A Day Off From Church

A holiday season inevitably means a break from the usual church services. Easter brings passion plays and Via Dolorosa processions. Christmas means Christmas concerts and four weeks of Advent. But no holiday is a greater break from the usual than the fourth of July. It is a regular vacation from church.

Back story: My parents' home church (which I am currently visiting while spending time with them) puts on a big Independence Day celebration the first Sunday of every July that takes up the whole service and provides no preaching. Although God is mentioned in passing songs lyrics and prayer, the focus is on Americans. I overheard the rehearsal for the program this afternoon and wanted to start overturning the tables in the lobby: The choir director was recounting all the ways in which America was a wonderful place because of other Americans, specifically veterans. No mention of God. No mention of the areas in which America is horridly inadequate.

(Disclaimer: I am certainly not anti-veterans. I'm from a big Navy family, grew up on and off of Air Force bases, and have occasionally toyed with the idea of joining the military myself. I am very thankful for my freedoms and for the chance to selfishly hoard riches and resources if I were to so choose. I am immensely proud of my grandfather, dad, uncle, aunt, cousins and friends for their contributions to the country and therefore my way of life. I am all for honoring them and the sacrifices they have made, but not in lieu of church.)

Regardless of your intentions, it does not make it right to take an entire Sunday away from worshipping God and spend it worshipping America and it's soldiers.
1. It's divisive. I've heard from greater world travelers than myself (although I found this to be true on my trip to Argentina) that we are the only people that places our nation's flag on the pulpit, in equal standing with God. It always makes me wonder: are we Americans first or Christ followers first? Why do we feel the need to be reminded of our nationality when worshipping the God who created ALL people?
2. It's disloyal. To pledge allegiance to an earthly kingdom in the "embassy" of our true citizenship (Heaven) is tantamount to treason, in my opinion. (To do outside of a Church I find far less troublesome.) I refuse to swear fealty to a man or a manmade entity in the house of the One I owe 100% of my loyalty.
3. It's simply not church. We are to have one day set aside to actively remember God, worship Him, and dwell on His goodness. To replace that with a time of celebrating our accomplishments is to change the entire point of what church is supposed to be.


I'm submitting this to ReveLife, basically the entire reason I wrote it. *crosses fingers and hopes not to be attacked too viciously by the trolls and America-Lovers*