Patriotic Worship

A quick Google search of "patriotic worship" yielded pages of articles, blogs, worship services, photos, videos, songs, sermons, bulletins, and clip art. Here are some of the things that take place in Christian worship in the USA on the Sunday closest to our July 4 Independence Day:

• American flags
  • throughout the sanctuary and church building, inside and out
  • on the communion table
  • replacing altar paraments
  • passed out to each worshiper with the bulletin
  • waved by the congregation at a particular point in the service
  • hung on the front sanctuary wall
  • at the front of the sanctuary, to be dramatically dropped or opened during a particular congregational or choir song
  • distributed as lapel pins or bumper stickers
• A color guard of military, police, veterans, Scouts, or ROTC posts the colors at the start of the service.
• The service begins with the Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem.
• People or choir sing the official songs of the four branches of military service and have veterans of each branch stand and be recognized while their song is sung.
• Patriotic songs replace congregational hymns.
• The pastor dresses as Uncle Sam or a Revolutionary War-era soldier or patriot to deliver the sermon.
• The sermon is on American citizenship and patriotism.
• The Declaration of Independence is read.
• An elected official is invited to preach — national or state congress, governor, mayor, or local official from a military installation.
• Patriotic CDs are played over the sound system and videos are projected on the screen prior to the service.
• The children's sermon explains the color symbolism of the flag.
• The young children's choir marches in, salutes, and sings a patriotic song.
• The service ends by singing "God Bless America."

It is probably an understatement to say that United Methodists in the USA are not of one mind regarding these worship practices. Some would take great pride and delight if these things were done in their church, while others would be horrified, disappointed, and angered. So, where does that leave us? How do we decide what's appropriate in worship and what's not? Who makes that decision? What would Jesus do?

What's the argument in favor? America was founded as a Christian nation on biblical principles. These principles and our history as a nation are intertwined and remain so today. Love of God and love of country go hand-in-hand and it is only natural that that relationship be celebrated and strengthened in worship.

What's the argument against? To quote Hoyt Hickman's article, "[W]e in America wisely separate church and state. As American Christians, we honor the cross and we honor the flag; but we keep them separate. An American flag used in the worship of the universal church is no more appropriate than hanging a cross in a civil courtroom used by Americans of all religions. "

Here are two differing views, the first by a seminary professor, the other from a college professor:

Dear Pastors and Church Musicians:

I am a very patriotic American. I cry when the planes fly over the football stadium and when we sing "America the Beautiful." I would guess that the vast majority of the U.S. citizens in our congregation are also extremely patriotic. HOWEVER, we choose NOT to use these national celebrations as an emphasis in our worship services. Here are our reasons:

1. It is just too easy to confuse what it means to follow Christ with what it means to be a loyal U.S. citizen. Especially when hard-hitting emotional presentations are made with flags and uniforms and pledges, it is too easy to get mixed up about where our allegiance should be. However, we ARE quick to pray for our country and for our leaders and we are quick to thank God for the freedom of worship that we enjoy. We are quick to pray for believers in other countries who do not enjoy the freedom to worship Christ openly.
2. We have many internationals in our congregation, many of whom are considering the Christian faith for the first time. We do not want to have the Gospel of the Cross somehow confused in their minds with Uncle Sam and a particular form of government or foreign policy.
3. When patriotism is there, it seems to be about two clicks away from partisan politics. Whereas we believe that the Bible speaks strongly and clearly about moral issues and that, as responsible citizens, Christians should be encouraged to vote, we are generally not very specific on exactly HOW Christians should vote. If anything, we want believers who are committed to different views on social programs and public polices to be ONE IN CHRIST. There are some fine Scriptures that support this position; even so, this an area that requires a great deal of prayer and pastoral sensitivity.

Chip Stam
www.wqotw.org
Associate Professor in the School of Church Music and Worship
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Louisville, Kentucky

In a time when we have soldiers coming home in flag draped coffins, I find it just the least bit disturbing that we would even entertain the thought of excluding patriotism in a worship service that just happens to fall on our national holiday. With that said, in my parish, we will be singing "God of the Ages" (national hymn), "America," and will be celebrating with a voluntary on "America the Beautiful." We will also use Hoyt Hickman's eloquent tropes for the Great Thanksgiving that falls on the Fourth of July.

I have the UTMOST respect for Chip Stam and his work both in the church and academe. He is a leader in his denomination as well as the American Choral Directors Association. While Professor Stam's perception is founded with the purist of Christian intent and inclusiveness, I believe that we are doing no wrong by celebrating our independence in worship. The Christian tradition is full of examples where masses have been said and sung in honor of soldiers passed, victories won, and the memory of defeated foes.

One of the great honors of my life was to be present for a mass at the Mariaski Cathedral in Gdansk, Poland, celebrating the independence of Poland from the Soviet Union. I felt honored to have the opportunity to worship in a church that celebrated the accomplishments of their country, and at no time was I (now considered in their country as an "international") pushed away from my own religious or political beliefs.

Mr. Stam does raise a point that we should all bear in mind. The pulpit is not a place for partisan politics. However, it IS a place where we can celebrate our freedoms, our democracy, and pray for the purity of ALL of our leaders as we face most uncertain times.

Believing that God hears ALL the prayers and praises of his people, I think that we should not only condone but promote services which offer up prayers for our nation, leaders, and its people. Given the state of moral and political decay in our society today, and the awful perception that much of the rest of the world has about our country, one day of prayer and communion in honor our country seems not only fitting, but needed.

Daniel Craig
Old North United Methodist Church
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville, Indiana

There is no official guidance or direction in these matters. General Conference has not spoken, The Book of Discipline is silent, there is nothing in our Book of Resolutions, and there is nothing authoritative in The Book of Worship. As in other decisions regarding worship in the local church, it is the local church that decides for itself, setting its own guidelines, selecting its own resources and content.

For related articles on this website, see:

• Why Aren't There More Patriotic Songs in Our Hymnal? by Dean B. McIntyre
• Should We Have Flags in the Church? The Christian flag and the American Flag by Hoyt Hickman
  
• Memorial Day Worship and Prayer Resources by Daniel Benedict & Dean McIntyre