4th of July

Let me be frank and upfront in case the main point gets lost in the paragraphs below: I am so incredibly thankful to be living in America, and I have tremendous memories of celebrating our freedom as a teenager and young adult. I've been surrounded (and related to) veterans and first responders, including within churches I am a member of and at jobs I have held, and I always do my best to thank each one personally. Their daily sacrifice is more than I can imagine. 

I have had discussions with those who live elsewhere in the world, and there are definitely some attractive conclusions I hear about cultures and locations. I dream of traveling more as finances become steadier and schedule allows, but I have always been content and grateful for my upbringing.

However, being grateful for America does not compare to my love and loyalty to Jesus. There is no comparison.

This is not a post about church and state, or America's issues (or blessings). This is not an argument for how to repair any social issue, or how to improve the church's witness. That may just take several years (with some new directional choices depending on which church and which direction has been chosen recently).

I am simply addressing one issue that may provide insight into how the church views the state, because the past several years have forced me to reconsider this. I never thought much about going to church and hearing the four or five patriotic hymns, saying the Pledge of Allegiance, hearing a sermon about how awful America (or her churches) are, waving flags around, or having prayer circles for grand revival. And some or all of that may or may not be familiar with you (or some or all of that may be repulsive to you).

But I don't want to argue about flags in church. Or saying the Pledge. If we start by yelling about order of service or decorations, we talk in circles, and nothing is accomplished. The waters get muddy. 

I like to debate sometimes, but yelling and frustration just gets old after a while. And heated passion on a topic like this is understandable. Conclusions are assumed to be indicative of one's level of patriotism. But if we've learned anything the past several years, it's that no issue is clear cut. There's background, context, and multiple layers to each conversation.

So to cut through all of that, I only have one question. One fundamental question to consider before we decide how to arrange services on July 4 (or any other patriotic holiday):

What is the purpose of gathering together in the first place?

Why do we come together on Sunday? I would hope it's something like to worship the one true God, to proclaim the gospel (and not just for the unbelievers who may come but also to refresh His followers), to edify the discouraged, to equip saints for further ministry, to express dependence on God in prayer and song, to fellowship with believers and share experiences together in unity---all this to the glory of God.

Something like that.

Have you seen or experienced an extravagant service about "God and Country" or "God Bless America"? If not, try First Baptist Dallas. I'll let you reach a personal conclusion on how much of the previous paragraph is occurring within that service.

"But Kevin, it's just one week. Besides, we're told to pray for civil leaders." Ok, we can pray for leaders. Of course--by all means--any role of leadership deserves prayer. But praying for leaders seems to imply a heart of prayer lives inside the pastor, the elders, the congregants. In my experience, it's really easy for someone to royally bash anyone in government they despise and then fulfill 1 Timothy 2 and Romans 13 in a two-minute prayer on July 4 (begging for revival). 

So a full service devoted to these things? Probably not necessary. Focus drifts from what is essential on the life of the believer, and the emphasis is placed on the secular. The things below. The kingdom(s) of this world.

One biblical passage that could support a service like this would be Jeremiah 29 (oh, don’t say v. 11). The people of Israel are getting antsy in exile and false prophets are telling them they are going home soon. Jeremiah has other ideas (from YHWH). He says to plant vineyards, build houses, and get comfortable, because it’s going to be a while. Then v. 7 says to seek the peace and prosperity of Babylon. Pray for it, because if it prospers, Israel will prosper. 

I can get inside the heads of many, many preachers who want to see the church in exile (true, from 1 Peter), but their attitude towards America is rarely the same attitude that Israel had toward Babylon. The church is not ethnic Israel (obviously), the church is not America, and Israel is not America. If America prospers does the church prosper? Maybe, maybe not. If America suffers, does the church suffer? Maybe, maybe not. Here’s the main point—the church does not depend on America’s wellbeing. There’s a whole world beyond our borders where the name and kingdom of Jesus is expanding.

So here's the litmus test that I have found so helpful. I’ve read several articles and social media posts on the issue, and one thought always shines bright (and it applies to any day, but especially on these special occasions). 

Could our worship service be transported to another culture? 

Or perhaps more likely, what if someone from another culture/country were sitting in our service? Would they still be able to sing, listen, and respond?

Of course, there will always be barriers of culture and language. We cannot translate every idiom or preference for everyone who may cross our path. But if a refugee finds solace within the doors of my church, and I spend an entire hour singing about my country, praying for God to bless her, and teaching my people how to improve her status in the world, he/she may be confused. How is that message applicable? How does it edify him? I cannot expect her to pray for my home country. 

The church is universal. The gospel is for all peoples, and that is what binds us together. I have more in common with a brother or sister around the world in a completely different culture than a completely atheist neighbor across the street. 

If I plan a worship service, it must reflect this global bond.

Again, this is really not a post about the Pledge of Allegiance or the existence of flags in service or praying for America or tribute videos. But if you’ve ever felt that tension while sitting in a service about America, thoughts wandering through your head, “Does this count as worship? What are we worshipping here?”—then maybe the worship service has ended and something much more secular has begun (though well-intended).

I agree with others who have articulated much better and with far better reasoning/support that patriotic celebrations are appropriate and may even be necessary at times. (Some groups of individuals may even disagree with that statement, and I would be open to their concerns and having open dialogue. Though we may disagree, I understand hurts and grievances run deep.) But the time for these celebrations is not a specific block of time that we mortals have devoted to worshipping the Almighty. 

One could argue that our lives are worship, "all days are sacred now" according to Paul. So who gets to decide which block of time is more important than any other. It's a double-sided argument, I suppose. Either we appreciate blocks of time to gather as an assembled body (locally) for worship, edification, and ministry with our gifts (not to the neglect of doing these elsewhere throughout the week) and focus our attention on the God alone, or we devote our entire lives to Him, implying nothing sacred may ever stir our hearts or exit our mouths (I'm speaking of devotion to another cause, team, idea, goal, or yes, country). It's a tense conversation to have, but worthy of the deepest thoughts and considerations.

The last several years only surfaced some deep misplaced loyalties among churchgoers. Perhaps returning to a singular focus in our worship times will weed out some of this division, polarity, animosity, and disunity. Imagine that. Focusing on Jesus may remind us of what we have in common--even with believers around the world.