We’ve heard it after all sorts of speeches, it’s one of politicians’ favorite lines. Is it, though, in fact disrespectful to God? There are several issues in play. First, is that it implies that God should bless America over other countries or Americans over other people. If we believe that all of us are God’s children and that He loves us all equally, shouldn’t we be asking God for his blessing on the whole world and everyone who lives in it instead of some exclusionary blessing for just America? The second, and the thing that I think is really the problem with this statement is that it’s phrased as an order. God bless America. It’s an order, telling God what he should do. Wouldn’t it be better to say “May God bless America”? Shouldn’t it be phrased as a request or as a hope, rather than a command. God, as the king of heaven and earth, shouldn’t be treated with such arrogance as to be told what to do.
Is it wrong to say “God bless America”?
July 8, 2011 by Kathryn P. Bernhardt
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged America, God, Political Correctness, Politics, Religion | 4 Comments
4 Responses
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This particular line rankles with me. Never thought much about it, however, other than to dismiss it. I imagine that if we were to have such a thing in Judaism it would be stated as: “Blessed be God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has blessed America” since this is the usual format for our blessings. I think perhaps I could say this one.
As a non-believer, I’m not too concerned about this particular statement. To me, it has a similar power to saying ‘God bless you’ when someone sneezes. It has been used so often at the end of speeches that it doesn’t even seem like a mini-prayer or actually asking God for a blessing. It feels as though it’s like the ‘sincerely’ at the end of a letter; something formal that is expected at the end of the communication.
Believers are supposed to pray for God’s blessing for their country. I am an American Christian, but even if I lived in Saudi Arabia I would still ask God (The Christian God, who is not the same as the Muslim God) to bless Saudi Arabia.
Thank you for your thoughts. I don’t object to people asking God to bless America or any other nation, I simply was speaking about the phrasings of some requests. Though personally, I believe that perhaps it would be better for us to ask God to bless the world than simply our piece of it.