Here are 5 thoughts I have regarding the NFL protest and President Trump's remarks calling for the firing of all NFL employees who do not stand for the National Anthem. Not everyone will like all of these thoughts (likely no one will like them all).
1) Since many of us are outraged that NFL players would kneel during the national anthem, and absolutely silent about football games happening on Sunday, the "Lord's Day", can we finally confess that we are not a Christian nation?
2) Patriotism is not defined by how observant you are during the singing of a national anthem, whether you attend a veteran's parade, or whether you vote. Patriotism is your belief that your country is a place where your children and grandchildren can be proud of. A place, you are willing to fight to make better AND to defend. Patriotism is actively making your country a better place for all people. Patriotism is not just standing and singing a song.
3) The bible calls us to pray for our leaders. Even when the exiles where in Babylonian captivity, Jeremiah calls them to seek the welfare of the city in which they reside, because their welfare depends on it (Jeremiah 29:7). This does not mean we submit without question to any "leader". We question, we think, we resist when necessary, but not at the expense of the union. We should and do have a responsibility to hold our leaders accountable, in peaceful protest if possible, and in action if required. Let's call hate speech and white-supremacy evil, for that is what is, but let's not pretend that a peaceful protest is evil!
4) We cannot have mandated patriotism and freedom of speech at the same time. I know the kneeling is truly offensive to many, I understand that and am sorry it offends you. However, if you are ok offending some by saying "Merry Christmas" then you must be prepared to receive offense as well. And if your defense is, "we are a christian nation" then read point #1 again. Freedom means that we have the ability to speak our minds, even if it means not joining in the national anthem or pledge of the allegiance. That is the beauty and wonder of freedom, we have freedom to live our lives as we see fit, within certain parameters. It is a gift, the same gift God gives us in Gen 1 and 2.
5) White, protestant, straight, people are not being persecuted! We, in America, do not know what that means. Persecution was practiced in the early church and some parts of the world today. It was not and is not being practiced here. What you might call persecution is a feeling of losing a foothold in leadership. At one point, the church controlled much of what took place in America. In truth, when the church controlled the government, it never ends well. Pick up a history book, any of them. When the church runs the state, everyone looses. We are called to make disciples of Jesus Christ, not patriots of the United States. The church is losing ground fast and has been for 60 years or more. The country does not care what the church thinks anymore. See point #1 again. This is not persecution, it is a loss of influence and the church is at its best, when we really can't control the culture around us.
