Pastor Thomas Cowell
St. John’s & Trinity Lutheran Churches, LCMS
Burt & Algona, IA
As the Fourth of July approaches, Christians have the chance to consider how we can best celebrate our nation within our worship and congregational life. No doubt, our country in recent years has been guilty before God Almighty of committing great evils in our land. Therefore, we can see this holiday as a call to repentance for the sins which our country has allowed, promoted, and written into law. However, there is still also much to celebrate as a Christian citizen of our United States. For example, articles like this which confess the truth of Christ and His Word can be published in public newspapers without fear of the writer being fined or jailed (even though the censorship of Christian content is becoming increasingly common). We are also blessed to be able to maintain public places of worship and to openly share our faith with others because of the liberties which our Constitution and government provide.
How then can we Christians join in celebrating the history and future of our nation this Independence Day? While the public has parades and fireworks and streets lined with American flags, the Church can add something uniquely Christian to the celebration. We can celebrate with prayer and praise to the God of all nations who graciously preserves and governs our land by His grace.
As you decorate your house with red, white, and blue this July, consider also adding the following prayer to your celebrating - one of the several prayers for our nation and civil leaders contained in our congregation’s LCMS hymnal:
Almighty God, You have given us this good land as our heritage. Grant that we remember Your generosity and constantly do Your will. Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action. Grant that we, who came from many nations with many different languages, may become a united people. Support us in defending our liberties, and give those to whom we have entrusted the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there may be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, may our hearts be thankful, and in troubled times do not let our trust in You fail; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
As you celebrate, you might also offer your praise up to God with the hymn: Before You, Lord, We Bow, written by Francis Scott Key of Star Spangled Banner fame. This hymn contains the important message that whatever blessings our Lord has given to our nation, we are even more blessed to be citizens of the eternal kingdom of heaven through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Before You, Lord, we bow,
Our God who reigns above
And rules the world below,
Boundless in pow’r and love.
Our thanks we bring
In joy and praise,
Our hearts we raise
To You, our King!
The nation You have blest
May well Your love declare,
From foes and fears at rest,
Protected by Your care.
For this bright day,
For this fair land—
Gifts of Your hand—
Our thanks we pay.
May ev’ry mountain height,
Each vale and forest green,
Shine in Your Word’s pure light,
And its rich fruits be seen!
May ev’ry tongue
Be tuned to praise
And join to raise
A grateful song.
Earth, hear your Maker’s voice;
Your great Redeemer own;
Believe, obey, rejoice,
And worship Him alone.
Cast down your pride,
Your sin deplore,
And bow before
The Crucified.
And when in pow’r He comes,
Oh, may our native land
From all its rending tombs
Send forth a glorious band,
A countless throng,
With joy to sing
To heav’n’s high King
Salvation’s song!
God bless you and our nation this Fourth of July!
