I have developed a bit of a tumultuous relationship with the 4th of July over the past few years--it used to be one of my favorite holidays--and in many ways, it is. I love BBQ's, picnics, hanging out with friends in the dusky summer evenings as fireworks light up the sky. Everything about that is fun and quite enjoyable to me. (We won't talk about the 4th of July of 2006 where I was "elected" by the Presbyterian student leadership team here at Fuller to join our very determined leader at 6 AM to stake out our spots for the fireworks display that night. Yes, I literally sat in a park for 15 hours waiting for fireworks to begin. Or the following 4th of July where a group of us went to Long Beach to see the fireworks and never saw any of them--it seems we were facing the wrong direction and never saw or heard them being shot off behind us. Then it took us at least 3 hours to get home in traffic....yeah we won't talk about those years....)
I am all for remembering our nation's history, and I think having celebrations of our country is important. I may not be 100% pro-military or completely on board with the current war we are fighting, but I am 100% for honoring and remembering the sacrifices our service men, women, and families have made. I think it's important to ask veterans to stand during the announcement portion of our worship service and let people see who around them have served our country so selflessly. Where I tend to get a bit wary (okay, maybe flat out frightened) is when our worship services on the Sunday surrounding a patriotic holiday turn into a worshiping of America. I am so grateful that I was born here, that I am a citizen of a terrific place to live, but I am also very aware of the tragedy that can (and has) happened when people confuse God and country, and begin to see them as they same entity. We've seen throughout history what has happened when individuals begin to look around for something to place their trust in, for someone to rescue them when things are difficult. Jesus knew our human propensity to want someone to believe in, to follow, to trust. He also recognizes that while we're on earth, there has to be powers and systems in place to govern how society functions. He commands his disciples to give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's--there's a distinction and separation here that I think is essential. I don't believe teachers should be teaching our kid's how to pray in school (I want to be the one to shape that in my child and I imagine my child's Muslim or Jewish friends would feel the same way) and I don't think our worship services on Sundays should venture into the realm of patriotism.
A friend of mine was asked to preach a few years ago on 4th of July weekend. The choir anthem immediately before the sermon was "America, America, we Give Our Best to Thee." My friend was appalled--the lyrics of the song bordered on flat out blasphemy--yet no one else seemed to have a problem with the fact that this was sung as the sermon preparation hymn on this particular patriotic weekend. There was no mention of Jesus, no mention of the fact that we actually do NOT give our best to America, we serve God, and those are two entirely different things. He preached his sermon, focusing on the text of the day, preaching the Good News of the freedom we have in Christ, and later received complaints that he didn't preach a "4th of July sermon" (whatever that is). That is a very telling statement about where the hearts and focus of this particular congregation was that weekend.
As we enjoy our celebrations this weekend, let us do so with excitement and joy! But as we go into worship tomorrow morning, let us do so remembering that the only true freedom that matters, the freedom that will be there long after America has passed away, is the freedom we have in Christ, because of Christ's sacrifice. For it is for freedom from the powers of sin and death that Christ has come to set us free.
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