JULY: INDEPENDENCE DAY & MICAH 6:8
Micah 6:8 (King James Version)
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
Read It: Micah 6:8
Concept: July 4 - Independence Day - is upon us! It’s a layered and complex holiday, one that has come to mean (and to celebrate) many things. And it raises an important question: How do we as Christians, as humans, as parents and caregivers interact with patriotism?
We took this question to our “parent coalition,” and they had some diverse and interesting perspectives. Step one is really being courageous enough to ask the question and wrestle with it. Simply doing that will bring some nuance and intentionality to the day (and to the idea of patriotism in general).
Photo by Frank McKenna on Unsplash
This question may be one you have already wrestled with. Or it may be a new question for you. We ask it because there is a fine line between patriotism and nationalism, between honoring and loving one’s home and worshiping/serving it rather than God. Following our theme verse for the year, this month we ask, “What might ‘humble patriotism’ look like? And what does it mean to follow the call to ‘do justice, love mercy and walk humbly’ on July 4?”
We took this question to our “parent coalition,” and they had some diverse and interesting perspectives. Step one is really being courageous enough to ask the question and wrestle with it. Simply doing that will bring some nuance and intentionality to the day (and to the idea of patriotism in general).
Photo by Frank McKenna on Unsplash
This question may be one you have already wrestled with. Or it may be a new question for you. We ask it because there is a fine line between patriotism and nationalism, between honoring and loving one’s home and worshiping/serving it rather than God. Following our theme verse for the year, this month we ask, “What might ‘humble patriotism’ look like? And what does it mean to follow the call to ‘do justice, love mercy and walk humbly’ on July 4?”
Pray It God, thank you for the privileges and comfort many of us in this nation have. Open our eyes to the ways we can help make this place we live in a more just home for all. And help us remember that you are our home, and you are our God. Amen.
Do It:
and to God’s reign for which he died -
one Spirit-led people the world over, individuals,
with love and justice for all.
- Celebrate! How in the world do we celebrate a holiday we may have discomfort with? Our group of parents came up with a few ideas:
- Spend some time exploring outside. One of the lovely things about this large land mass is that the landscape is unique in each region. Explore and enjoy the earth around you. Maybe sing a little bit of “This Land is Your Land” while you’re at it.
- Enjoy family celebrations. Many families have traditions of making homemade ice cream, cooking out, setting off firecrackers, and going to fireworks displays. One parent laughingly described it as approaching July 4 the way non religious folks approach Easter. We can enjoy being together and enjoy some of the traditions without celebrating militarism or infusing the celebrations with nationalism. Photo by Jakayla Toney on Unsplash
- Service: Spend time on July 4 making this country a better place. Maybe you’ll walk along a road or in a park and pick up trash. Take food to a free pantry. Visit people who are lonely. Learn more about injustice in your community. Write a letter to a lawmaker asking them to help our country do better.
- The Pledge: One question some of us have wrestled with is whether we (or our children) should say the pledge of allegiance. As Christians, our ultimate allegiance must be to God (and no, the United States is not God) - so can we make this oath with integrity? Should we make oaths at all? These are valid questions to wrestle with. It’s also helpful to know a little of the history of the pledge. A few decades ago, a couple of professors at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary came up with an alternative pledge, a version of which is in Voices Together (#929). Take some time as a household to learn this pledge, and then decide how and when you want to say it. Because the cadence matches the US pledge, it can be sneakily said when those around you are saying the pledge…
and to God’s reign for which he died -
one Spirit-led people the world over, individuals,
with love and justice for all.
- Unpack: This is something you can do with older children - or with other adults. It’s good for us to do some unpacking every once in a while. Some prompts:
- Are you uncomfortable with patriotism? If so, what does that discomfort feel like? What makes you uncomfortable?
- Where’s the line between loving your country and being thankful for it and believing your country is superior to other countries?
- All independent countries celebrate their independence, and most countries have national holidays where they celebrate their uniqueness. And yet we know that in every nation’s history, there are violent stories. Most independence comes from violence. What do we do with that?
- Notice: If you’ve traveled abroad, does patriotism in other countries make you feel uncomfortable?
- Who is your ultimate authority? How does that play out?
- What does it mean to be a citizen of the kingdom of God? How does that compete or dovetail with being a citizen of your country?
- What does “doing justice” mean to you? One parent, in thinking through this question, said, “The call to ‘do justice’ only makes sense if we complete the sentence - ‘do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.’”
Explore it: A Note from Tami
Talashia alluded to patriotism versus nationalism. You, like me, may benefit from some clarification.
The Helpful Professor states these differences:
Nationalism is a belief that your nation sits at the top of a hierarchy of nations. You believe your nation’s interests are inherently more important than those of any other country in the world.
Patriotism, on the other hand, is simply the love of your country and culture. Patriots know that you can love your own nation without thinking it’s objectively better than anyone else’. While nationalism and patriotism both represent love of country, patriotism is seen as a positive form of self-expression whereas nationalism is seen as an exclusionary act and assertion of power.
According to one source, Denmark and the United Kingdom are the only countries without a national independence holiday like our 4th of July. We, in the United States, are not so unique! Sharing with your children about some of the practices of other countries’ celebrations gives us enjoyment in celebrating our common humanity and thankfulness about our lives and countries. Here is an interesting read about how a few other countries celebrate. 11 Top Independence Celebrations Around the Globe Do you know anyone who has come to the US from another country? Welcome them to share about their “independence day” celebrations. You may even want to adopt some of their customs.
(Photo: Ukraine August 24 Ghenady/Wikimedia Commons)
I appreciate this challenge presented in the Hartford Courant: On the 4th of July, Celebrate Peace
“This Fourth of July, as we celebrate our independence as a nation, let’s also advocate peace in the world. The United States must be a beacon of hope for freedom and peace everywhere. That is when America is at its best.”
Some children and others (as well as pets) have difficulty with loud noises - and July 4th can be filled with them! Children and Loud Noises Community Paediatric Audiology Service offers a few suggestions for helping them cope.
Talashia alluded to patriotism versus nationalism. You, like me, may benefit from some clarification.
The Helpful Professor states these differences:
Nationalism is a belief that your nation sits at the top of a hierarchy of nations. You believe your nation’s interests are inherently more important than those of any other country in the world.
Patriotism, on the other hand, is simply the love of your country and culture. Patriots know that you can love your own nation without thinking it’s objectively better than anyone else’. While nationalism and patriotism both represent love of country, patriotism is seen as a positive form of self-expression whereas nationalism is seen as an exclusionary act and assertion of power.
According to one source, Denmark and the United Kingdom are the only countries without a national independence holiday like our 4th of July. We, in the United States, are not so unique! Sharing with your children about some of the practices of other countries’ celebrations gives us enjoyment in celebrating our common humanity and thankfulness about our lives and countries. Here is an interesting read about how a few other countries celebrate. 11 Top Independence Celebrations Around the Globe Do you know anyone who has come to the US from another country? Welcome them to share about their “independence day” celebrations. You may even want to adopt some of their customs.
(Photo: Ukraine August 24 Ghenady/Wikimedia Commons)
I appreciate this challenge presented in the Hartford Courant: On the 4th of July, Celebrate Peace
“This Fourth of July, as we celebrate our independence as a nation, let’s also advocate peace in the world. The United States must be a beacon of hope for freedom and peace everywhere. That is when America is at its best.”
Some children and others (as well as pets) have difficulty with loud noises - and July 4th can be filled with them! Children and Loud Noises Community Paediatric Audiology Service offers a few suggestions for helping them cope.
