The so-called “separation of church and state” continues to create consternation in many sectors of our society: Staunch separationists argue matters of religious or spiritual belief have no place at all in the public square. Others contend that if we believe what the Bible teaches, we can’t avoid bringing our faith into everything we do, including the realms of politics and governance. And there are many whose views are somewhere in between.
Even within the Church, many hold the view that as followers of Christ, we should have no other allegiance than to the kingdom of God. Verses like Ephesians 2:19 state, “you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household” (Ephesians 2:19). Patriotism, some would contend, is in conflict with the Christian faith.
However, an honest look at our nation’s history reveals religion – or matters of faith – as one of the primary motivations for the exploration of the “New World,” subsequent parting from Great Britain, and the founding of the United States. Many of the principles that undergirded the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are rooted in biblical teachings and practices.
For sincere followers of Jesus Christ, therefore, there’s a necessary tension. In many churches, traditional hymns have been usurped by contemporary praise music. However, I recall growing up in church hearing several hymns that reflected the conviction that we are truly in the world, if not of the world, as Jesus Christ prayed for His followers in John 17:11-18. Here are a few examples:
The Kate Smith classic, “God Bless America.” Its lyrics included, “God bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her, through the night with the light from above…. God bless America, my home sweet home.”
Then there’s “This Is My Father’s World,” which closes with the words, “This is my Father’s world: O let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet….”
In the ‘olden days,’ when mention of God in public schools wasn’t verboten, I recall singing, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.” It included the stirring words, “Our Father God to Thee, Author of liberty, to Thee I sing. My country ‘tis of Thee, sweet land of liberty. For all eternity let freedom ring….”
Each of these shared the perspective that just as we thank the Lord for meeting our daily needs, jobs, families and many other things, we also can express our gratitude for the nation in which we live.
Yes, we also have old songs like the Jim Reeves classic, “This World Is Not My Home.” If you’re not familiar with it, its lyrics include, “This world is not my home, I'm just a-passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven's open door, and I can't feel at home in this world anymore.”
I’ve shared that sentiment many times, as did the apostle Paul who wrote, “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). And yet we’re still here. God’s not finished with us yet in this life, and He’s providentially placed us in the star-spangled nation with all of its warts and flaws.
So as we prepare to observe another Independence Day, I think it’s quite appropriate to proudly acknowledge the spiritual moorings that were crucial in determining the values and principles the Founding Fathers embraced for our nation’s beginnings.
Psalm 33:12-13 declares, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord….” In many ways, it’s difficult to say that ours is ‘a nation whose God is the Lord.’ However, in 2 Chronicles 7:14 we have the assurance from God:
“If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
The Scriptures describe followers of Christ as “aliens and strangers on earth” (Hebrews 11;13, 1 Peter 2:11), and in light of eternity our sojourn here on planet Earth is a brief one indeed. But during our time here it’s important to remember we’re to serve as “Christ’s ambassadors” (2 Corinthians 5:20) who not only profess the good news of the Gospel but also strive to live it out.
It would be wonderful if this Fourth of July, along with celebrating our nation’s independence, we could also mark it with a day of genuine repentance, humbly asking that God would bless America – as a nation whose God is the Lord. If only….
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