Flags in the church

I agree. I prefer not having a flag in church, but we meet in a school classroom and we do not remove the little Irish flag there every week. We do, however, remove and replace some of the holiday decorations the teacher uses. At Hallowe'en there is normally a skeleton hanging right where we put the pulpit and I don't like the competition!

 

CBT: Are You A Veteran?

I only ask this because if you are, will you "refuse" to have the American flag draped over your coffin?

You pose an interesting question and make a great point. I'm sure this is an emotional subject to many, but, as a veteran, and a believer, as a pastor, I prefer to have the falg of this nation on the stage, so long as the Christian flag is also hanging on the other side of the stage.

Call me old fashion, but, I've never had a problem with this. :thumbs:

In His Name,

Pastor Paul

 

Was this a tradition in the church worldwide through the ages?

 

Can't have been! The so-called "Christian flag" is not a "through the ages" thing; it was "conceived on a Sunday, September 26, 1897 at Brighton Chapel, Coney Island, New York." I hadn't even heard of it before becoming a member of the BB.

 

We have the Christian flag on one side of the room and the American flag on the other...and during missions conference, we have flags from every country where we support a missionary also.

I like it! I am a Christian and a patriot too.

 

This is a very good point. Everything on display in a sanctuary should be examined theologically.

I do, however, understand those who include flags to symbolize missionary presence. I wouldn't leave it on display in general, though.

I don't understand for a minute, though, how anyone could display a Christian flag on one side and an american on the other side. That just poses too obvious an issue.

Pick your kingdom.

 

I'm glad he's not my pastor (He certainly wouldn't get my vote for having such a morally superior understanding). At my church we evidently would not be a good fit for him because we evidently would be too dumb, worldly, and unable to tell the difference between the Kingdom of God and earthly citizenship. Then again, maybe we would need him to help teach us the difference. Not!

Most of us are intelligent enough and mature enough to tell the difference. An American flag on one side and a Christian one on the other does not confuse me nor the vast majority of Christians. I don't think many have this unfortunate problem but evidently there is a minority who really have trouble separating the two.

Personally, I'm proud that God has allowed me to be a citizen of the United States. My church is located in that country that allows religious freedom. When I see the flag I am reminded of just where God has allowed me to live and serve and I am thankful to Him.

 

I bet, most of you who have a flag in the Sanctuary along with the Christian Flag, display it in the Superior place over the Christian flag. If so, I would first challenge you to switch the places for a couple of months and see how much trouble you get into.

For me, the worship service is no place for the American Flag, patriotic celebrations, or the like. This is a place where the people come together worship. The flag plays no part of our worship nor is it of any practical means have a place in our worship.

 

Which is as it should be. The accusatory tone by those who do not want flags in their sanctuary is rather odd. My suspicion is that it has to do more with anti-patriotism than it does with whether or not someone is focused on the right Kingdom.

 

Unfortunately, those of us who oppose flags in church sanctuaries are all too often dismissed as being anti-patriotic. My guess is that, for practically all of us, it is not true. I am thankful for a land of religious freedom and, because this is where Almighty God has placed me, it is the best place on earth for me to be. I pray for the safety of the troops, both ours and foreign, and civilians who are tragically caught in the crossfire. I am thankful for men and women like my grandfathers, who gave of themselves and their expertise in WWII.

But patriotism is not next to godliness. And flags don't belong next to a cross.

 

It's not an issue of intelligence. It's rather an issue of being so engulfed (or, as a rather dumb pastor I heard one time said, "engulped") and swallowed by our culture of patriotic arrogance, which is unfortunately so pervasive that it clouds the judgment of the most intelligent of Christians.

 

Must be something wrong in the service if two flags that are sitting at the side draws all the attention....I'm sure some people spend the whole servce admiring the drapes on windows, or the preacher's tie!!!!

Cheers,

Jim

 

I'm with you on this one my friend. The flag is a non issue with me.

 

No jag, most of us are not caught up "engulfed" in patriotic arrogance. The majority of us know the difference between worship and patriotism. We have no problem separating the two. Honestly, it is very seldom that I pay attention to any flag in our sanctuary. And, even when we do emphasize the US flag it is done in the context of worship. It's called Christian maturity. I am very sorry that you are unable to do the same but maybe one day God will grant you the ability to do so.

 

Caesar Has Nothing to Do with America and its Symbols.

I fail to see any similarities between anything of Caesar/Rome and America. Maybe, in my Conservative, patriotic heart and mind, your liberal leanings, hankering and rants can shed some additional light of tremendous importance in my direction to clear up any Biblical confusion I may have between the two.

Shalom,

Pastor Paul :type:

 

Only someone like Crabby would link displaying a United States flag with displaying a symbol of Caesar. How arrogant can these anti-flag folks get? In my church we do not worship the United States. We have not burned incense to Caesar, the President, or anyp person declaring them to be god. We have not placed our citizenship in the U.S. over our citizenship in heaven.

 

Then lets agree not to associate those who are against flags to anti-patriotism and those who are with being confused about which kingdom to serve.