Why Younger Evangelicals May Feel Uneasy In A Patriotic Church Service

I have reconciled myself to the fact that I am no longer counted among the younger (I’m 43). However, I too would be uncomfortable in a patriotic church service. I came to this realization some years back while pastoring when I stopped to consider the position of this in my church who were not American citizens. The church is to be a separate entity. I have no problem with the church gathering on the 4th to watch fireworks, but worship services transcend political allegiances. They are about God and His people, the called out assembly.

I’m an old guy but I find them valuable in light of our responsibilities to the state. We recognize those who have or are currently serving the state.

I don’t think this article touched upon the main problem, as I see it. Too often, patriotic songs sound like we are giving our nation the same reverence, adoration, and worship that should be reserved for God alone. To sing, “My country, ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing…” is too close to replacing Jesus Christ with the United State of America. And this in a church worship service? Who are we worshipping? To place an American flag on one side of the platform and a Christian flag on the other is equally problematic. Are we giving equal honor to the USA and the Kingdom of Christ? It sure looks like it. How would a visitor from another country or culture know that we exalt Christ above (hopefully way, way above) our nation? Or, in church, to pledge allegiance to the flag of the United State of America, and then, in turn, pledge similar allegiance to the Christian flag, looks and sounds like two entities that receive equal allegiance from Christians. Is that really the message we intend to communicate?

Let’s reserve church services for the worship of Jesus Christ. If you want to go to a public park, watch fireworks, and sing patriotic songs (which often sound exactly like hymns), go to it. But please don’t confuse the worship of Christ with the worship of America (or Caesar). The church of the Lord Jesus Christ worships Christ alone, and no one shares His honor.

G.N. Barkman I agree completely. That is a much larger problem in my mind. What is a Christian flag anyway? Does God really want us pledging our allegiance to a flag that is supposed to represent Christianity?

As for the American flag, I am happy to pledge my allegiance to the flag for the reasons Jim mentioned but I am not personally comfortable doing it in a church service.

I haven’t seen a Christian flag in a church for over 30 years. I personally was never comfortable saluting the Christian flag.

My own church, 4th Baptist, has an annual patriotic service. It’s tasteful and Christ-honoring.

[Jim] My own church[’s]… annual patriotic service … [i] s … Christ-honoring.

This is precisely where we “younger evangelicals” see a dichotomy.

[Jim]

I haven’t seen a Christian flag in a church for over 30 years.

[Chip Van Emmerik] I would be shocked if they aren’t all over the campus of the day school there.

I haven’t been in every room at 4th but I’ve been in many of them and I’ve never seen a Christian flag

Just because so-called “younger evangelicals” don’t like something does not mean it is bad…they don’t hold the “official” judge card!

Second, not all “patriotic services” are bad. For example, a reasonable affirmation that God, through Providence, guided the hand of many of the founders in our nation is not improper. Some songs are not “patriotic” and “militaristic”, but are tasteful. Take “God Bless America”, it is a short prayer that God would bless our nation. What could possibly be wrong with that? By singing it you are NOT affirming that everything the USA has done is on the straight and narrow…

Third, I never have said the Pledge of Allegiance to the US flag at a church worship service, never will.

Fourth, I don’t care for the so-called Christian flag.

Fifth, if you live near a military base your attitude towards “patriotic” services would probably change given the service and sacrifices by many at your church!

Sixth, there is nothing wrong with taking a few minutes in a service on Independence Day or Veteran’s Day, etc, to honor veterans. A church service also has a social/cultural/community component to it, not just pure worship and Word.

Seventh, there is nothing wrong with taking a few minutes in a church service to thank God that the US has been a relatively free country where the gospel could be freely preached, and to pray that it would continue to be such a place.

Sixth, there is nothing wrong with taking a few minutes in a service on Independence Day or Veteran’s Day, etc, to honor veterans. A church service also has a social/cultural/community component to it, not just pure worship and Word.

I agree that a church body includes a community component, but I disagree that that is a primary component of the worship services. Furthermore, the majority of 4th of July services I have been in did not “take a few minutes in a service” but focused the entire service on the activity. Songs were patriotic and the message was geared toward national identity (usually by misusing and abusing a scripture like 2 Chronicles 7:14).

[Chip Van Emmerik] the majority of 4th of July services I have been in did not “take a few minutes in a service” but focused the entire service on the activity. Songs were patriotic and the message was geared toward national identity (usually by misusing and abusing a scripture like 2 Chronicles 7:14).

Our pastor’s message was on real freedom from John 8

I go to church to worship God.

When ALL the hymns (?) in a patriotic service are these:

The Star Spangled banner

My, Country, ‘Tis of Thee

Battle Hymn of the Republic

America the Beautiful

What am I worshipping?

Our church has a Christian flag Jim. I don’t know about other IFB churches in our area because I have not attended many.

I don’t know, what are you worshipping? You could line up the 5 greatest theologically perfect worship hymns, sing them to perfection, and be thinking of the Bears-Packers game on after church! Or you could be undressing the woman in front of you in your mind! Or doing your taxes in your head! Or thinking of something you need to do at work tomorrow…Worship time is what you make of it.

Maybe…just maybe…you could sing My Country Tis of Thee and be thinking that you are grateful to God to live in a politically free land where the gospel can be preached. And be asking God that doors of utterance be opened so that the hearts of the people would receive the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What would happen if most of the believers in the US suddenly turned to the Lord, turned off the TV/ipad/cell phone, and prayed earnestly to God in repentance and for revival? What if they actually started living a life of obedience to the love of God? Do you think the balance of Scripture teaches that God would honor that and bless the US?