It’s July in the United States and we’re singing patriotic songs during LDS sacrament meetings. We not only have Independence Day in the United States at the beginning of the month, but Pioneer Day at the month’s end as well. With so much patriotic potential in July, multiple Sundays can be filled with national songs. Choristers may even insist that the congregation rise to sing the national anthem.

This leaves me pondering why patriotic songs and speeches make me so uncomfortable in church services. I’m grateful for the country I live in and my family celebrates with our nation each July. But I feel unsettled and frustrated when patriotism is then intertwined with religious services.

I firmly believe that you can be deeply grateful for your freedoms and for the sacrifices made by many (including your own relatives), while simultaneously dissenting and acknowledging a country’s flaws. I don’t believe God or Christ has a special preference or allegiance to one nation. When I go to church services, I don’t want to divide my worship between God and nation; I don’t want to worship a nation at all.

I also believe the regular free practice of religion and spoken gratitude for that freedom is all that is necessary to show my appreciation for my religious freedom. Patriotic speeches and songs are not necessary or appropriate in church services. And no one should feel excluded from their church community because they may not feel comfortable participating in patriotic activities.

This article in Christianity Today by Kelsey Kramer McGinnis speaks so clearly and eloquently on the topic. I really appreciate the different perspectives she includes from different religious representatives. This quote stood out to me as especially powerful:

“To give a platform to both the worship of God and the celebration of America in the same service is to serve two masters, to grant power to God and the state in the sanctuary. In doing so, one makes space for the glorification of two entities that are in no way equal in the life of a Christian.

Even if leaders make a distinction during services between ‘worship’ and ‘patriotic music,’ a gathered congregation singing songs celebrating the state is ceding some highly prized religious freedom: the freedom to worship without interference and without the requirement to pay homage to government.”

If church communities want to hold optional, separate programs to showcase talent, appreciation, and national holidays outside of Sunday services, then they should do so. Sacrament and Sunday services should be reserved for the worship of our Heavenly Parents and Jesus Christ.

Ultimately, I don’t want to be compelled to stand or sing in church services when my convictions may guide me to kneel, or when participating may exclude those of other nations, when we should be united in faith first.