On Worshiping America

Plenty of comments have already been made on the patriotic worship service at First Baptist Dallas last week. It really should not come as a surprise that “Court Evangelical” Robert Jeffress’ church held something like this. It should also not be a surprise to anyone who has observed fundamentalism for anytime. There is a substantial blending of patriotism and conservative Protestantism, and while First Baptist Dallas’ service is more grandiose than other services, it is hardly unique in its elevation of American values and symbols to prominent positions in worship. America, not Jesus, becomes the main object of worship and the defining element in parishioner’s lives. This is one side of the American Civil Religion, and it is evil.