General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDoes "The Star Spangled Banner" belong in church?
"Patriotic church services this time of year were so common in the early republic that the Episcopal Churchs national convention in 1786 resolved that the Fourth of July shall be observed by this church forever, as a day of Thanksgiving to almighty God for the inestimable blessings of Religious and Civil Liberty vouchsafed to the USA, according to a book about the denomination.
Over the centuries, what it meant to celebrate July 4 in church has changed and been debated. In recent years, the debate has been especially heated, with Christians disagreeing strongly on whether conflating God and country is a right or a heresy."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/07/01/star-spangled-banner-in-church-sunday-christians-debating-god-and-country-anew/?utm_term=.198ac08bd69c
Coventina
(26,874 posts)Although, I can't remember ever actually singing it in church.
So....
Ohiogal
(31,669 posts)Sitting in church as a kid and being incredibly bored, I'd page through the hymn book sometimes and see it there, but I don't ever recall singing it in church. I do recall them singing "America the Beautiful" when the 4th of July was upcoming.
Coventina
(26,874 posts)(actually, almost every sermon!)
I was always fascinated by all the different indices and reading hymns that we never sang, etc.
struggle4progress
(118,041 posts)csziggy
(34,120 posts)If it were only a hymn I would never have to stand for it (not that I ever attend events where I would have to anyway) or listen to it.
My favorite choice for a national anthem is This Land Is Your Land:
Lyrics
This land is your land, this land is my land
From the California to the New York island
From the Redwood Forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me
As I went walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
And saw below me that golden valley
This land was made for you and me
I roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me , a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me
When the sun comes shining, then I was strolling
In the wheat fields waving and dust clouds rolling
The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting
This land was made for you and me
This land is your land and this land is my land
From the California to the New York island
From the Redwood Forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me
When the sun comes shining, then I was strolling
In wheat fields waving and dust clouds rolling
The voice come chanting as the fog was lifting
This land was made for you and me
Songwriters: Woody Guthrie
This Land Is Your Land lyrics © T.R.O. Inc.
Ohiogal
(31,669 posts)no_hypocrisy
(45,774 posts)DBoon
(22,288 posts)nt
CurtEastPoint
(18,552 posts)dembotoz
(16,739 posts)It's use would be fine with me.
My church celebrated 100 years right after world war 2.
I recently found a copy of the church booklet from the event..32 pages, nice print job... one of the pages has the heading in service to our country.. honor roll.quite a few names... my family members included.
If ur kids are in harm's way.. sing whatever you fucking want
hunter
(38,264 posts)When I was a kid we didn't even stand for the flag salute in school.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)LeftInTX
(24,560 posts)It is in the Hymnbook ~ probably reserved for other types of services.....
unc70
(6,095 posts)Here is a discussion of "patriotic" songs included in some hymnals. It is from a United Methodist perspective, but details which songs are included in hymnals of other denominations.
https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/why-arent-there-more-patriotic-songs-in-our-hymnal
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)But, then, I don't subscribe to supernatural mumbo jumbo.
thucythucy
(7,986 posts)sung to the tune of an English drinking song.
What's not to like?
Hayduke Bomgarte
(1,965 posts)`