This is not a bad thing. I love my country. I feel grateful and privileged to live here. We should defend and protect it. And we should celebrate it’s independence this 4th. If that’s what patriotism is, then sign me up. But somehow, the part about defense is what people mainly mean by patriotism. Military patriotism, perhaps. Do we support our vets? Do we support our wars? Do we hate our enemies? Are we willing to die for the interests of our country?Social Principles: The Political Community
Military Service
We deplore war and urge the peaceful settlement of all disputes among nations. From the beginning, the Christian conscience has struggled with the harsh realities of violence and war, for these evils clearly frustrate God’s loving purposes for humankind. We yearn for the day when there will be no more war and people will live together in peace and justice. Some of us believe that war, and other acts of violence, are never acceptable to Christians. We also acknowledge that many Christians believe that, when peaceful alternatives have failed, the force of arms may regretfully be preferable to unchecked aggression, tyranny and genocide. We honor the witness of pacifists who will not allow us to become complacent about war and violence. We also respect those who support the use of force, but only in extreme situations and only when the need is clear beyond reasonable doubt, and through appropriate international organizations. We urge the establishment of the rule of law in international affairs as a means of elimination of war, violence, and coercion in these affairs.
We reject national policies of enforced military service as incompatible with the gospel. We acknowledge the agonizing tension created by the demand for military service by national governments. We urge all young adults to seek the counsel of the Church as they reach a conscientious decision concerning the nature of their responsibility as citizens. Pastors are called upon to be available for counseling with all young adults who face conscription or who are considering voluntary enlistment in the armed forces, including those who conscientiously refuse to cooperate with a system of conscription.
We support and extend the ministry of the Church to those persons who conscientiously oppose all war, or any particular war, and who therefore refuse to serve in the armed forces or to cooperate with systems of military conscription. We also support and extend the Church’s ministry to all persons. This includes those who conscientiously choose to serve in the armed forces or to accept alternative service. When persons choose to serve in the armed forces, we support their right to adequate care for injuries suffered, and advocate for sufficient resources to meet their physical and mental health needs, both during and after their service. We are aware that we can become guilty both by military action and by conscientious objection, and that we all are dependent on God’s forgiveness.
Social Principles: The World Community
War and Peace
We believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ. We therefore reject war as an instrument of national foreign policy. We oppose unilateral first/preemptive strike actions and strategies on the part of any government. As disciples of Christ, we are called to love our enemies, seek justice, and serve as reconcilers of conflict. We insist that the first moral duty of all nations is to work together to resolve by peaceful means every dispute that arises between or among them. We advocate the extension and strengthening of international treaties and institutions that provide a framework within the rule of law for responding to aggression, terrorism, and genocide. We believe that human values must outweigh military claims as governments determine their priorities; that the militarization of society must be challenged and stopped; that the manufacture, sale, and deployment of armaments must be reduced and controlled; and that the production, possession, or use of nuclear weapons be condemned. Consequently, we endorse general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.
I suspect that most of the members of my church have never read these statements. I’m not sure how people respond to such a pacifist view. Perhaps they would slough it off. Perhaps they would join a more war-friendly church (if there is such a thing). Perhaps the national consensus has little bearing on a local church.
And so I have a problem with the glorification of war and warriors in a worship service. Yes, we should pray for the fallen and for the redemption of vets who are suffering from poverty. Yes we should thank our vets for making such great sacrifices for our defense and continued freedom from oppressive countries, but I and the United Methodist Church have a problem with honoring anything related to war in worship.
But what do you say? Although I’m a member of the church and the director of music, does that mean I get to deny the requests of people who do not share my or the UMC’s view on patriotic displays in church? Well, I say yes. Both my pastor and I have made a vow to support the United Methodist Church. I don’t agree with everything in the Social Principles. There are statements I would like to see changed, but until they change, I have to acknowledge that that is the way the majority of Methodists see things. We vote through representation on our principles.
It’s hard to say no. I’ve never been very good at it. It doesn’t upset me when people ask. I love it when people make requests and get engaged with worship planning, but church leaders have to think about things that congregants do not, like is this language consistent with our theology? I don’t choose music with lyrics that I think are antithetical to the communal faith of the UMC or the teachings of Christ, and so I can’t in good conscience endorse patriotic songs in worship. When we enter the church, we acknowledge that there is a kingdom greater than our own countries, and that is the Kingdom of God. In our faith, God is the ruler, and love is the land, and the only just war is the one for our salvation from sin.
But I will belt out the The Star Spangled Banner at the ball game with my hat off and my hand over my patriotic heart.
Import complicated 