Singing Patriotic Songs in church

[Salty]

Marooncat79 in the Baptist forum stated:​

you are correct. There are many many many songs that are sung in worship that should not be sung there

Some are even downright heretical

Examples
Songs about American
Armed Forces Songs
Songs which don't specifically ascribe to God All Glory Laud and Honor (see what I did there)

So what are your thoughts about patriotic songs being sung in church.
and just in the USA. IF you are from a different country, would love to hear from you!

 

[KenH]

God's elect are to gather together to praise and magnify God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; not a country, not a government, and not humans.

 

[Salty]

God's elect are to gather together to praise and magnify God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; not a country, not a government, and not humans.

But are we prohibited from doing so?

 

[KenH]

But are we prohibited from doing so?

I don't see why one of God's elect would want to worship anyone or anything other than God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, especially in a gathering of the saints on a Sunday morning.

I am reminded of what the apostle Paul told the Corinthians concerning observing the Lord's supper:

1 Corinthians 11:22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in?

1 Corinthians 11:34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation.

So, for this subject, I would say: Don't you have houses to praise your country or government in? If you want to do such, then do it at home.

 

[Salty]

Why praise something other than God?
Could be we are praising God for the freedoms in have in the USA

No house to eat in
Then I suppose we should no longer have any church dinners

 

[KenH]

Could be we are praising God for the freedoms in have in the USA

Earthly freedoms pale in comparison to the gospel of the finished work of Christ on behalf of God's elect.

When Christ returns, earthly freedoms will be gone with the rest of this present heavens and earth.

Seems to me that in a worship gathering that one would want to praise God for things eternal, and to attempt to focus not on the things of time and sense, but "worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3).

 

[JonC]

Marooncat79 in the Baptist forum stated:​

you are correct. There are many many many songs that are sung in worship that should not be sung there

Some are even downright heretical

Examples
Songs about American
Armed Forces Songs
Songs which don't specifically ascribe to God All Glory Laud and Honor (see what I did there)

So what are your thoughts about patriotic songs being sung in church.
and just in the USA. IF you are from a different country, would love to hear from you!

It is a matter of conscious. See, I am a Baptist.

But I do not like it.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

Marooncat79 in the Baptist forum stated:​

you are correct. There are many many many songs that are sung in worship that should not be sung there

Some are even downright heretical

Examples
Songs about American
Armed Forces Songs
Songs which don't specifically ascribe to God All Glory Laud and Honor (see what I did there)

So what are your thoughts about patriotic songs being sung in church.
and just in the USA. IF you are from a different country, would love to hear from you!

I have mixed feelings regarding "Patriotic" songs

If the premise is you are "proud to be an American" and your intentions are a Pro-American "Pep Rally," then I believe it is inappropriate.

If the premise is that you are THANKFUL you are an American and you are acknowledging God's blessing and providence, I believe this is a good thing and I am all for Christians in their respective countries to acknowedge things they can be thankful regarding the country of which God has sovereignly made you a citizen.

We should keep politics out. Preach on sin, that abortion is murder and that a man ought to work and support his family without invoking the DEMONcrats (or whoever) who are in opposition to such.

I recall a 4th of July a few years ago when our pastor asked me to play and sing Lee Greenwood's song "Proud to be an American" during our morning service. I was hesitant at first but ultimately played it for the reasons I stated above.

I am a Navy Veteran (and proud, conservative, Christian American) but am probably one of the few who would prefer the American flag NOT be in the Church auditorium seeing that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven and as such, we should be in solidarity with our fellow brothers and sisters throughout the world.

 

[Salty]

First, I would not want the Flag in the Sanctuary without the Christian Flag!

Second, sometimes we do have to preach on politics from the pulpit -
and you gave an example - abortion!. That action is both a moral and political issue.
Now, I am for term limits - but I do not see Scripture on this one way or the other,
thus I would never preach on term limits from the pulpit. (Other than using as an example
of what not to preach on)

As we sing a song show we are thankful to the Lord for living in a free nation, we are also being pro-American.
I would see it hard to seperate the two. Now, granted - we go to extremes as well.

Thank you for being part of the 1% - A US Veteran !

 

[KenH]

I don't like seeing the flag of any country inside a church building or outside a church building.

I don't think there should be a "Christian" flag either. God's elect, those He chose before the world and gave to His Son to be their Surety and Redeemer, and who God sovereignly places under the preaching of the finished work of Christ on behalf of His elect, and who are sovereignly regenerated by the Holy Spirit, are to worship God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and not some piece of cloth with some symbol on it.

From the pulpit, the gospel of Christ alone should be preached, and not worldly politics, regardless of what the political subject is, be it cultural issues, or economic issues, or foreign policy issues.

What did the apostle Paul preach? "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." 1 Corinthians 2:2

Holding this or that political position will not save anyone's soul. Placing this or that flag in or outside of a church building will not save anyone's soul.

I am thankful that God sovereignly brings His elect under the hearing of the gospel of Christ and teaches them to stay away from the worldly, false gospels that are so prevalent today.

"Yet, here is mercy, that the Lord saves whom he will save, and that we are saved by free grace, and free grace alone, through the blood and righteousness of the Son of God. "He of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption;" so that if we have him we have everything, and if we have him not we have nothing. Where these things are felt they will cause exercise of soul, with many prayers and supplications to the God of all our mercies; and all this will strip and empty us of that light, superficial, and flimsy profession which seems so current in our day." - J.C. Philpot