This Sunday, Christians will find themselves seated in pews on a national holiday (July 4).  Many American churches will recognize the national celebration by singing songs about America, reciting the pledge, or honoring those who have served in the military.  But—should we celebrate these patriotic holidays in our church services?

It seems there are three different answers to that question by American Christians.

Some Christians do not question the inclusion of patriotism in a worship service.  Many grew up participating in patriotic actions within the four walls of a church; there is a type of comfort or complacency bred by familiarity.  Nothing in scripture either forbids or prescribes patriotic songs and pledges.  These Christians may be sentimentally or conservatively attached to the long-standing tradition of celebrating country while worshiping God. 

Other Christians think it would be inappropriate to not acknowledge the day in the worship service. They think it is important that Christians celebrate the nation that has afforded them so many religious liberties, amongst other benefits. They may conflate their identities as Christian and American, particularly insofar as they believe the argument that America is a Christian nation founded upon biblical principles.

Still others argue that patriotism should be avoided in worship services as much as possible. According to one argument, our primary identity is in Christ, which qualifies all our earthly allegiances.  Many of the patriotic acts in a church service swerve our gaze off Christ onto triumphalism, militarism, or an unbiblical understanding of the American church’s place in history (for example, conflating the Church with Israel or American glory with that of the second return of Christ).  Another argument against patriotism in worship services centers on the hearers: would patriotism in a worship service make a foreigner feel uncomfortable? 

In light of these different arguments, this question about whether patriotism ought to be in a worship service is worth thinking through.  Each of these three arguments assumes an answer to a larger question: how can a Christian be a good citizen? 

Augustine answered this question early in Christian history in his monumental City of God.  There, he argues that Christians are simultaneously citizens of two societies: the heavenly and the earthly (cf: Philippians 3:20).  Our heavenly citizenship is of infinitely more value than our earthly.  Yet being a citizen of heaven doesn’t exclude our earthly citizenship. It also doesn’t mean our earthly citizenship is necessary to our heavenly citizenship.  Instead, there is a right use Christians can make of their earthly citizenship:

“…a household of men who live by faith looks forward to the blessings which are promised as eternal in the life to come; and such men make use of earthly and temporal things like pilgrims: they are not captivated by them, nor are they deflected by them from their progress towards God.”

Augustine, City of God, p. 945-6.

Augustine argues that citizens of the Heavenly City need to be balanced in our attitude towards earthly goods and circumstances.  We should allow them to sustain us while on earth but avoid becoming burdened by them.  We should be obedient to the laws—preserving and following them—without allowing them to interfere with our relationship to God. 

This balance is hard.  The harmony of earthly peace with heaven’s goals necessitates that each individual assesses for themselves their attitude towards earthly goods—even political goods like freedom or rights.  Our head knowledge about the differences between our types of citizenship doesn’t always stay sharp in our hearts.  We can easily feel more gratitude to our nation that grants us political liberties and rights, than towards the God who ordained our rulers.  Frankly, it is easier to value the benefits we tangibly enjoy than to yearn for the benefits we do not yet fully experience. Are we allowing our worship of God to depend on the right to worship outlined in the Constitution?  Then those political protections have become burdensome, not sustaining.  Do we feel more pride in our country than thankfulness to the God who mercifully ordained us to live here, in this time and place?  Then our patriotism has become a burden in our walk with God. We need to be discerning about the ways our hearts tend. 

The distinction between citizenships—and the difficulties in balancing our citizenship responsibilities—clarifies whether we should include political or national celebrations in worship services. 

In sum, base the decision of whether to celebrate earthly citizenship on how that celebration will enrich your understanding of and appreciation for your heavenly citizenship.

For the apathetic Christian holding carelessly to tradition: be willing to think more discerningly about the worship service. Perhaps a song detracts too much from biblical truth or burdens us with a temptation to worship country. We can freely give up dearly held American traditions if they do not help our hearts feel rightly about our heavenly citizenship. 

For the Christian who trends towards conflating citizenship of heaven and earth, service to God and country: be encouraged to re-value your citizenships of heaven and earth.  Take time in scripture to see how the benefits of your heavenly citizenship far exceed your earthly attachments.

On the other hand, for the Christian who wants to avoid the patriotic hymns altogether: reconsider how singing in appreciation of country can turn your heart towards greater gratitude and service to the One who ordained your American citizenship.  How can your positive valuation of the privilege of American citizenship sustain the work God has called you to as a citizen of heaven? We can incorporate patriotic elements into our worship insofar as they help foster more gratitude for God’s good gifts or deeper longing for our complete entrance into heavenly citizenship. 

In all cases, patriotism for the American Christian must be pursued not as an end, but as a means towards a fuller understanding and appreciation for our heavenly citizenship.  Patriotism in a worship service should inspire our hearts to be more thankful for the political and material gifts we enjoy as citizens of one of the greatest nations on earth.  Even more, patriotism should rouse us to be more grateful for our sovereign and good Gift-giver whom we serve as citizens of heaven.

Citations:

Augustine.  The City of God Against the Pagans.  Ed. and Trans. by R. W. Dyson.  Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998.

Berding, Kenneth.  “Should a Church Sing (American) Patriotic Songs During Its Worship Services?” The Good Book Blog.  July 4, 2016.  https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2016/should-a-church-sing-american-patriotic-songs-during-its-worship-services

Piper, John.  “Should Patriotism Have a Place in Church?” Desiring God.  June 28, 2017.  https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/should-patriotism-have-a-place-in-church

Shellnut, Kate.  “Make Worship Patriotic Again? The Top 10 Songs for Fourth of July Services.” Christianity Today.  June 29, 2018.  https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/june-web-only/make-worship-patriotic-again-top-10-songs-fourth-of-july.html