God Bless America

What is the relationship between Christian faith and patriotism? Are they in conflict with each other? Do they go hand in hand? Is there a place for patriotism in the Church? A friend, a couple of years ago when July 4 fell on a Sunday, expressed the following concern: “Worship services are for celebrating Jesus, not celebrating the United States. I hope your pastor is not planning a special service and message just for the 4th of July. We can celebrate our founding after church.”

He is right that there needs to be a clear distinction between the two. I have seen those who seem to put Christianity and American patriotism on equal footing. And then there are those who argue that to be a good American is to be a good Christian. Taken to the extreme, there are those who are labeled Christian Nationalists; that is they see America as having a special role in God’s work on earth above and beyond that of other nations. While often well-intentioned and possessing some grain of truth, each of these is mistaken in their positions. When considering this, I am reminded of something I wrote several years ago when July 4 also fell on a Sunday.

“On this Lord’s Day which is also our nation’s Independence Day, I am struck with this thought. Being patriotic does not make one a good Christian, but being a good Christian should lead one to a ‘patriotism’ that is thankfulness for God’s past blessing of our nation, a desire to see God glorified in our nation and through our service, and continual prayer for our nations people and it’s leaders.”

The Bible presents us with a clear understanding of our role as Christians in our nation. First and foremost, our identity is not found in the world, or anything in it such as nations. We are sojourners, strangers in a strange land. Jesus in his prayer for the disciples says, “I am not asking that you take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:15-16) Peter calls us “foreigners and strangers.” (1 Peter 2:11). Our identity is not found in National, ethnic, or any identity of this world, but in heaven where we have our citizenship. (Philippians 3:20)

So while our citizenship is found in heaven and we merely sojourn in this world. But this does not mean that we have no role in the world today though, for we have already seen that Jesus did not ask that we be taken out of the world. So while we are here, what are we to do? Jeremiah answers this when he writes, “Take wives and have sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters, Multiply there; do not decrease.” (Jeremiah 29:6) We are to live our lives in this place we have been put, but Jeremiah does not end there when he writes, “Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7)

No, we are not merely sojourners living in a land that is not ours. We are to seek the prosperity of the land in which we have been placed and pray for it. Additionally, Paul writes, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them, intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

This is the role of a Christian in the world today, and those in America are no different. We are to pray for the peoples and the leaders of the land God has placed us in and we are to seek its prosperity. And while this is the role of a Christian, is this not the job of all citizens of a land. So we see that the roles of a Christian and a patriot are united in their goal. So while we must never make the mistake of identifying the two as the same, we should embrace each role.

So I find myself in agreement with those who declare that a Sunday worship service should not become a patriotic celebration, but to be a time of prayer and worship. However, those prayers should include prayer for our nation, its leaders, and its people. I believe this prayer for our nation is clearly embodied in what could be called our national prayer, “God Bless America”. This simple pray for our nation written by Irving Berlin and most famously performed by Kate Smith should be a prayer of every believer in America.

[Spoken Introduction:]
“While the storm clouds gather far across the sea
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. “

[Song:]
God bless America
Land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above

From the mountains, to the prairies
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America
My home, sweet home
God bless America
My home, sweet home