CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – If you go to church this Sunday, I hope your pastor will have something to say about patriotism for Independence Day.
The church I grew up in had an American flag to the right of the pulpit, and the flag of the Holy See to the left. And now it’s considered uncool to mix religion and patriotism. God loves us all, yes? Therefore he loves all nations.
Certainly, God has not apportioned gifts to all nations equally. We are blessed with abundant natural resources, ample land for our population, and friendly borders. Our forefathers declared that there would be no national religion. And thank goodness that they had the wisdom to know that faith is a matter of the human conscience, which should be beyond the dictates of government. Discussing faith openly, like I do during this segment each Friday, is protected under our freedom of speech guarantees.
I hope that your pastor this Sunday is ready to speak about the freedoms of religion and speech that are among God’s blessings for our nation. It’s what allows your church to exist and for your paster to speak freely. These are blessings that many other nations have yet to receive from the Almighty. In Egypt, Coptic Christians are pelted with insults as they come out of church. Muslims say theirs is a Muslim nation, and that others should leave. Anti-semitism is still rampant in Eastern Europe, where Jews are openly referred to as Christ-killers. In China, the only approved churches are religious-patriotic organizations; sermons are approved in advance by the government.
This Independence Day remember that our faith can only flourish in a land of liberty.
Chris Conley
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