A National Prayer for the Fourth of July

A National Prayer for the Fourth of July

for Three Choral Readers

by

Rev. James M. Leonard, PhD

Preamble (Unison)
Our Father who holds the destiny of nations in your hands, we thank you for the way you have guided our pilgrim forebearers and founding fathers in establishing our country. We recognize that we have not always been faithful followers, and we confess our national sins and failures. We ask that you renew our commitment to the Christian principles behind our nation’s founding so that our society would be free to pursue your calling, so that we may be a blessing to all the neighboring countries of the world.

#1 Our Land

Father, we praise you for our beautiful country, that it is blessed beyond measure in resources and natural wealth. We confess that there have been times that we’ve taken our land for granted, that we have sometimes abused it and harmed our environment. We thank you that much has been done in recent years so that we usually have plenty of clean air to breath and clean water to drink. We pray that you would help us be good stewards of our land.

#2 Our Freedom

Father, we praise you that we live in a country that cherishes freedom, that our forefathers recognized that you endowed all people with the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and to pursue the life to which you call us. We thank you for those who have served to defend these freedoms, and we pray that we would live lives worthy of their sacrifice. We confess that we ourselves have often abused these freedoms and have sometimes denied them to others. Forgive us of such sins. We pray that you would preserve these freedoms for our children, and for our children’s children, so that they too may pursue the life to which you call them.

#3 Our International Relationships

Father, we thank you for granting to us an auspicious status in world affairs. We tremble at such a weighty status, knowing that we will be judged according to the way that our nation conducts its international policies. We thank you for our past international accomplishments that have paved the way for a more peaceful world. We ask forgiveness for our nation’s self-serving meddling that has led to hardships in other countries. In our efforts to preserve the interests and security of our fellow American citizens, we pray that you would teach us how to be good to our world-wide neighbors. Make us a channel of blessing, a beacon of light, and a city set on a hill for all the nations of the earth to emulate.

Conclusion (underscored by organ playing the hymn)

 

#1 God of our fathers, whose almighty hand

Leads forth in beauty all the starry band

Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,

Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.

#2 Thy love divine hath led us in the past,

In this free land by Thee our lot is cast;

Be Thou our ruler, guardian, guide and stay,

Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.

#3 From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,

Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;

Thy true religion in our hearts increase,

Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

Unison: Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,

Lead us from night to never-ending day;

Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,

And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.

Flags, Patriotism, and Christian Worship

Should American flags, national holidays, and patriotism have a place in worship? Yes, but only with eyes wide open, with a biblical sensitivity.

The complaints are justified. Too often, our view of Christianity includes a lot of American baggage. Sometimes, patriotism is so unchecked as to confuse our first commitment to God’s kingdom. Frequently, we take away worship time from God and allot it to national glorification. Occasionally, we convey a “my country—right or wrong” menatality. At times, we display an unbridled enthusiasm for our country without introspection and without judging our nation against the standard of God’s Word.

Yet, we can incorporate into our worship services observances of patriotic days, if we follow some basic principles.

Here are some principles:

• Christians are called to be good citizens.
• Christians are called to pray for their country and their leaders, and to do their part to make their country better.
• Christians are called to pray for national repentance in regard to the ills of their country’s society and in regard to faults in their country’s foreign policies.
• Christians are to be thankful for the good things about their country.
• Christians are to pray for their national enemies.
• Christians are to pray for those in the military, for God’s protective care over them, for them to return home quickly and safely, and that the government would never send them into war without a necessary and just cause.

Even in the worst country, Christians can follow these principles, and display their country’s flags and observe national holidays.

Although the United States has its own set of problems, there are many good things about my country. We have freedom of worship. We have a country whose Founding Fathers based the protection of civil liberties on biblical principles. We enjoy peace and security within our borders so that the vast majority of us enjoy basic privileges, such as sending our children to school during the day, enjoying picnics at the park, and watching a ballgame, or practicing violin. We generally aren’t afraid that our children might be kidnapped to be used as child soldiers. We generally do not fear that militants in the next town over might attack us in the night. We generally have the opportunity to vote the bums out of office. If we see a policeman, we generally have a sense of respect and security, rather than fear and loathing.

For such things, and for many others, we can be proud to be American, but such pride must be flow with all due humility from the throne of God’s grace.