Heart-Sick

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Church was hard to take this morning.

Everything was as good as usual; the music, the sermon, the presence of brothers and sisters whom I love and rejoice to worship with.  Everything was as I most hope and expect and thank God for.

But it was the patriotic "4th-of-July" service.  Canada Day, actually; but American Christianity owns the Sunday closest to the 4th, of course, no matter any other circumstances.

Today's service didn't trumpet America's glories, and our military "heroes," nearly as much as some have in the past.  Today's service was more as it should be, about worshipping God.  But that was what hit me hardest.

Our first praise-song was one we often sing, with the repeated refrain "because of Who You are."  It's a great song, affirming God's centrality in all the events of our lives.

Throughout the service, there were comparatively few and passing nods to America's greatness, and we only sang one "patriotic" song, "God Bless America," at the end of the service.

But that was what hit me extremely hard.  Because of Who He IS, how can God bless who America is ?  Can God bless pride and unrighteousness ?

My wife argued as we drove home that I was making it all about politics: and she certainly knows how I feel about politics.

But I can't agree.  If it is in people's hearts, the hearts especially of Christians, to accept and follow and promote the politics of lies and hatred, what is God's heart towards us asking and expecting Him to bless us ?