Anglicans have a tendency to sing national anthems in church but I was dismayed when our priest-in-charge decided to open this morning's service with both the Canadian and British anthems because it happens to be the Victoria Day civic holiday in Canada. Some reflections:
1. I appreciate Sharon's theological points about the basic difference in language and identity. National anthems are not prayers to the God revealed in Jesus Christ; nor are they pointing us to our truest identity that is found in Christ. National identity is at best a secondary identity, or third, if our biological family is secondary to our Christian identity.
2. Context and timing matters here. Canada feels something of an existential threat from the US Government and the need to reassert independence is strong. But the language of the Psalms should steer us directly to God for shelter and protection.
3. Although the priest acknowledged the theological danger of Christian nationalism, the notion of Canada as a Christian nation too easily opens the way for Anglicans with a history of military service, and no doubt other Christians too, to see the nation as a locus of Christian discipleship where Canadian 'values' of dignity and freedom as seen as expressions of the Gospel. To follow this line of thinking allows the service of the national interest to be seen as a form of Christian service. What is lacking is the formation to know when the national interest must be opposed in the name of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. War is a case in point.
4. With such a fusion of Christian and Canadian values, singing the national anthems in a worship service sets the tone for the nation to become a mediator in our relationship to God. This means we look to Canada to reinforce and strengthen our collective sense of what it means to be Christian, whereby serving the interests of Canada clarifies and extends our work of discipleship, making possible forms of Christian service that would be otherwise unavailable. While serving the nation can be a facilitator of Christian service is can also be an impediment to it. And we are still left without the training to develop the skills to know how to support and oppose our nation as required by faithful Christian discipleship.
Here endeth the sermon! I'm okay with national anthems in civic settings but given the hand-wring in liberal Anglican circles about residential schools and the 'evils' of the pandemic protests in the name of Christian nationalism, we need all the help we can get to thing seriously about such matters, rather than feel proud or sentimental about Canada.
Anglicans have a tendency to sing national anthems in church but I was dismayed when our priest-in-charge decided to open this morning's service with both the Canadian and British anthems because it happens to be the Victoria Day civic holiday in Canada. Some reflections:
1. I appreciate Sharon's theological points about the basic difference in language and identity. National anthems are not prayers to the God revealed in Jesus Christ; nor are they pointing us to our truest identity that is found in Christ. National identity is at best a secondary identity, or third, if our biological family is secondary to our Christian identity.
2. Context and timing matters here. Canada feels something of an existential threat from the US Government and the need to reassert independence is strong. But the language of the Psalms should steer us directly to God for shelter and protection.
3. Although the priest acknowledged the theological danger of Christian nationalism, the notion of Canada as a Christian nation too easily opens the way for Anglicans with a history of military service, and no doubt other Christians too, to see the nation as a locus of Christian discipleship where Canadian 'values' of dignity and freedom as seen as expressions of the Gospel. To follow this line of thinking allows the service of the national interest to be seen as a form of Christian service. What is lacking is the formation to know when the national interest must be opposed in the name of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. War is a case in point.
4. With such a fusion of Christian and Canadian values, singing the national anthems in a worship service sets the tone for the nation to become a mediator in our relationship to God. This means we look to Canada to reinforce and strengthen our collective sense of what it means to be Christian, whereby serving the interests of Canada clarifies and extends our work of discipleship, making possible forms of Christian service that would be otherwise unavailable. While serving the nation can be a facilitator of Christian service is can also be an impediment to it. And we are still left without the training to develop the skills to know how to support and oppose our nation as required by faithful Christian discipleship.
Here endeth the sermon! I'm okay with national anthems in civic settings but given the hand-wring in liberal Anglican circles about residential schools and the 'evils' of the pandemic protests in the name of Christian nationalism, we need all the help we can get to thing seriously about such matters, rather than feel proud or sentimental about Canada.
I love when my “old” & traditional beliefs are challenged & I come to realize I cannot accept so many traditional beliefs anymore . In my younger years I was very patriotic & loved being “Canadian”. But over the years as I have opened my mind & my heart to God’s wondrous creation I have come to a realization that patriotism sets us up for discrimination. As my faith expands & matures so does my thinking. Dare I say I am truly becoming wiser in my old age? Now I question why we have borders at all. God created us all to be one with one another. Borders & patriotism divides us. Saying all this & reading Sharon’s reflection makes me question why I stand to sing O Canada or God Save the King. Living in Newfoundland we also sing the Ode to Newfoundland in church on Canada Day. I stand and sing, not because I believe we are separate or better than any other country or province. I stand in church or wherever I am when an anthem is sung to show respect. However, Sharon has got me thinking. If I truly believe we are all one in God’S sight then why am I promoting separatism?
So… next time an anthem is sung will I stand out of respect or will I remain seated , comfortable in my beliefs? I can’t honestly answer that right now. I have to sit with this challenge. Thanks to Sharon & everyone who has shared. You have all got me thinking. And that, I believe, is actually a good thing.
I have never given any thought to the comments that Sharon shared in her conversation today, so I am writing these thoughts from “green spaces”.
The first thing that jumped into my head was that I, personally, could not remain seated (if I was able to stand) when my country’s National Anthem was being sung on Remembrance Day – whether it was in church or elsewhere. For me, my thoughts are always of respect and thankfulness for those many men and women who have lost their lives on behalf of everyone (past, present, or future) for this country that I love and will always call my home. I'm not sure that God would be displeased with me responding in this manner. I would rather think there would be pleasure that I still think it's important to remember, to be saddened about the entire reason for the day, but to be hopeful for "better days ahead."
True, our borders are determined by people, not God, but then I believe that God would never put a border anywhere. If we were truly living in a world where God created everything, there would be no borders anywhere. But I believe that God put us where we are so we could experience, and choose, and grow, and change, hopefully in a positive direction. As we all know, that hasn’t happened through the many past years, and still has a long way to go in our future years. However, I know that God gives us free choice. I’d like to think that God is applauding some of our choices, but sobbing about others, and then cheering us on as we change our thinking and our actions.
Should we be asking God to “keep our land glorious and free”? We should be asking God anything and everything that is within our hearts. For me, that is one of the purposes of prayer: ask for, thank for, appreciate for, question for, chat with, and on and on. There should be no limits on how or for what we pray. Prayer is simply a conversation between me and God, in whatever form it happens to take at a particular time.
So, no, I do not have a problem singing nor standing in church for our National Anthem on Remembrance Day…. but then that is one of the great things about living in Canada….we are free to have differing opinions, hopefully without any violence being included!!
No, thankfully. I think God Bless America has been sung a few times over the years and I don’t like that either. While it’s not explicit, for me, that song implies that America is “special,” and I don’t believe that belongs in church. I don’t even believe that America is more special than many other nations, if any nation at all. I know the world is made up of countries/nations, but the reality is that within that construct we are all human beings, and that’s what matters and what is special. America has done some awful things — to itself and its people (and to those who lived here before us), as well as the pain and destruction we’ve caused worldwide. I was born in America; this is my home and I have hope for it and there are many wonderful things and people here. But I do not believe we are more special than other nations/societies/people. I can’t imagine why the National Anthem would be appropriate in a church setting.
Anglicans have a tendency to sing national anthems in church but I was dismayed when our priest-in-charge decided to open this morning's service with both the Canadian and British anthems because it happens to be the Victoria Day civic holiday in Canada. Some reflections:
1. I appreciate Sharon's theological points about the basic difference in language and identity. National anthems are not prayers to the God revealed in Jesus Christ; nor are they pointing us to our truest identity that is found in Christ. National identity is at best a secondary identity, or third, if our biological family is secondary to our Christian identity.
2. Context and timing matters here. Canada feels something of an existential threat from the US Government and the need to reassert independence is strong. But the language of the Psalms should steer us directly to God for shelter and protection.
3. Although the priest acknowledged the theological danger of Christian nationalism, the notion of Canada as a Christian nation too easily opens the way for Anglicans with a history of military service, and no doubt other Christians too, to see the nation as a locus of Christian discipleship where Canadian 'values' of dignity and freedom as seen as expressions of the Gospel. To follow this line of thinking allows the service of the national interest to be seen as a form of Christian service. What is lacking is the formation to know when the national interest must be opposed in the name of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. War is a case in point.
4. With such a fusion of Christian and Canadian values, singing the national anthems in a worship service sets the tone for the nation to become a mediator in our relationship to God. This means we look to Canada to reinforce and strengthen our collective sense of what it means to be Christian, whereby serving the interests of Canada clarifies and extends our work of discipleship, making possible forms of Christian service that would be otherwise unavailable. While serving the nation can be a facilitator of Christian service is can also be an impediment to it. And we are still left without the training to develop the skills to know how to support and oppose our nation as required by faithful Christian discipleship.
Here endeth the sermon! I'm okay with national anthems in civic settings but given the hand-wring in liberal Anglican circles about residential schools and the 'evils' of the pandemic protests in the name of Christian nationalism, we need all the help we can get to thing seriously about such matters, rather than feel proud or sentimental about Canada.
I appreciate your comments
Anglicans have a tendency to sing national anthems in church but I was dismayed when our priest-in-charge decided to open this morning's service with both the Canadian and British anthems because it happens to be the Victoria Day civic holiday in Canada. Some reflections:
1. I appreciate Sharon's theological points about the basic difference in language and identity. National anthems are not prayers to the God revealed in Jesus Christ; nor are they pointing us to our truest identity that is found in Christ. National identity is at best a secondary identity, or third, if our biological family is secondary to our Christian identity.
2. Context and timing matters here. Canada feels something of an existential threat from the US Government and the need to reassert independence is strong. But the language of the Psalms should steer us directly to God for shelter and protection.
3. Although the priest acknowledged the theological danger of Christian nationalism, the notion of Canada as a Christian nation too easily opens the way for Anglicans with a history of military service, and no doubt other Christians too, to see the nation as a locus of Christian discipleship where Canadian 'values' of dignity and freedom as seen as expressions of the Gospel. To follow this line of thinking allows the service of the national interest to be seen as a form of Christian service. What is lacking is the formation to know when the national interest must be opposed in the name of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. War is a case in point.
4. With such a fusion of Christian and Canadian values, singing the national anthems in a worship service sets the tone for the nation to become a mediator in our relationship to God. This means we look to Canada to reinforce and strengthen our collective sense of what it means to be Christian, whereby serving the interests of Canada clarifies and extends our work of discipleship, making possible forms of Christian service that would be otherwise unavailable. While serving the nation can be a facilitator of Christian service is can also be an impediment to it. And we are still left without the training to develop the skills to know how to support and oppose our nation as required by faithful Christian discipleship.
Here endeth the sermon! I'm okay with national anthems in civic settings but given the hand-wring in liberal Anglican circles about residential schools and the 'evils' of the pandemic protests in the name of Christian nationalism, we need all the help we can get to thing seriously about such matters, rather than feel proud or sentimental about Canada.
I love when my “old” & traditional beliefs are challenged & I come to realize I cannot accept so many traditional beliefs anymore . In my younger years I was very patriotic & loved being “Canadian”. But over the years as I have opened my mind & my heart to God’s wondrous creation I have come to a realization that patriotism sets us up for discrimination. As my faith expands & matures so does my thinking. Dare I say I am truly becoming wiser in my old age? Now I question why we have borders at all. God created us all to be one with one another. Borders & patriotism divides us. Saying all this & reading Sharon’s reflection makes me question why I stand to sing O Canada or God Save the King. Living in Newfoundland we also sing the Ode to Newfoundland in church on Canada Day. I stand and sing, not because I believe we are separate or better than any other country or province. I stand in church or wherever I am when an anthem is sung to show respect. However, Sharon has got me thinking. If I truly believe we are all one in God’S sight then why am I promoting separatism?
So… next time an anthem is sung will I stand out of respect or will I remain seated , comfortable in my beliefs? I can’t honestly answer that right now. I have to sit with this challenge. Thanks to Sharon & everyone who has shared. You have all got me thinking. And that, I believe, is actually a good thing.
I have never given any thought to the comments that Sharon shared in her conversation today, so I am writing these thoughts from “green spaces”.
The first thing that jumped into my head was that I, personally, could not remain seated (if I was able to stand) when my country’s National Anthem was being sung on Remembrance Day – whether it was in church or elsewhere. For me, my thoughts are always of respect and thankfulness for those many men and women who have lost their lives on behalf of everyone (past, present, or future) for this country that I love and will always call my home. I'm not sure that God would be displeased with me responding in this manner. I would rather think there would be pleasure that I still think it's important to remember, to be saddened about the entire reason for the day, but to be hopeful for "better days ahead."
True, our borders are determined by people, not God, but then I believe that God would never put a border anywhere. If we were truly living in a world where God created everything, there would be no borders anywhere. But I believe that God put us where we are so we could experience, and choose, and grow, and change, hopefully in a positive direction. As we all know, that hasn’t happened through the many past years, and still has a long way to go in our future years. However, I know that God gives us free choice. I’d like to think that God is applauding some of our choices, but sobbing about others, and then cheering us on as we change our thinking and our actions.
Should we be asking God to “keep our land glorious and free”? We should be asking God anything and everything that is within our hearts. For me, that is one of the purposes of prayer: ask for, thank for, appreciate for, question for, chat with, and on and on. There should be no limits on how or for what we pray. Prayer is simply a conversation between me and God, in whatever form it happens to take at a particular time.
So, no, I do not have a problem singing nor standing in church for our National Anthem on Remembrance Day…. but then that is one of the great things about living in Canada….we are free to have differing opinions, hopefully without any violence being included!!
For me, a simple answer. No. There is no reason to sing the national anthem in church. One is not related to the other. Highly inappropriate.
Does your congregation sing the national anthem in worship?
No, thankfully. I think God Bless America has been sung a few times over the years and I don’t like that either. While it’s not explicit, for me, that song implies that America is “special,” and I don’t believe that belongs in church. I don’t even believe that America is more special than many other nations, if any nation at all. I know the world is made up of countries/nations, but the reality is that within that construct we are all human beings, and that’s what matters and what is special. America has done some awful things — to itself and its people (and to those who lived here before us), as well as the pain and destruction we’ve caused worldwide. I was born in America; this is my home and I have hope for it and there are many wonderful things and people here. But I do not believe we are more special than other nations/societies/people. I can’t imagine why the National Anthem would be appropriate in a church setting.