Believers and the Fourth of July
June 30, 2009
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June 30, 2009
We are all about to enjoy the wonderful ritual of the Fourth of July. The ceremony honors many parts of our tradition as a nation, including our commitment to pluralism. Coming from different faiths and perspectives, we naturally like that.
However, there always is a tricky relationship between people of faith and the countries in which they live. So, here's this week's question:
How do believers both celebrate their country and use their prophetic voice to critique and reform their nation?
Read on for some illuminating answers from our Texas Faith panel and for some great quotes from various traditions. I particularly liked the Frederick Buechner quote that Bill Lawrence included.
REV. GERALD BRITT, JR, Vice-President of Public Policy and Community Program Development, Central Dallas Ministries
I don't think it is necessary for believers, whether clergy or lay members, to choose between love of country or prophetic critique. We must, however, make the choice between patriotism and nationalism.
Faith in God, precludes unqualified support of any government. Believers who think that faith, limited to either personal salvation or committed to unquestioning sanction of government action, do both themselves, their faith and their country a grave injustice.
Relative to the Christian faith, we express our love of country best when we are willing to challenge it to grow to reflect more and more the character of the Author and Finisher of our faith. Practically speaking, this is not a call to 'evangelize' the nation. It is a call to make sure that the policies which govern the citizens of our nation and our interaction with the broader community of nations, exhibit a commitment to justice, equality, freedom, dignity and respect which our God desires to see reflected in relationships between all peoples. When we see something less than that and certainly when we see other than that, it is our responsibility to speak with a voice that challenges any and all expressions of national interests and ambitions that are "anti-God."
The deists and Christians who founded the United States, did so with lofty ideals. They are expressed in the founding documents.
That being said, the realization of those ideals is not automatic. What that realization means is to be hammered out in the public square between people of faith and people who profess no faith.
Yet the loftier commitments to which we are called, are not foreign to the aims of the human spirit. Therefore, it is perfectly proper that we who do believe insist that the laws which govern our nation and with which we conduct foreign policy always reflect the justice, compassion and integrity necessary for us all to live as brothers and sisters.
We can, without shame, celebrate this grand experiment we call America; but we can also, with fervent spirits, commit to keeping a watchful eye on our leaders, our neighbors and ourselves to make sure that how we continue to carry out this experiment continues to inspire all of mankind to strive for the highest ideals of our being in peace.
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