Conservatives Are More Than Twice as Likely as Liberals to Be Strongly Patriotic

Robert, you are right. You would not be comfortable in the church I serve.

 

We need some perspective here, badly.

I would most definantly be called "right-wing" by the liberals that post here, although I myself do not affiliate with either party, considering them both to be made up mostly of lying snakes. That being said, I thank God for the US and for the great freedoms we have. I pray for our country, the peace of our country, the leaders of our country, and for repentance in our country. I place my hand over my heart during the national anthem and typically sing along, thanking God for such great freedoms as we enjoy in this country. I said the pledge in school and would do it today were it performed in my prescence.

All that said, church is no place for the pledge of allegiance or national anthem. Church is a solemn assembly. It is the house of God, the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. It is for praising and worshipping God. It is for singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord. It is for prayer and preaching God's word. I'm not saying that we should act one way at one place and another way at another place. I'm saying that we should sanctify our worship service and make a difference between the holy and the profane.

 

I was considering James 2 this morning and had the passing thought about how we violate Scripture by giving anything but Jesus a seat of importance in our worship services.

It would seem that just as elevating rich/influential people is sinful so too elevating any -ism (be it nationalism, conservativism, liberalism, socialism, progressivism, libertarianism, etc) would be just as sinful.

As I consider the bulk of the teaching of the New Testament concerning the significance of Christian worship, I find no room for anything but honoring God, proclaiming Christ, and receiving the blessing of the Spirit.

 

I would probably be more comfortable than you might think. I know if I heard you speak to your congregation, it would not be the way you present yourself here.

 

Brother, you might be surprised. But, I'll have to admit the supposed anonymity does allow for a more sarcastic approach.

Honestly, if I served with a music minister who refused to participate based on arrogant misguided principals I would move for his dismissal.

 

Yes, it is, without a doubt. It is secular worship. Which is okay as long as it is done in an appropriate setting, and a spiritual worship service to God is not the place. The state has no place being brought into a church service. It is wrong, wrong, wrong to do so, totally unjustifiable.

 

I recite the Pledge - but I do not worship the state.

Worship belongs to God alone.

To worship anyone or anything execpt God alone is idoltry.

 

A bad choice of words on my part to say "worship of the state".

My point is that I do not think it is appropriate to have symbols of the state - such as a flag - or to have acts of fealty - such as the pledge of allegiance - in or as part of a worship service to God.

 

Most likely you would agree with censoring the Pledge's words, "...under God..." and the national anthem's last verse with "in God is our trust." If these words are not to be said/sung in church, and the 'state' is absolutely separate from God-- rather than separate [holy] to God, these words have no place at all.

As far as the Bible is from the Flag, so are your loyalites separated. But then, something about "serving 2 masters,"... we don't stand a chance being sucked into 2 black holes.

 

I notice that you like to post this quote without context quite frequently.

Is this an attempt to slam patriotism?

Have you read any of Samuel Johnson on patriotism?

 

PATRIOTISM ,n. Love of one's country; the passion which aims to serve one's country, either in defending it from invasion, or protecting its rights and maintaining its laws and institutions in vigor and purity. Patriotism is the characteristic of a good citizen, the noblest passion that animates a man in the character of a citizen.

Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary

Just in the last few years I've seen conservatives willingly give away their God given rights to a corupt state that claims it can protect them if only it had more power, more money and more control over them.

And I've watched them give that up also time after time.

I've seen rabid "anti war" democrats become docile as sheep while the wars they protested still rage because one of "them" is in office and they are the "majority" for a little bit.

I've seen both sides claim to be bigger patriots than the other and have some very nasty things to say to each other and even believing their opponents views or opinions as in free speech should be restricted or even banned!

I've seen glorious flag waving on behalf of and in blind obedience to a corupt militaristic corporate state that I myself find hard to even dignify with the word "government", unless of course the word "gangster" is inserted in front of it.

One thing I've not seen though is many of those who fancy themselves to be patriots who can measure up to Noah Webster's definition of the same.

IMESHO of course. :saint:

 

IMO, true conservatives are more patriotic. Republicans are not.

 

Dennis Kucinich was anti-war and still is.

 

The pledge of allegiance should not be recited and the national anthem should not be sung during a worship service dedicated to God. Outside of the assembly of the saints I have no problem with doing so and have done so myself.

 

Yes and Ron paul is still a constitutionalist even though he is a member of the big government establishment republican party.

There are "exceptions to the rule".

My point was that opposition to the "wars" dried up an blew away when Obama was proclaimed potus. They still continue but hardly anyone is complaining now. What changed? Nothing. All is now as it was under Bush and even worse. Yeah, I know that's hard to imagine, but . . . there it is.

 

Poncho, something that bothers me about your posts is that you seem to think that if someone disagrees with your political views, they hate America and are part of some kind of conspiracy. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I do get that impression from your posts. Don't you think people can be sincerely wrong?

 

Targus,

God would dialog with religious leaders.

Yet, God would not pledge allegiance to anyone... He is God and we pledge allegiance to Him.

 

>God would dialog with religious leaders.

We have been waiting for 2000 years for this.

 

Then should there also be no mention of old Deacon Dan about to die of his last heart attack? Or asking mothers to stand on "Mothers' Day?" Or players on the local high school football team that just won their playoff game? Or even new members? After all the service is dedicated to God, not Deacon Dan, or mothers, or athletes or new (or old) members.

 

1) That would be okay. We told to pray for each other's needs.

2) That would be okay. Godly parenting is encouraged.

3) That would not be okay. I find no Biblical warrant for such.

4) That would be okay. We are to encourage one another spiritually.