Independence Day and the Realm of God
The Fourth of July always presents the church with a dilemma. We have prayers for the American Independence Day, and we have patriotic hymns that we all love. But from the time of Moses and the prophets, there has always been an uneasy relationship between faith and the nation.
It’s not simply the kind of tension embodied in church and state issues, because that often comes down to legal definitions and arguments. It is broader than that. The tension arises out of idolatry.
Some of our civic celebrations become liturgies of praise and commitment that rival our best worship of God. At a church in Texas this past weekend, over 3,000 worshippers were treated to children re-enacting the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima, fireworks in the church rafters, special recognitions for people in uniform, and an American flag lapel pin given to each and every attendee.
Please don’t misunderstand. This is not a critique of the flag, uniformed people, Iwo Jima or fireworks. It is that we need to be careful of confusing our patriotism our nation with love of God. God stands outside of and in judgment on all other commitments. As the commandment says, “You shall have no other gods but me.”
Christian faith calls for a commitment to the Realm of God that transcends all other earthly realms, even the The United States of America. We pray for our land, her residents and citizens, her government. We celebrate the Declaration of Independence and the courage it took to adopt and support it. But we also acknowledge a higher calling to follow in the footsteps of Jesus who came because “God so loved the world . . . “ and not just this part of North America.
May your Fourth of July be a day of blessing and celebration for what we have been given here in the U.S. And may it also be a time for rededication to the Realm of God. May caring citizens rise up and continuously call for the ways we live together in this land to be consistent with God’s values of love and equity for all the earth.
Christ Church Blog 
I appreciate your blog…it gives real insight into where and how far the Episcopal Church has gone.
Celebrating our country’s birthday is now considered idolatry by the church according to this blog entry.
Since this is obviously a concern for you, let’s look at where idolatry is used in the Bible:
• 1 Corinthians 10:14 (KJV)
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
• Galatians 5:20 (KJV)
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
• 1 Samuel 15:23 (KJV)
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
• Acts 17:16 (KJV)
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
• Colossians 3:5 (KJV)
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
• 1 Peter 4:3 (KJV)
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
No where do I see idolatry used with love of country, or celebrating one day a year the birth of the country. I see it used with witchcraft (which the bishop just said was a “gift”). I see it used with lusts and fornication-we know where the church stands on that; but I don’t see love of country.
What really bothers you, I believe, is what the Texas church stood for: that is-love of country, personal responsibility, respect for what our military has done for us, and thankfulness for where we live. Must resonate also since they had 3000 people there.