Stars and Stripes

This song is our response to Christian Nationalism.
“In the New Testament’s Letter of Paul to the Galatians, the apostle Paul wrote, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different Gospel — which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.”
Those words ring true today. “A different Gospel… which is really no gospel at all.” That’s what Christian nationalism is: A confusing perversion of the gospel of Christ. It uses the language of our faith, and the symbols of our faith, but betrays the heart of our faith. As Amanda Tyler, the executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Liberty has said, Christian nationalism “uses Jesus as a mascot” to disguise racism, xenophobia, and hatred.” (Shane Claiborne)
”Christian nationalism is a cultural framework that idealizes and advocates a fusion of Christianity with American civic life. Christian nationalism contends that America has been and should always be distinctively “Christian” from top to bottom – in its self-identity, interpretations of its own history, sacred symbols, cherished values, and public policies – and it aims to keep it that way. But the “Christian” in Christian nationalism is more about identity than religion. It carries with it assumptions about nativism, white supremacy, authoritarianism, patriarchy, and militarism.” (Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)

STARS AND STRIPES
Written by Olivia Mogul (ASCAP), Sharon Irving (ASCAP), Benjamin Hardesty (BMI)
© 2023 Common Hymnal Publishing (ASCAP), Mekkatte (ASCAP), Tsara Music Publishing (ASCAP), Common Hymnal Digital (BMI), Benjo Darro Music Company (BMI) (admin by IntegratedRights.com, for license requests please email LicensingUSA@integritymusic.com). CCLI 7224130.

VERSE 1
Em D A
Washed in the blood
D G
But we’ve bought into fear
Em D A
Have we traded the kingdom, Jesus
D G
For something down here?
Em D A
And the monuments built
D G
For staking our claims
Em D A
Let them all pass away
D G A
Until only you remain

CHORUS
D A
Lord of our fathers
G
Where do we go from here
D
We need your grace again
D A
Lord, in our weakness
G
Your strength will persevere
D
Forever and ever amen

VERSE 2
There are boots on the ground
The enforcers of peace
And, in this sign, you will conquer all
From sea to shining sea
Holy wars we have waged
In the name of our Lord
Make the feet meant for washing
Turn and run ‘way from your word

BRIDGE
G A
May the stars that you ignite
Bm
And the stripes upon your back
A Bm D G
Be the banner that is written on our hearts
A
May your kingdom overtake
Bm
All the ones that we have made
A Bm D G
Be on earth as is in heaven

We are making it a ritual to post this song and David Gate’s poem, Today Is The Fourth, as a package each year on Independence Day.

TODAY IS THE FOURTH
Today is the Fourth of July and half those stripes & all those stars are white. The rest is blood and sky. Today is the Fourth of July and if America has any greatness it was built upon slave labor, the toil of the underclass and the continually underpaid & unpaid work of women. The founding slaveholders had some big ideas but ideas can’t be kept in shackles; they belong to everyone. Today is the Fourth of July and the only real freedom is the freedom to consume and Joey Chestnut wears the crown. Today is the Fourth of July and there are two Americas: one for Tamir Rice & another for Kyle Rittenhouse. Or perhaps the latter requires the former and there is just one America. Today is the Fourth of July and that flag fitfully blows, of snow & ocean & wilting roses, it half conceals and half discloses.

Reprinted with permission from “A Rebellion of Care - Poems & Essays by David Gate". This book comes out July 15th.