On America’s secular calendar the 4th of July is “the nativity”. This is the celebration of the birth of the nation. The rituals of the civil religion of the United States are all on display in their glory.
Many people may not recognize that a civil religion even exists. Therefore, the songs, the official colors, the traditional practices and even the sacred scriptures are not always seen for what they are. I purposely used the liturgical term “The Nativity” to get your attention; and to start you thinking about the state having holy days and places.
In 1776 the American spirit was born! The idea of a Constitutional Democracy began with a Declaration of Independence. This parchment is among the sacred scriptures of a civil religion, held in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Once a year it is read in the public squares across the country. In these words are the following:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are endowed
by their Creator; with certain unalienable rights; among these are
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The god of this civil religion may be concerned, therefore, if our lives were being threatened, if our liberties were being infringed upon, or if our happiness is not complete. Please note,the characteristics of Christian discipleship are not mentioned here.
In civil religion is found the invocation of a generic god in political speech and on public monuments. This reality has been growing in the second half of the last century. The words “under God” were not added to the pledge of allegiance until the mid 1950’s. And neither was “one nation under God” adopted as the motto of the United States until an act of congress in 1956. Along this same line the political speeches of our leaders did not conclude with “God bless you and God bless the United States" until within my memory.
The generic mention of a god in political speech does not constitute the recognition of the establishment of a religion, and is therefore constitutional. The President of the United States has often requested its citizens to "give thanks" or "offer prayers" without mentioning a deity by name. This is yet another sign of a vibrant civil religion.
A follower of Jesus may be led astray if he or she is not aware of this conflicting faith.
The source of the civil religion of the United States is not found in the Bible, but in the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Laws of the Congress. Jesus said: “Render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God!” Our Prayers, Our Thanks, Our Worship and Our Love belong to The Triune God, alone.
Not a generic god of a civil religion.
