Them's the Brakes...

I enjoy learning. This isn't totally new for me, but it's definitely a post-high school thing. It's ironic and sad that I didn't care about learning when I was in one of the best places for learning (that's aruguable, I suppose).

In a nutshell, I see Christianity in America careening down a road at breakneck speed, and the road doesn't seem to have a desireable destination. What's happened is that Christianity -- the real deal -- has been watered down; our churches, in general, have been irresponsible by letting our members think that God is simply redemption and feeling good about themselves. The result is a dangerous thing: people who don't love Christ, and often don't even know Him, are out representing Him to the public.

In addition, many true Christ-followers don't take Scripture as their pattern for life, and actions and reactions are borne out of what they consider to be common sense. Unfortunately, the Bible will have us doing some things that might not exactly be what we'd consider "common wisdom".

These are areas in which I'm prone to be vocal. Sometimes I rail against what the Church is doing, and I'm usually not too shy about point out where we're going wrong. But I wonder sometimes if I over-compensate, and, like the Pharisees, I "strain [my] water so [I] won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but [I] swallow a camel!" (Matthew 23:34, NLT)

If a vehicle is racing in a direction that it shouldn't be, or is simply speeding, applying the brakes is a must. However, slamming the brakes to the floor (though sometimes needed) can actually be reckless and have disastrous results. What I'm saying is that I'm learning to have grace where needed, but to be Christ-like, wise, and judicious as the same time. The fact that Christianity has been watered down doesn't mean that all Christians have a watered-down faith, and I fear that I frequently have that outlook.

I have to admit that the area in which I'm probably most guilty of this is the blurry line between American patriotism (or probably more accurately, political conservativism) and Christianity. The two are not synonymous, and it's my opinion that most politically conservative Christians cross-pollenate them way too often. However, the two are not necessarily at odds, and I have a habit of treating them as though they are. I'm thankful for my friends Rob and Preston, in particular, who always deliver living proof that the two can harmonize.

Do you see any danger in the mix of these things in today's climate?

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The Patriotic "Worship Service"

I love God. I love my family. I love people (that item's fairly new on the menu). I love the privilege of living in the United States of America, and I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the men and women who have died (and lived!) to obtain and defend our freedom.

I want to know your convictions -- not your personal predispositions, but your true convictions as guided by the Holy Spirit -- on this subject (this makes a major assumption that only Christ-followers find any worth in my blog).

Speaking to Americans, what do you find appropriate for a corporate worship service when Independence Day rolls around? Thanking God for the massive, unmerited grace He's shown to the United States as a whole? Thanking Him for the sacrifice of the soldiers, both uniformed and "minutemen," who have, over the centuries, made our cushy lifestyle possible? Conducting a "normal" worship service (which would itself probably be impossible unless many had paid for our freedom with their lives)?

All of those, I believe, are appropriate.

But what I fear about a worship service focused on those things is the possibility, even probability, that America as an entity will be lifted up and put in a higher place than God Almighty. I'm not kidding -- this really frightens me. Where I seem to commit some sort of heresy in conversations with friends is the point at which I say something like, "I really don't know if My Country, 'Tis of Thee is appropriate for a worship service." Here's what I mean:

My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty;
Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride.
From every mountainside,
Let freedom ring!

That is an awe-inspiring, majestic song! It fills me with pride to say, "Yep, I'm an American, and I honestly don't care whether or not your country loves us OR our president!" But when I meet with the body of Christ to worship, I don't intend to praise or sing about my country. Our purpose is to praise and sing to our God (I should note that the last verse of this hymn does that). Why do I come across as the anti-patriot by saying something like that?

Does anyone see any danger in singing songs like this in a worship service?

(Note: my mom mentioned Our God, Our Help in Ages Past, among a few others, as a great song for this kind of service. I totally concur, although it may be too obscure to garner congregational participation. Be sure to click on the link and read the lyrics.)

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