Below is a modified version of an email I sent one of our members who sent us a reminder about July 4th falling on Sunday.

We will be having some remembrance of Independence Day during the service – a couple of patriotic songs and saying the pledge of allegiance with the presentation of the flag.

I do these as concessions rather than desire. I am generally very reluctant to have patriotic elements within a church service. I do not believe they should be mixed – not because I want to keep church out of state, but because I want to keep state out of church. We gather as believers to worship God, glorifying him and growing in our knowledge of him and his Word. But in American churches we have a peculiar brand of nationalism that has become enmeshed with Christianity and I think this has harmed the church. We absolutely need to show our gratitude to God for the freedoms he has allowed us in this country, but we can do that without including patriotic elements in a service. Being a Christian has nothing to do with being a patriot, though I believe true patriots, true lovers of America, must be Christians, since only by following God can America truly be great (my Sunday night sermon will probably address this need for patriots to be followers of God).

I am glad to be part of a church full of people who love their country, honor their military men and women, and want to see America secure, prosperous, and faithful to the Lord. I share that love, honor and desire, but do not think expressions of patriotism belong in church. But this puts me in a very small minority at Immanuel, so we will continue to have various patriotic observances, though perhaps with less prominence than in past years. On Memorial Day we remembered those who had fallen and recognized veterans; on Independence Day we will have the songs and the pledge (though in the coming years I hope we will do this less and less); on Veteran’s Day we will again recognize our veterans. But even as we show sincere and deep thanks to those who have served, are serving, or have sacrificed for our freedoms, they are not the focus of our gathering. Our focus remains on God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

You should also read Bob Kauflin’s thoughts on the subject, Should July 4th Affect Our Sunday Planning?