Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Irreverin

Home
Progressive Christian
Whose Flag Do You Carry?

Whose Flag Do You Carry?

Last updated on: January 10, 2021 at 2:26 pm by Erin Wathen

Whose Flag Do You Carry? 2021-01-10T14:26:29-07:00 Erin Wathen

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It’s been several days, and I know that none of us has the adequate words to process, contextualize, or move forward from the events of last Wednesday. We are unspeakably disturbed, having witnessed just how fragile our democratic systems, and even the buildings that house them, truly are. We are deeply concerned that more violence is coming, that things will get worse before they get better. And if we’re being honest, we are wondering if some of our relationships might not survive the widening breach between the narratives of our national identity.

For me, I think that’s most unsettling. We are far beyond anything that might be construed as “disagreeing about politics,” or even opposing ideologies. What we face are divergent realities. A basic disconnect between what is true and actually happening, and a network of lies, propaganda and misinformation so deep and complex that it will take extraordinary acts of courage, humanity, and leadership to begin extricating them. Possibly even a miracle…

Of all the images to capture that complexity, what stands out to me most is the sea of flags that covered the Capitol grounds in the midst of the insurrection. There were American flags, and there were Trump flags. Everywhere. There were disturbing hybrids of the two, implying that what it means to be American is now intertwined with one’s identity as a Trump supporter. (Side note- pretty sure you aren’t supposed to defile the American flag with words and images like that, but tell that to the “patriots” who major in cognitive dissonance…) There were confederate flags; and that one chilling, now-viral image of a man walking through the Capitol lobby waving the flag of sedition. There were NRA flags. There were Blue Lives Matter flags– ironic AF when you figure that this same mob carried out violence against police officers, even killing one of the souls on duty that day.

There were Nazi flags, and symbols of various other hate groups. And the flags showing Trump himself as a totally ripped, shirtless, gun-wielding super hero– no khakis or golf clubs in sight.

And then, of course, there were the Christian flags. The signs of the cross. The variations of “Jesus saves” and “Jesus is my savior, Trump is my President.” And the giant centerpiece that just said “Jesus 2020.”

The convoluted nature of this messaging is nothing new. For decades, we’ve been watching the gradual mutation of the “Christian = conservative” brand, the false equivalencies of guns with the values of our faith. And of course, the harmful roots of nationalism and White Supremacy are baked into the very being of American Christendom, whether we like it or not. In many ways, that unsettling sea of flags unfurled on the physical grounds of our governance was a predictable episode in our long history. We are, and have always been, a people that idolize power and privilege while claiming to worship a God of grace, and following in the way of a nonviolent savior. It is only natural that the lines blur between our varied sets of values, that we get mixed memos about what it means to be American and Christian; and that, in all the confusion, some end up worshiping a deeply flawed man instead of the Christ their standard bears.

One of my lingering questions is- was Wednesday a dramatic culmination before we begin the hard work of digging deep, untangling some of those images and identities? Or was it just a clarifying moment in a new season of chaos that is just getting started?

I know what I fear- and I also know what I hope. And one thing my faith teaches me, when I can lift it up out of the quagmire that is our national discourse, is that I am called to act on my hope, and not my fear. Fear is the way of death, and manifests in death-dealing systems; acting on hope is the way of Jesus.

Our challenge right now, friends, is to decide again what flag we will carry. What is the sign and symbol of our lives? What do we want our friends and neighbors to see in our words and actions, and who will we choose to be in the midst of such tumultuous times? Something about the words “choose this day whom you will serve” come to mind… But it is not just about choosing, in some abstract philosophical sort of way. It is about choosing, and then acting upon, in a way that is clear and visible. In a way that transforms our communities, and claims the public witness of Jesus followers as one of healing and restoration.

What does that look like in our own relationships right now– in our strained friend and family connections, our public activity? I’m not talking about literally carrying around a Christian flag as you go about your life. But as we continue to sift through the events of this week (and, I’m sure, of the weeks to come); as we process the distorted symbols of our faith and the chaos of mixed messaging that pervades not only our public spaces, but our digital ones as well; know that our words and our actions are the flag we carry. What does yours say?

Each life lost on Wednesday was a tragedy- from the officer who was defending our democracy to the rioters seeking to overthrow it. Each was a victim of a system that dwells in fear and not hope; that deals in lies and manipulation, and values power above all else. And as we know- that way lies death. The irony of all those Jesus flags in the midst of the chaos and destruction is the very truth it proclaims: Jesus does, in fact, save. He is, in fact, the way–when other ways lead to death. He is still truth; when other ways are littered with conspiracy, lies, and misinformation. When those who raise that flag act in ways that counter its benediction, we are called to the work of reclaiming its truth.

We hold some truths to be self-evident– that all are created equal, and that all are created in the image of God. This is where my faith and my American values intersect, on a good day, and here is where we might find some stable ground on which to build from here. There are no easy answers- no memes or sound bites or flags that can capture all that- but we can proclaim it with our lives.

a good week for progress

progressive christianity

spirituality

Trump flags

Previous Post

December 20, 2020

Hard Candy Christmas: And Other Songs You Need This Year

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category a good week for progress Advent and Christmas Being a Person desert life faith and community Good News for Progressives Lent and Easter Marriage and Family S*^! Jesus Says sabbatical road tripping Spirituality in Culture Talking to Strangers the "Best Stuff I Ever Ate" diet travel Uncategorized writing Writing Prompt Wednesday

Select a Month January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 February 2011 July 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book of the Bible contains the most direct prophecies about the Messiah?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Micah Isaiah Psalms Zechariah