Every Fourth of July, Americans gather together not only to watch pretty explosions in the sky and eat barbecue, but to celebrate the nation's birthday, and thank God for all the blessings this nation offers.
Many songs come to mind, from John Phillip Sousa marches to the National Anthem ("The Star Spangled Banner") to Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." This year, however, I'm bringing out some other songs you may not know that can serve as a worshipful and invitational soundtrack to your Independence Day reflections.
The following are my Top 5 songs for Independence Day 2013:
"America" by Rebecca St. James
This song, which was used as the official anthem for the 2006 National Day of Prayer, has powerful patriotic words that also focus on the Kingdom of Heaven. The chorus beckons us to "Honor God, America."
The bridge of the song is a call to the corners of the nation to seek God:
From the mountains to the prairies
From the desert to the cities
From the heartland to the coastland
Let our hearts turn to the Lord's hand
From the mountains to the prairies
From the desert to the cities
From the heartland to the coastland
Let our hearts turn to the Lord
"America" was written by Phil Laeger of Snellville, Ga., and chosen as part of a National Day of Prayer songwriting contest in 2006, which centered around the theme: "America, honor God."
In an interview following his win in the contest, Laeger said, "I didn't want to write something clever. I wanted to make sure the Holy Spirit was behind the song and that it had a sense of true humility, the sense of a nation humble before God."
"Woke Up in America" by Matt Maher
"And the voice said, 'This land ain't dead' / You still got better days up ahead," rings out one of my favorite lines from Matt Maher's "Woke Up in America" from his The Love in Between album.
The song beautifully points to the fact that all of us who have the privilege of living in America are here for a reason: to bless others. The final chorus of the song takes being an American out of a tribalistic chest-beating, and into the realm of spiritual appointment.
I woke up in America for the love of God
I woke up in America for something bigger than myself
More than wealth or depression
More than a red or blue nation
Here in our hells and our heaven
You're still beautiful, America
It's such a poignant reminder to us and a reverent declaration to our country that there's still so much to fight for.
"NY2LA" by Press Play
The first big single by L.A.-based pop group Press Play basically talks about "making a change" across the country. It's a fun, upbeat number that has a message, again, of our privilege for being here and the spiritual responsibility that comes with it: "We are here on planet Earth to make a change / To stand for those who cannot / To never back down but stand proud for God / The one and only true love."
The song declares that by extending a helping hand, giving and forgiving, and finding needs and filling them, we can see our nation changed. It's a good song because it reminds us that we can't rely on government, a president or programs to institute meaningful change towards a Christ-centered society.
That takes an individual decision and commitment, and "a love that's not relevant, but revolutionary."
"Build Us Back" by Know Hope Collective
Yes, Newsboys covered this song, but to capture the full effect of the original song, you've got to check out the Know Hope Collective recording of it.
Initially written with Haiti in mind by Mark Stuart (formerly of Audio Adrenaline) and Jason Walker (currently with Audio Adrenaline), the song is about how God is who ultimately restores us—both individually and corporately—when all seems lost. During a time when it seems like a tragedy hits our nation almost ever week, this song is certainly appropriate.
"When the thief takes, when our hopes cave / You build us back / When the earth shakes, when the world breaks / You build us back," declares the chorus, followed by the faithful final line of the bridge: "After all that’s been taken, Your promise, still sacred / You build us back with precious stones."
"I watched firsthand what it was like to watch the church, the body of believers come to the rescue," Stuart said in an interview, regarding the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake that struck Haiti. At a time when we're dealing with our own tragedies, this is a great reminder that God restores, and is ready and willing to use the Church as His instrument of restoration.
"Build Your Kingdom Here" by Rend Collective Experiment
This toe-tapping, knee-slapping anthem by folk worship outfit Rend Collective Experiment clearly has a revivalistic focus to it. The words of the chorus are catchy, memorable and quite appropriate for America at this point in its history:
"Build Your kingdom here / Let the darkness fear / Show Your mighty hand / Heal our streets and land / Set Your church on fire / Win this nation back/ Change the atmosphere / Build Your kingdom here / We pray."
The rightly says that beyond patriotism, capitalism or any other -ism, "We seek Your Kingdom first." It's a missional call, and a reminder that yet again, change in our country comes when we love the people of our land and choose to be Jesus to our nation.
"Wherever you are—at school, at work, at home—that here is exactly where you are right now. God's Kingdom is His Church," Gareth Gilkeson told NRT. "It's not, 'God please build Your Kingdom in Africa.' It's right here, right now. As the body of Christ, our hope is that as churches around the world sing this song, it will be stirring their faith and they'll live out the Truth of the song."
