The 2024 Olympic Games are in full swing this week. Regardless of the sport, I enjoy the awards ceremonies and the playing of the national anthem of the country that won the gold medal. Particularly interesting are how the athletes react when their anthem is played. I became curious about the words in each anthem, and what they might have meant to each athlete.
Some, but not all, anthems had reference to God or Christian values in their lyrics. Many countries with spiritual words in their anthems now have populations where 50% or more of the people claim no religious affiliation. Nearly every country has lyrics related to wars and struggles.
New Zealand’s anthem begins with the words, “God of Nations at Thy feet …” though half the population claims no religious preference. “God be with our Suriname” has unpopular Christian references because their history includes Dutch settlers who brought African slaves to Suriname.
In contrast, Saint Kitts and Nevis, with populations that are 75% Christian, share an anthem which begins, “With God in all our struggles, Saint Kitts and Nevis be, A nation bound together, With a common destiny.” A Dominican friar wrote the Peruvian anthem; while there is reference to the God of Jacob, greater emphasis is on the struggle for freedom. In like fashion, South Africa’s anthem is the combination of two songs, one for God to bless them, and the other for a call to unity. Great Britain’s anthem is “God Save the King” and by inference, divine protection on the country through the king.
Our Star-Spangled Banner was written during the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814; only in the third verse is there reference to “in God we trust.” To our north, the original lyrics of the Canadian anthem mention God only in the fourth verse; the modern official wording does not mention God. To the south, the ten verses of the Mexican anthem refer to wars and freedom; verse one does, though, refer to their destiny being written by the “finger of God.”
One of our adversaries, China, is mostly atheistic, and the words of “March of Volunteers” focus on building a new Great Wall when they, ‘brave the enemy’s gunfire.” Another adversary, Russia, has had several versions of its national anthem, including one, when Boris Yeltsin was President, that had no lyrics. This infuriated Vladimir Putin because Russian athletes at the 2000 Olympics had no words to sing. After reviewing 2,000 songs, the government selected a new anthem extolling, “Russia is our sacred state … the native land so kept by God.”
If an athlete remains stoic during the playing of their national anthem, are they anti-God? Does singing with gusto reflect equal enthusiasm for God and country? Are emotional displays a sign of personal achievement or the privilege of representing a country? If someone raises a fist or takes a knee during the playing of an anthem, is it to protest God or support some political ideology? Is it okay to have a mixture of feelings?
I consider myself an American patriot; I love this country though it has its flaws. Often, though, I sing the third verse of the Star-Spangled Banner while others sing the more familiar first verse. I believe one cannot equally love God and country. Our first love must be for God (Mark 12:30); only then can we love our neighbor, and in doing so, love our country.
It’s OK to wrap yourself
in red, white, and blue
As long as others can see
God living in you
Nomads2 