Why I Don't Sing the Star-Spangled Banner

'Why I Don't Sing the Star-Spangled Banner'
Posted by Jacob Huebert on June 27, 2011 06:36 PM

In the past, I've linked to items about how Mennonite Goshen College lifted its policy against playing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at sporting events, then wisely reinstated the old policy a year later.

Now here's a great essay by a Mennonite pastor explaining why Mennonites don't like the nationalist anthem. A sample:

Although there certainly are diverse viewpoints among individual Mennonites today, we continue to advocate for the strict separation of church and state. Most Mennonite churches do not have flags inside them, and many Mennonites are uncomfortable with the ritual embedded in the singing of the national anthem.

That's because we recognize only one Christian nation, the church, the holy nation that is bound together by a living faith in Jesus rather than by man-made, blood-soaked borders.

Needless to say, the comments that follow the article are full of ignorance and hate from other "Christians" who apparently believe that bombing, killing, and saluting flags are exactly what Jesus wants us to do.