if replacing songs about the greatness of God with songs about the greatness of America is not exactly what we should be doing with our weekly services.
What if, instead of lavishing praise on ourselves and our military, (whom I respect greatly; my father was an officer for 30 years), we earnestly prayed for our enemies? We have them, and many in our country are foolish to pretend like we aren't at war or that America can just be friends with everyone. But what if we truly acted on Jesus' words and we prayed for our enemies? Radical, I know. Radical.
I'd love your thoughts on the subject. And please know that, as with everything, we can totally disagree about this and still be friends!
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8 Cachinnations
Wonderful words, Cach. Please speak on!
Posted on 7/05/2006
Preach on Brother...Preach on...
On a more Ironic 4th of July note...I had dinner at my home here in Baklava-ville and there were British People Present!! It's true...Fun right?
Posted on 7/05/2006
There's nothing wrong with singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic at church on the 4th of July.
Provided you CAN sing.
*sigh*
Posted on 7/05/2006
David and I have been talking about this idea, sorta anyway lately.
What does it mean to be a Christian and not partake of the "I deserve" mentality we have in this American culture? When do we stop taking pride in this country and supporting the leaders, for better or worse, and start taking pride in and finding our identity in being Americans? These days it's hard to separate freedom in grace from the American attitude that we "deserve" good things.
For the younger ones in the next generation we fear that the 2 will be one in the same. It's scary to see how easy it is to justify our actions in this culture... You can see it in folks our age going out and getting, at whatever cost, what our parents have after working for years, (nice new car, big house, etc.) and believing they are entitled to have all these things. Granted, some of us have been blessed with financial gains in great jobs with wonderful salaries, property investments, or even inheritances, but still we are not entitled to anything, and yet that gets completely lost in this country. Not to say that God doesn't give us good gifts, he does, but where is the line between entitlement and a gift? I could hop on a soap box here, but I'll stop. I think you get the idea.
Posted on 7/05/2006
I think the patriotic hymns are meant to thank God for blessing our nation and its people. God loves everyone, not just Americans, but it's appropriate for us to thank him for this great country that we live in.
We are "entitled" to the inalienable rights (meaning the God-given ones He gives to every living soul) that are enumerated in our founding documents, and those rights to speech, assembly, bear arms, and to be free from oppressive government are what have made the rest of this prosperity possible. In a spiritual sense, yes, we all "deserve" damnation, but instead we get Christ's love through grace. That's why thanking him for the blessings he has bestowed on us as a collective nation are so important. I would think that the Brits, the French, etc. should do the same thing, so this isn't an issue of American exceptionalism (which is another post altogether).
PS - as a former instructor of Fork's, I must disagree and assert that he CAN in fact sing.
Posted on 7/05/2006
I love my country, and I was extremely homesick when I traveled abroad, but i do get offended when certain churches pray to God like we are the blessed ones, and we are the "best He's got." I tend to think that we are still clearly a blessed country, however, monetary gain does not equal approval from God. We are doing some things to other countries that I am sure that God wouldn't approve of. in other words, we aren't perfect. So, yes, I think that would be so amazing if we actually prayed for our enemies instead of condemning them. What a thought. I sound really harsh, but believe it or not, i am patriotic.
Posted on 7/05/2006
I went to the most patriotic church service of my life this past weekend in another city. I was very uncomfortable. I felt relieved when someone finally mentioned Jesus.
It's about balance. I love my country, but mostly I love my countrymen. When I lived abroad and met another American, it was like meeting family. There are some beautiful places in this nation that show me the handiwork of God. I'm deeply grateful for the freedom I've had.
At the same time, our nation does have it's definite shady past and present. It's not perfect. We've done a lot of bad even as we've done a lot of good.
I am a citizen of the kingdom of God. That is where my allegiance lies ultimately. But for now, I am thankful for the place in time where God has chosen to put me.
Posted on 7/06/2006
I printed that article by Bob Hyatt last year and put copies on the desks of the staff at the church I was going to then, but I never did find out what they thought of it (or tell them I put them there, for that matter).
Posted on 7/07/2006