Should Patriotic Hymns Be Sung in Church Services?

With Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and the Fourth of July, a controversy sometimes comes up in different churches. Just how patriotic or just how religious should a church service and its hymns be? What belongs to Caesar, and what belongs to God? ("They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." Matthew 22:21)

Some feel that the church has no room on its calendar for patriotic holidays, simply because they are national holidays, not church holidays. Therefore, the church has no reason to promote patriotic hymns, songs that do not have much to do with Christian doctrine.

On the other hand, there are those who feel that the United States offers an exceptional case in human history, and they do not feel uncomfortable singing of and celebrating God and Country with patriotic hymns in a church service.

Certainly the issue has become more heated as religion and politics have gotten more intertwined recently. Coming down on one side of the issue or the other of singing patriotic hymns in church does not make you a de facto Democrat or Republican; perhaps the most Christian response would be to work toward some consensus.

I am not going to try to provide answers on matters of the patriotic or the religious, of hymns or other songs. But, I do offer a list of patriotic hymns and other songs for consideration, a list that might include some surprises. For those hymns that have titles, I list them by the title, with the first line in parentheses:

"America" ("My Country 'Tis of Thee") - This hymn is, ironically, sung to the tune of "God Save Our Gracious King" (or Queen), as it is known in Great Britain, where the monarch is also the head of the Church of England.

"America, the Beautiful" ("O Beautiful for Spacious Skies") - Many people have said that this would be a more appropriate national anthem.

"Battle Hymn of the Republic" ("Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory")

"Eternal Father, Strong To Save"

"God Bless America" - A United Methodist site mentions that this song is "written in a predominantly secular, popular song style," and it is still under copyright.

"God Of Our Fathers"

"Marines Hymn" - I know Marines who take pride that they have a "hymn" compared to the songs of other branches of the military, but its appropriateness in many settings might be questioned, not least by members of those other branches of the military.

"National Hymn" ("God of the ages, whose almighty hand") - This hymn is perhaps not as well known as it should be.

"Star Spangled Banner" ("The National Anthem" or "O Say, Can You See") - According to a United Methodist site, this hymn is included in the 1991 Baptist Hymnal and 1982 Episcopal Hymnal, but is not included in the 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal, or the 1989 United Methodist Hymnal.

Now, for three surprises:

"Jerusalem" - It might be a surprise to have words by William Blake, especially words that refer to "England's green and pleasant land." Of course, that could be changed to "America's green and pleasant land." Just consider the possibilities of using this hymn instead of more overtly patriotic hymns in your church services.

"Lift every voice and sing" - This hymn comes out of the African-American tradition, and the imagery clearly reflects the struggles and pain that are so much a part of that tradition. But, in one glorious line, "True to our God, true to our native land," it raises itself above the issues that are behind this controversy over patriotic hymns. It might also be a starting point for changing the sad reality that eleven o'clock on Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in American society.

"Onward, Christian Soldiers" - This hymn is often used in a patriotic setting, but the words make clear that these Christian soldiers are not fighting the enemies of the United States but the Enemy of Jesus Christ.

Part of the solution to such an issue would be prayer, but I will also recommend some research. The Internet gives us an amazing resource for all matters of church music, the CyberHymnal, which offers "over 6,900 Christian hymns & Gospel songs from many denominations," including most of the hymns on my list.