Is there place for patriotism in the church?
I've read some articles condemning the act of churches celebrating their country around national holidays. But is this unbiblical or merely a person's personal conviction?
I am prone to believe the latter. If there is a specific bible passage that I am missing, let me know and I will retract this post. But personally, I really think that we should be gracious in this area. Is there a better and worse way to celebrate a nation? Sure. But is it necessarily wrong to dedicate one or two services a year to praying for our nation and thanking God for our freedoms? What if we didn't have these freedoms? Would it be wrong to thank God with a church service for the lack of national freedoms that produce faith? I highly doubt it. So why would it be wrong to celebrate certain freedoms as the joined covenant community of God on one or two Sundays a year?
A focus on our nation can produce the following for a church:
1. A hightened appreciation for the grace of God as He sheds it upon the righteous and the wicked alike.
2. Humility as we reflect on the comforts that we enjoy but don't deserve while other believers quite literally die daily for the faith. Also humility concerning the rising and falling of nations. They do so at the hand of God, not the hand of other nations. No nation is "God's chosen nation," rather He has chosen to preserve the church. A focus on our nation can help us realize our frailty.
3. A greater burden to win our own communities to Christ as we focus on the people of THIS nation, rather than everyone else's nations through foreign missions.
4. A greater appreciation for where our nation is currently at, as God guides the hands of our leaders. This can also awaken us to the mystery of God's will, as our rulers rule in ways contrary to the Bible. How could God lead our leaders this way? The fact that we don't understand His wisdom does not make Him unwise. It just makes us finite.
5. A platform to focus on the city that is to come. A perfect city that is truly free by the grace of God through Christ Jesus.
So I would say that it is not the act of dedicating a service or two to the topic of our nation that is wrong, but rather how it is done. Here are some things that should be avoided when focusing a service on our nation:
1. Avoid suggesting that our nation is invincible or chosen of God and is somehow better or more loved by God than anyone else's nation. We are one nation among many that God has shed grace upon. This grace does not always look the same. It has risen at the hand of God and someday will fall at the hand of God.
2. Avoid praising men over Christ. Men produce momentary salvation, but Christ has provided eternal salvation. The sacrifice of fallen soldiers truly is a great gift, but even greater is the gift of Christ's sacrifice. Show appreciate for those soldiers, but worship Christ.
3. Avoid praising political leaders for national success. Remember their leadership is ultimately lead by God.
4. Avoid suggesting inequality based on ethnic diversity by your words and actions, even for this service. There are many in our North American churches that have their roots in other countries, and also family in other nations. How would your actions and statements make them feel? Are we not all equal in Christ?
5. Avoid leaving the singing of national anthems as merely an anthem to the nation. Provide a God-centered context for all things in the service.
In conclusion, I want to reiterate that this is a subject of grace. Is it wrong to hold a church service in recognition of our nation? For some, maybe. Depends on what they are fully convinced of. It also depends on if they make our nation or fallen hero's out to be greater than Christ. This type of service can be done poorly. But I believe it can also be done in a way prefectly pleasing to God.