Do Worship and Patriotism Mix?

This season between Memorial Day and July 4 lends itself to thoughtful discussion and seeking of what is most pleasing to God in the interface between God and country. See the stimulating interaction on jesuscreed, where Scot McKnight has raised the question:

http://blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed/2010/06/what-does-your-church-do-on-ju_comments.html

Worship is a model for life

Isaiah 6:1-8 has long been seen by Protestants as a model for worship. Not that it is complete or unchangeable, but the stages of Isaiah's experience in the temple are a helpful starting point:

v. 1-2 - Seeing God
v. 3-4 - Praise
v. 5 - Confession
v. 6-7 - Cleansing
v. 8a - Hearing God's Word
v. 8b - Commitment
v. 9ff. - Commissioning

As in all religions, Christian worship is a model for life. The seven stages of Isaiah's encounter with the living God (John 12:36-41 indicates that it was the Son of God that he saw on the throne) become, then, a suggested itinerary for finding our way through a day and through our lifetime. Let's aim to make this our experience.

(Thanks to Dr. Bruce Leafblad in a D. Min. course at Bethel Seminary for the analysis of Isaiah 6 as a model for worship, and to Dr. Mathias Zahniser of Asbury Seminary for the idea of worship as a model for living.)