tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post6219684714537674707..comments2024-03-27T03:19:11.216-04:00Comments on Assistant Village Idiot: Patriotism in WorshipAssistant Village Idiothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978011985085795099noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-20126789213267374062014-05-27T09:25:06.491-04:002014-05-27T09:25:06.491-04:00I had a history teacher in 7th grade who liked to ...I had a history teacher in 7th grade who liked to harangue us about how this country was founded by Christians, and how atheists should just leave. If she thought she was evangelizing effectively, she was much mistaken! Her example was a stumbling-block to me for many years.Texan99https://www.blogger.com/profile/10479561573903660086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-1540055086207922542014-05-27T02:21:49.285-04:002014-05-27T02:21:49.285-04:00This is one reason why I've always held the op...This is one reason why I've always held the opinion that a separation of church and state benefits the church most. <br /><br />Though I'm probably best described as agnostic, I don't (or at least I try not to) underestimate the value of religions and churches in daily life. <br /><br />I've had some interesting conversations with a young relative who is staying with me for a month on why mocking Christianity is not the best way to express his lack of religious belief -- how it is just as much a signal to his perceived tribe as the facebook posts on religion are a signal to another tribe. <br /><br />The difference I tried to point out to him was that mocking was a put down, a signal that he thought he was "better" while the religious posts (for the most part) were designed to build up, not knock down.<br /><br />And this is also why my hackles rise when I hear people say "this is a Christian country". <br /><br />No... this is a country designed to be friendly to Christianity and to most other religions. It's a country willing to give much leeway to religious practices up to a point.Donna B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16771075314473811594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-36754536478593831862014-05-26T23:13:37.111-04:002014-05-26T23:13:37.111-04:00Any trace of jingoism is jarring in church. I'...Any trace of jingoism is jarring in church. I've come to believe, though, that there's nothing inconsistent between Christian worship and reminding us to put loyalty and public service above personal convenience and safety.Texan99https://www.blogger.com/profile/10479561573903660086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-65843208018954096122014-05-26T09:44:01.809-04:002014-05-26T09:44:01.809-04:00I have always endured a deep and abiding dislike o...I have always endured a deep and abiding dislike of having the American Flag at the front of the sanctuary in a church. It is a ubiquitous fixture in just about every evangelical protestant church of which I have been a part including the one I now pastor. I feel impotent to actually act on it, being quite sure that it would cause a riot (even here in northern New England).<br /><br />So I complain under my breath and chafe at the thought and just try to ignore it. It's inclusion in worship space dedicated to our Lord Jesus Christ is improper in the extreme. While others might complain about forgetting those who died for their country, I would point to those who died for our Lord at the hands of their countries governments through the last 20 centuries. In a church, whose memory should we be more concerned with honoring? <br /><br />I love my country. It is a blessing to the world and certainly to me and my family. I honor those who have served by giving up their lives. It was nobly done. But such service is only an echo of the true service rendered to all nations and all peoples by the one who gave his life to make all people truly free. <br /><br />Placing a flag in the front of a church fosters a subtle conflation the two threads in the minds of people. <br /><br />Dubbahdeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00075702513873912334noreply@blogger.com