Church Yesterday.......

[heavenlyboy34]

DOUBLE EDIT: The Battle Hymn of the Republic were written as a 'God is on our side' rally song for the Union Army.

And the tune for the Star Spangled Banner was an English drinking song.

 

[James Madison]

No Christian should ever say the Pledge of Allegiance. Putting ones hand over their heart (signifying a blood oath) is just icing on the cake.

 

[BattleFlag1776]

The Anglican Church that I had been going to turned into too much of a drive/too much gas (it's a little over an hour away) so I've been going to the 1st Baptist Church (about 5 blocks from my house). They don't have the praise & worship concert, which I like, and their service is usually 4 hymnals & the sermon. It hasn't been bad. Yesterday was our 4th Sunday to attend - and I was taken aback. I know it was the Sunday before the 4th of July, but I've never (and I grew up in a Baptist Church) seen this much....I'll say 'patriotism' because I hate to accuse them of propaganda. Did anyone else's church go this far into it?

Here was the order of service:


Standing with hand on heart:
The Pledge of Allegiance
The Star Spangled Banner - 1st & last verse

I'm fine so far

Prayer
VBS Performance - 2 songs

Standing:
God Bless America
I'm fine still - no problem really

Offerings taken while pianist plays America the Beautiful - Fine - great song

Standing:
Onward Christian Soldiers (marching off to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before)
starting to feel uncomfortable - I did not sing this song.......
Battle Hymn of the Republic (Glory Glory Hallelujah)
I sat down & did not sing.
By this point, we've been standing & singing for 45 minutes, and have topped it all off with the Battle Hymn of the Republic!

Sermon:
Was basically, and the pastor word for word said this, "It doesn't matter what's going on in our country; the elections, the Supreme Court decision, the Congress or anything, as long as your focus is squarely on Jesus, it doesn't matter."
_______________________________________________________________________


Am I missing something? Did this happen at anyone else's church service? I love America way MORE than the next guy, but there is a time and place, right?

And.....they're moving to a praise & worship style service starting next Sunday.

Not uncommon at this time of year for churches to inject a little patriotism in the services. However…

Onward is an English processional. Re-read the first line: “Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war…” It is not advocating marching off to war. All of the metaphors are just that, metaphors. The gist is: Don’t be timid in your faith.

Battle Hymn, while certainly anti-South (anti-slavery) at the time it was penned, is about the “truth” of Christ overcoming all evil. Yes, it was used extensively by the Union Army but was not penned as being pro-war.

I’d say the pastor got the patriotism stuff out of the way first then ended by using these two hymns in the context in which they were originally meant to be interpreted. Perfect segue to the quote you provide as part of his sermon. Assuming that was his message.

 

[Beorn]

No Christian should ever say the Pledge of Allegiance. Putting ones hand over their heart (signifying a blood oath) is just icing on the cake.

Would you rather we went back to the Bellamy salute?

I feel more comfortable pledging allegiance to the American flag than To the Christian flag.

 

[James Madison]

Would you rather we went back to the Bellamy salute?


I feel more comfortable pledging allegiance to the American flag than To the Christian flag.

I'd rather just get rid of the pledge all together.

 

[olehounddog]

Isiah 40:15
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

The Lord's Prayer fits pretty good instead of the pledge. If they say the pledge I say the Lord's Prayer.

 

[Romulus]

This thread reminds me why I don't go to church

I'd rather just get rid of the pledge all together.

Go to ball game and defy the pledge.... fk yeah

 

[jdmyprez_deo_vindice]

I would have found a new church with the first recital of the Pledge of Allegiance. I never would have made it for the rest of that crap let alone the Battle Hymn of the Republic which I detest and will vocally oppose.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

This thread reminds me why I don't go to church



Go to ball game and defy the pledge.... fk yeah

but if it's a baseball game you still have to endure teh national anthem. (at least, it was so when I last went in the early 90s)

 

[heavenlyboy34]

I would have found a new church with the first recital of the Pledge of Allegiance. I never would have made it for the rest of that crap let alone the Battle Hymn of the Republic which I detest and will vocally oppose.

Hendrix's version is good (and is an anti-war statement)