Is celebrating the 4th of July an act of Idolatry?

The term “Christian Nationalism” appears to have manifested overnight. Leftists seemed to find common ground, or perhaps better stated, an opportunity to push conservative evangelicals out of the public square, by using this phrase. And consequently, many of those who take their cues from liberal cultural critics have been successfully manipulated into thinking that their God-given responsibility to lead in the nation God has called them to is somehow an act of idolatry.

Some who cower to these cultural elites will shun any mention of their nation during church services, for example. To say that a person can't be thankful in a church service for the God-ordained institution of nationhood and government for fear of national idolatry seems as foolish as to say we can't honor marriages (also a God-ordained institution) because we don't want people to worship their spouse above God.

Love for one’s country is some forbidden or idolatrous heart condition. And the vast majority of patriotic Christians do NOT worship their country or political party, nor love it above God. The greater problem I see today is a hate for America, particularly when combined with the pursuit of anti-God, anti-biblical solutions for our society. Any person calling their government away from these solutions is labeled the presumed pejorative “Christian Nationalist". (It’s important to note that the term has a much larger history. Serious biblicists debate over its meaning and many are now happy to embrace the term.)

Over the last few years, that term has been popularized by enemies of the church to silence anyone who brings Biblical truth to bear on their ideas around political government. Many Christians even love to use the term as a way to bash their brothers and sisters in Christ, in order to grant themselves the appearance of evangelicalism’s holy grail - though not itself a biblical term - ‘balance’.
Christians are commanded to pray for their leaders. Furthermore, when a Christian is called to lead, as is often the case in a democratic constitutional republic, they must use their vote to bring about positive Christ-honoring change. The casting of votes will necessarily induce discussions of the truth about various candidates and the policies that a particular candidate promotes. To view this through a Christian lens is part of the believer's responsibility, not some idolatrous action.

Imagine eating a meal that needs a little extra salt. “Pass the salt,” you say.  As the shaker makes its way across the table you set it directly adjacent to your plate, but never shake the salt onto your meal.

“So, do you feel more comfortable having the saltshaker nearby?” a friend chides you.

Why would you ask for salt but never put it on your food? What good is the salt close to the food?

In Mathew 5 Jesus refers to the faithful believer as “the salt of the earth”. Unfortunately terms like “Christian Nationalism” are often used as a means to keep the good Christianity has to offer a nation in the confines of Sunday Services. But is God's truth only relevant to the afterlife and the ‘spiritual’? Should Biblical precepts be lived in our hearts and minds but never be spoken from our mouths? Must we sequester the good of Scripture away from the public square?

By separating Biblical truth from civic life, Christians have kept the salt in the shaker. We must get it out of there! 

The dangerous counterpoint to those who refused to maintain their saltiness is that they were “good for nothing”. A Christianity that rejects the public square is one that will ultimately be ‘trampled underfoot’ - overlooked and completely ignored. We must resist this, even if the world calls us names for doing so.

Therefore, this Fourth of July, celebrate the nation God has called you to live in and salt your community by speaking His precepts into every area of life.

No, I don’t worship America but count me in for a burger, an epic fireworks show, and a deep gratitude for a nation founded by men willing to break the chains of tyranny and set a course of freedom and prosperity for the world.

Happy Fourth of July!