| | My mom and I are in Branson for a few days before I leave for Kazakhstan. We've been enjoying doing virtually nothing (which is pretty far removed from the pack-everything-we-can-into-this-trip-until-we're-utterly-exhausted vacations of my childhood). However, tonight we went to see The Presley's, a country-comedy show. I actually really enjoyed it, despite my... antipathy for country music. It's like it was designed for someone with ADD, and so anything that I didn't care for didn't linger on for more than two minutes max. It was really funny and the musicianship was incredibly impressive.
However, as can be expected in Branson, MO, the religious messages got a little... confusing. There were several Christian Southern Gospel songs, like "I'll Fly Away." Then, at the end, one of the Presley's recited the lyrics to a Johnny Cash song, called "Ragged Old Flag." Here's one of the stanzas:
"So we raise her up every morning
And we bring her down slow every night,
We don't let her touch the ground,
And we fold her up right.
On second thought
I *do* like to brag
Cause I'm mighty proud of
That Ragged Old Flag"
That was followed by the entire family singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," a decidedly Christian song. (With lyrics like, "In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea / With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me," how can it not be?) However, it also combines these lyrics with decidedly patriotic and military-centric lyrics, like, "As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free." The intersection of Christianity and American patriotism is actually a pretty frequent occurrence. If you don't believe me, go to nearly any evangelical church on the Fourth of July weekend. You'll likely hear "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America." You'll see an American flag prominently displayed on the stage. You'll hear a sermon that probably speaks about America's role in scripture, or about how America needs to return to its "Christian" roots.
These sorts of things always make me really uncomfortable. I can't help but see lyrics like, "And we bring her down slow every night, / We don't let her touch the ground, / And we fold her up right" as religious in nature. With such great reverence paid to a symbol representing something we're called to lay down our lives for ("let us die to make men free"), I can't help but think that it competes with our call to lay down our lives solely for the cross of Christ. I don't know the proper ways I should respond to things like the pledge of allegiance, patriotic songs, and, more than anything, to veterans. I appreciate the level of commitment it takes to be willing to die for something, and I also do love many things about America, but I can't help but think that many of them place the cause of America before the cause of Christ. What should be the proper response of those who love Jesus to patriotic nationalism?
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| | Posted 8/11/2009 1:17 AM - 17 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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