Bothers me that we sing songs in church praising the USA, a country with legalized gay marriage, legal abortion, relaxed attitudes to drug use and alcohol use, easy divorce laws, removal of God from the public square, etc.
I think it's about time our churches stop singing the praises of a nation so out of step with God.
If this song was performed in a church which it looks like it was or represented as coming from our religious beliefs, I would agree that it's blasphemy.
It's one of the best examples why combing religion and politics is such a destructive thing.
Destructive to which one?
Our faith and the church.
This is not First Baptist Church of Bugtussle. This is one of the largest churches in the convention, the church of Herschel Hobbes and J.W. Criswell.
Of course I don't. I surmise that the choir has sung any number of "patriotic" anthems. But when the First Baptist Church choir and orchestra performs in its highest-profile event ever and it chooses this song ...
If it doesn't bother you, hey; go with it. If you think it's appropriate for a church to sponsor what was in effect a Trump rally and gush about his campaign slogan, go ahead. Not my church that's chosen to go down this path. They love Jeffress and they're welcome to him.
I didn't say any of that. Whether I disagree with this event or not I do not assume the worst about them as if they never "ask for forgiveness, for mercy, for God's provision in the midst of our sinfulness. Don't ask to be a light to the nations or a refuge."
I am sure they love the Lord and are just wrong on this issue. I was simply asking what evidence did you have to make such a claim about them because putting on this event does not prove nor even suggest your accusation was remotely true.
This is not a one-off. I'm sure they sing many wonderful songs. We weren't talking about all the wonderful songs they do sing.
They had a high-profile appearance (paid for by the church) and chose to include a campaign song. Anyone who's followed Jeffress' career can testify that he considers that Christianity is coterminal with his political beliefs.
You are missing the point. You made the accusation that they "Don't ask for forgiveness, for mercy, for God's provision in the midst of our sinfulness. Don't ask to be a light to the nations or a refuge"
I asked how you knew this to be true. You have yet to provide anything at all to support this.
You are the one missing the point. What we're discussing is the anthem they sang at the Trump rally. It had none of what I mentioned. That is undeniable. That's what we're talking about.
Whether the choir sang other songs at other times is neither here nor there. I never said the choir never sang other songs. Were talking about is a specific event, not what the choir might have sung on Sunday mornings. This is not rocket science.