Faith, Flags, and Freedom: The Role of the American Flag in Our Churches

Last updated on: May 24, 2015 at 11:03 am by Andre E. Johnson

Faith, Flags, and Freedom: The Role of the American Flag in Our Churches 2015-05-24T11:03:09-05:00 Andre E. Johnson

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.

I had a brief conversation after service with someone who noticed that we do not have the American flag in the sanctuary during our worship services. He wanted to know why and wondered aloud if I had a problem with the flag. I guess he wanted to make sure that I was not some “black radical,” go all Henry McNeal Turner, and start calling the flag “a dirty and contemptible rag.” I assured him that I do not have a problem with the flag but do not think flags should hold a spot in our sanctuaries. Then the kicker—he said to me, “It’s because of that flag that you have the freedom to worship the way you do in this country.” Well since this conversation happened after service and I was preparing for an orientation class for some of our new members, I wanted just to leave it at that, but he repeated his assertion again and this time I did engage.

I again reaffirmed for him that I did not have anything against the flag but do have a problem with it being in worship. First, I said, your position that the reason why I can worship the way I do is because of the flag” is wrong because I would like to think that I would still worship the God I serve even if it was illegal. A government or state institution does not dictate my worship or belief and it is not supported or affirmed by my allegiance to any state symbol, i.e. the flag. Surely, the only reason why you worship the way you do is not because the state allows you to—but because of your personal beliefs in Jesus—or I would like to think so.

Second, the flag is a symbol of the state and we must remember, for Christians, our allegiance is to Jesus and not any state or government institution. In short, having a flag in your sanctuary is blasphemous and idolatrous. Now, I know this is hard for you and many folks to grasp this because the state and God is so intertwine that it is hard to determine which is which. For you, the flag makes sense in sanctuaries because by showing allegiance to this “great” country, we in turn celebrate God. God and country go hand and hand and whatever the state does, God approves. However, when we look at our own faith history, the state executed the man we affirm as “Lord” because that man would show only allegiance to God.

I reminded him that I have argued Jesus’ execution was not something as special as we make it out to be simply because when the state “lifted him up,” there were at least two more executions going on at the same time. Moreover, despite our resurrection theologies, if we believe that those who executed Jesus had in mind that he was to “rise on the third day and redeem humankind back unto God,” we are sadly mistaken. They thought in executing Jesus, they were getting rid of a problem.

After I shared this with him, he paused for a moment, actually agreed with some of my positions, and openly confessed that he never “thought of it that way before.” I thanked him for the conversation and by talking this out, it helped me formulate my own thoughts about this as well and now I am more resolute than ever that flags do not belong in our sanctuaries.

Now for that picture of Jesus you have in your stained glass window……..

Andre E. Johnson

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 14, 2013

Is Your Church A Safe Space?

Next Post

April 15, 2013 Welcome Our Newest Contributor: Eric Brown

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Amy Steele Andre E. Johnson Book Reviews/Series Brian Foulks Call for Chapters Carol Howard Merritt Classes Conferences Contributors Crystal St.Marie Lewis Daniel White Hodge Earle Fisher Eulogy Fredrick Robinson Guest Contributions Henry McNeal Turner Institutes Interviews Joseph Boston Katherine Whitfield Kimberly Peeler-Ringer Lectures/Roundtables Natalie Bullock Brown R3 Book Series R3 Contributor Rashad Grove Readers Reflections Symposiums Teaching Traci Ellis Travis Harris Uncategorized Video

Select a Month June 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 October 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

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz