Thanks for stopping by!

Just wanted to clarify a few thoughts.

Worthey, you said God has “set this country apart from others in a very special way.” I’m curious what you mean by that and what you base that statement on. Certainly we are better off than countries like India, where partly because of idolatry millions go hungry while sacred animals roam through the towns. But God has given each country a unique role to play in his purposes. I don’t assume ours is the best or the brightest.

Balance, context, and leadership play crucial roles in this issue. I don’t mean to imply that it’s wrong in the context of a Sunday meeting to pray for our leaders, to thank God for his many blessings on our country, and to encourage the church to be faithful, law-abiding citizens. However, none of those activities require that we engage in undiscerning or unrestrained praise for our country. The church of Jesus Christ has been bought by his blood. The United States hasn’t.

Worthey, you also said that those who oppose patriotic celebrations are characterized by legalism, spiritual myopia, and divisiveness. Whew! You’ll be more persuasive if you explain what makes you draw that conclusion. My desire to avoid rampant patriotism on Sunday mornings is to protect the Gospel and its unique accomplishments.

Finally, Bob S, you questioned the effect a national celebration could have on those from another country. Good point. I’m sure there are references we make every Sunday that may sound foreign to internationals. But that’s different from an entire meeting being built around a theme that only has reference to a particular country.

Thanks for your contributions.

I fail to understand the concern in these words, “Also, one country’s celebration may confront another country’s values. For instance you won’t find many Christians in Britain excited about Independence Day.”

I am planning worship in a small town in Maine, so the needs or desires of British believers are not a significant issue! And if a British subject should visit us, I hope they are gracious enough to realize we may celebrate God’s blessings to us through our nation. As I would not object if visiting their nation.

God’s word tells us much about the nations and peoples whom He has established in certain places and times, and His plan to rescue many from each group but still have them recognizable as members of those groups, so we have no need to shy away from recognition of our nation.

I would suggest that we recognize not only our national blessings but also our national sins so there is a Biblical balance.

I find/have found arguments by those opposed to such celebration to be smacking of legalism, certainly spiritually myopic, and, unfortunately, often times causing an unneeded/unwarranted fragmenting of the Believer community.

Let’s afford each other the freedom to celebrate both our freedom in Christ and as Americans…