Why Younger Evangelicals May Feel Uneasy In A Patriotic Church Service
Why Younger Evangelicals May Feel Uneasy In A Patriotic Church Service
The church transcends the state, a truth that should be proclaimed clearly in a worship setting.
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[Mark_Smith]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 do understand the sentiment Mark is expressing… I was raised as a “Navy brat,” and my grandfather is a WWII veteran. Veterans are deserving of our gratitude and respect.
At the same time, I am not sure why we have concluded that church services are the best venue for that. Veterans are not the only people in our communities who deserve accolades. How about the spouses and parents of veterans? What about law enforcement? Fire fighters? EMTs? What about teachers? Doctors and medical staff? Adoptive and foster parents? We have Mothers’ and Fathers’ day, already… I mean, if you put half an effort, you could probably devote such a service to some deserving group every couple of months, at least. The question is, do they deserve enough attention to share it with God?
It seems to me that Christians do need to put some kind of effort into showing due gratitude and honor for those who serve and protect our society- including, but not limited to veterans. We brought our children to a parade today. We teach them all how to salute the flag, and we show respect to those who have worn the uniform. I took my children to the local cemetery on Memorial Day, though I have no relatives buried here, to explain to them why we celebrate the holiday.
What I am not convinced of is why that has to be done when we gather, not as citizens of an earthly country, but of one whose builder and maker is God. If a church is going to make that kind of effort, at least add an additional service. Don’t take away from the time set aside for the corporate worship of the Triune Godhead.
Greg Linscott
Marshall, MN
[Greg Linscott]ExactlyMark_Smith wrote:
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 do understand the sentiment Mark is expressing… I was raised as a “Navy brat,” and my grandfather is a WWII veteran. Veterans are deserving of our gratitude and respect.
At the same time, I am not sure why we have concluded that church services are the best venue for that. Veterans are not the only people in our communities who deserve accolades. How about the spouses and parents of veterans? What about law enforcement? Fire fighters? EMTs? What about teachers? Doctors and medical staff? Adoptive and foster parents? We have Mothers’ and Fathers’ day, already… I mean, if you put half an effort, you could probably devote such a service to some deserving group every couple of months, at least. The question is, do they deserve enough attention to share it with God?
It seems to me that Christians do need to put some kind of effort into showing due gratitude and honor for those who serve and protect our society- including, but not limited to veterans. We brought our children to a parade today. We teach them all how to salute the flag, and we show respect to those who have worn the uniform. I took my children to the local cemetery on Memorial Day, though I have no relatives buried here, to explain to them why we celebrate the holiday.
What I am not convinced of is why that has to be done when we gather, not as citizens of an earthly country, but of one whose builder and maker is God. If a church is going to make that kind of effort, at least add an additional service. Don’t take away from the time set aside for the corporate worship of the Triune Godhead.
Why is it that my voice always seems to be loudest when I am saying the dumbest things?
[Jim]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.
Does your church have an annual Martin Luther King Day service?
Do any of you advocates of Patriotic Services over Expository preaching of Holy Scripture have Martin Luther King Day services? Or Black History Month services?
[JJ Hoban] Does your church have an annual Martin Luther King Day service?
We celebrate justification by faith at every service.
[Jim]JJ Hoban wrote:
Does your church have an annual Martin Luther King Day service?We celebrate justification by faith at every service.
Can you answer the question? Or is a red herring all you have? I believe Catholics preach the same thing in every service too…..
[JJ Hoban] Can you answer the question? Or is a red herring all you have? I believe Catholics preach the same thing in every service too…..
Answer this first:
- How do you feel this is relevant to this conversation?
- And … what do Catholics have to do with this?
Thanks
[JJ Hoban]JJ Hoban, do you think an expositional message covering Romans 13 should only be preached as a pastor is going through the book of Romans, or can such a message be preached at any time, perhaps even during the first part of the month of July? Is it okay to preach an expositional message from I Corinthians 13 during the middle of February?Jim wrote:
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.
Does your church have an annual Martin Luther King Day service?
Do any of you advocates of Patriotic Services over Expository preaching of Holy Scripture have Martin Luther King Day services? Or Black History Month services?
[Jim]JJ Hoban wrote:
Can you answer the question? Or is a red herring all you have? I believe Catholics preach the same thing in every service too…..Answer this first:
- How do you feel this is relevant to this conversation?
- And … what do Catholics have to do with this?
Thanks
1) The question is relevant to the conversation because if the church is going to lend itself to preaching patriotism, than she ought to lend herself to preach other holidays that expound on freedom and sacrifice.
2) I brought Catholic into the question as randomly as you brought preaching justification every service. Neither had anything to due with the question/statement at hand.
Now, you answer my question: Does your church have an annual Martin Luther King Day service?
[Kevin Miller]JJ Hoban wrote:
Jim wrote:
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.
Does your church have an annual Martin Luther King Day service?
Do any of you advocates of Patriotic Services over Expository preaching of Holy Scripture have Martin Luther King Day services? Or Black History Month services?
JJ Hoban, do you think an expositional message covering Romans 13 should only be preached as a pastor is going through the book of Romans, or can such a message be preached at any time, perhaps even during the first part of the month of July? Is it okay to preach an expositional message from I Corinthians 13 during the middle of February?
Oh, I didn’t know praising America was exegeted from the original languages in Romans 13 and 1 Corinthians 13. It must be lost in translation….
My church does not have a Martin Luther King Day service.
Observations about the same:
- While we are a multicultural church with some blacks
- The black-American experience is one that few in our church would relate
Final: We worship and preach Christ at every service …. even a patriotic service
[JJ Hoban]Now who is the one throwing out red herrings instead of answering the question that was asked? ;)Kevin Miller wrote:
JJ Hoban wrote:
Jim wrote:
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.
Does your church have an annual Martin Luther King Day service?
Do any of you advocates of Patriotic Services over Expository preaching of Holy Scripture have Martin Luther King Day services? Or Black History Month services?
JJ Hoban, do you think an expositional message covering Romans 13 should only be preached as a pastor is going through the book of Romans, or can such a message be preached at any time, perhaps even during the first part of the month of July? Is it okay to preach an expositional message from I Corinthians 13 during the middle of February?
Oh, I didn’t know praising America was exegeted from the original languages in Romans 13 and 1 Corinthians 13. It must be lost in translation….
[Jim]My church does not have a Martin Luther King Day service.
Observations about the same:
- While we are a multicultural church with some blacks
- The black-American experience is one that few in our church would relate
Final: We worship and preach Christ at every service …. even a patriotic service
So because they are a minority in a white mans church and not many would relate, they do not get to show the same revere for a man who portrayed better qualities than the founding fathers? How do non-Americans feel about your services, assuming they attend.
Those types of services only harm and splinter the body of Christ, where there is neither Jew nor Greek. I guess if Nadab and Abihu could add to the worship of God what the deemed good, why not the 21st Century christian church.
[Kevin Miller]JJ Hoban wrote:
Kevin Miller wrote:
JJ Hoban wrote:
Jim wrote:
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.
Does your church have an annual Martin Luther King Day service?
Do any of you advocates of Patriotic Services over Expository preaching of Holy Scripture have Martin Luther King Day services? Or Black History Month services?
JJ Hoban, do you think an expositional message covering Romans 13 should only be preached as a pastor is going through the book of Romans, or can such a message be preached at any time, perhaps even during the first part of the month of July? Is it okay to preach an expositional message from I Corinthians 13 during the middle of February?
Oh, I didn’t know praising America was exegeted from the original languages in Romans 13 and 1 Corinthians 13. It must be lost in translation….
Now who is the one throwing out red herrings instead of answering the question that was asked? ;)
Oh, I didn’t know praising America was exegeted from the original languages in Romans 13 and 1 Corinthians 13. It must be lost in translation…. I suppose if you eisegete Scripture it would only make sense to preach those texts during those times. But if you Exegete God’s word, you can preach those anytime to people of every tribe, tongue and nation.
[JJ Hoban] I guess if Nadab and Abihu could add to the worship of God what the deemed good, why not the 21st Century christian church.
We celebrate that the third Sunday of March
Personally, I think these sentiments are excellent and biblical.
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
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