Thinking theologically about Memorial Day

I was considering sharing some of my own reflections on the church's relationship with patriotic holidays, but then someone else read my mind and wrote basically what I would have written, only better. Far be it from me to reinvent the wheel.

So, with thanks to Katie for linking this article on Facebook, here you have it: "Thinking Theologically About Memorial Day," by Kevin DeYoung, a pastor in the Reformed Church in America.

I very much appreciate the balanced perspective he articulates: love of country is absolutely admirable, but it should not infringe upon Christian public worship. An excerpt:

Earthly worship should reflect the on-going worship in heaven. And while there are many Americans singing glorious songs to Jesus there, they are not singing songs about the glories of America....Are we gathered under the banner of Christ or another banner?

We should absolutely pray (in private and in public, including in worship) for our country, its leaders, and those who serve it in the military or otherwise. We should celebrate patriotic holidays with gratitude for our great nation and for those who have sacrificed dearly to make it what it is. But Memorial Day is on Monday, not Sunday.