Question of the day ??
Should we place the American flag (or the flag from whatever country we live) in our churches during worship?
posted by Greg Hazelrig @ 6:52 AM
9 comments
BroGreg.com
Thoughts on GOD and TRUTH (found somewhere in the middle of ultra-conservatism and flaming liberalism)
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
About Me
- Name: Greg Hazelrig
- Location: Hernando, Mississippi, United States
I have been a pastor in the United Methodist Church since 1999 when I accepted the call to preach. Today I pastor Bakers Chapel UMC in Hernando, MS.
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9 Comments:
No. No. No.
Christ alone is our Lord and no secular object belongs near the altar.
Having a national flag, besides being bad theology, could also be a hinderance to worship. Let us say that an enemy of that flag and the nation that it represents comes into worship. Shall we place a stumbling block before him.
But your question presumes that we shall have a national flag at the front and must justify its removal. A better question is why have it in first place? What productive purpose does it serve?
Hi Greg...the American flag is already present in the sanctuary of many churches in America...trying to remove it from the sanctuary would take a miracle...the American Flag in the sanctuary is one of the many "sacred cows" that have elbowed their way onto center stage of church life, that hinders, might I say paralyzes, many congregations from loving God and serving neighbor...I'm not so concerned about the flag in church, its taken for granted just like most of the other things that are present(cross...those colored linens on the altar, tucked in the Bible, on the stand where the preacher lectures...colorful windows with pictures...plates for collecting money...Bibles next to the song books...the fellow who plays the piano...the bulletin hand-out guys...the person 5 rows away from me...I think you see where this is heading)I'm more concerned with WIJD (What Is Jesus Doing??!!)today, in my life, in the life of the church, in the hearts of people, in the lifes of the lost, in the lives of the helpless, in the lives of the hopeless, in the lives of the ignored, in the lives of the taken for granted, in the lives of sacred cow worshippers...flag in the church, what flag...I salute you for asking the question...have a day filled with God's Abundant Living...
Hate to actually agree with John, but this exact issue came up in one of my classes. What does it mean when we have the American flag up front? I know it is one of those "sacred cows", but what does it mean when part of our worship space involves for lack of a better biblical example..."Ceasar"?
Flags...we don't need no stinking flags!!
(hopefully you've seen Blazing Saddles, otherwise dismiss and go on to the next comment)
Actually I was hesitant about asking this question. I was wondering if anyone was going to speak up for the flag in the church. I agree totally with the prior comments. One of my pet peeves is having the flag in the sanctuary. I have no problem with the flag or any form of patriotism, but NOTHING belongs in our worship other than true worship of the only Living God and the Son through the mighty Holy Spirit.
I would love to hear from someone who has another point of view though and would like to share it here.
you could always find a happy medium spot for those that don't want the removal of the flag..
just make a hanging banner that looks like the flag.. that covers Advent, Pentecost, and Christmas as liturgical colors.. so it's multifacited.
Oh, my goodness, are you people implying that Jesus is not an American? :)
Born and bred in the Bible belt. And grew up reading from the KJV of the bible. ha ha !!
No
we are to respect our leaders and our nation ofcourse, but we are called to be citizens of His Kingdom.
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