Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Why We Don’t Display A National Flag When Our Church Meets.

The common and widely accepted practice of displaying the national/state flag in our American Christian assemblies is a custom not seen in the rest of the world. Most American Christians however have grown up with the flag prominently on display in the church and few have ever really pondered the numerous implications of doing so – myself included. Over the next few days we will be giving biblical reasons arguing against this practice. There are at least four reasons why we have as a church chosen not to display the American flag during the time when our church gathers. Our decision to do so is based not upon custom, tradition, or driven by “patriotism”, but upon what we believe to be consistent with what we see in Scripture. We have chosen not to display a national flag when our church meets because:

1. Displaying a national/state flag vies for the preeminence that belongs to Christ alone in His church.

According to the stated rules of our government regarding the flag and its’ proper use and treatment (see
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagcode.htm) the American flag is to be given the highest place of preeminence whenever flown or displayed in country. According to the U.S flag code the flag must always be placed on the speakers right hand – the place of highest honor.

Article 7, section K of the flag code states the following: “ When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience.”

The clear implication of this law is that all other organizational entities are subservient to the American flag (by extension our laws, customs, and policies) when it is displayed. One could legitimately understand that the state has the ultimate, final authority – ultimate honor- in the church. For Christians this is an intolerable demand requiring what Christians cannot give: honor and preeminence to a state, a nation, over and above Christ (Acts 4:19)- and that in His own church! The rules of our own flag place it at direct odds with Christ and Scripture when displayed in His church.


As Christians we believe in and honor the divinely ordained role of the state (Rm 13:1-7). We believe that we are to be good citizens and fulfill our responsibilities as such to the state. However when it comes to authority in the church Scripture is clear about who is to have the final and ultimate honor.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (Col 1:15-18 ESV)

Over the next few days we will post additional arguments for not displaying a national flag…stay tuned.

1 comment:

Jeff Davis said...

Sir,

I salute your well reasoned thoughts and look forward to more on this subject. If we truly are a "nation, under God," then the symbol of our nation ought to reflect its subservience to "the God of nature, and nature's God," rather than asserting that the flag hold a place of pre-eminence.

One surely ought to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy in this land of the United States of America. The freedoms we have are a gift from God. They are not permanent. He can revoke them according to His sovereign will -- and most probably shall as we become a country more out of His will and less under God. When that day comes, won't we look silly flying Old Glory as the Lord of Glory pours out His wrath!? I'd rather be holding high the banner of scripture with such words as these on my lips: "Though He slay me, yet will I serve Him." Others may say, "But, Lord! We're a Christian nation!" in echo to Matthew 7:22, "On that day many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name."

However, note that some provisions within the code allow for an interesting reposition of ensigns:

United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, §175. Position and manner of display

(c) No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy.

Though not applicable to a church service conducted by civilian pastors on land, it shows that there is respect given to the church in the Flag Code. The trouble is, in order to attend a church service which honors God first and the U.S. second with a flag displayed in deference to the Lord, one has to go to sea. And one would hope the chaplain would be a doctrines of grace Baptist!