This is the closest church to my house if you don’t count the bird house church in my backyard, a little box with a steeple that someone gave me. The church pictured isn’t my church but it’s Southern Baptist. I know the pastor who is a good guy. Good church. Good pastor. God bless them.
Like many churches in the area they decorate the property with American flags around Independence Day. One of the largest SBC churches in my area must have a hundred or more medium sized flags lining their property, along the driveway and parking areas. Very colorful.
I don’t have any issue with any of them. I did the same for my church before I retired.
I don’t know what their worship services are like on Independence Day holiday weekend but I’d guess they incorporate some of the usual patriotic elements. LifeWay Research says that 61% of pastors agree that “it’s important for July Fourth worship services to incorporate patriotic elements to celebrate America during worship services during July 4th week.”
That’s OK by me. Some churches may overdo it, I’ve seen a couple of things that make me shake my head, but let the autonomous local churches have at it. Some among us want a safe space (oh, how I hate that phrase) where they can be patriotic at church without being criticized. No church is safe from being criticized, brethren. Quit whining.
I’ll not kneel under any circumstances when the National Anthem is played. Others may do as they wish. I can only control my own actions.
I’m not in the “God save America” crowd mainly because I don’t think God has a spiritually salvific attitude towards any of the world’s 195 countries. I’d like for God to bless America, preserve America, and change America in some ways but I can’t think of another country in which I’d rather live, or work, or raise a family. No apologies from me about how America is yet imperfect.
A friend, known for being rather dour in his old age, tried to foist that old line on me that the coming election is the last chance for America. Hooey and hogwash. Whichever way it goes, the republic will survive it. No matter who is elected president, things will be better in some ways and probably worse, to my view, in some ways but we will manage.
Let the apocalyptic naysayers bray on about the country going to Gehenna. I’ve heard it for a couple of generations now. I might append a whisper of a prayer that we be delivered from the doomsdayers.
Have a nice Independence Day.
God bless America.
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And have some bbq. Locally, I recommend Edee’s Place.
