Christian flag etiquette

[Bob Nicholson]

When the American is flown to the right and higher than the Christian Flag and the American Flag is order to be flown at half mast there seems to be no part of the national flag code that clarifies whether to lower the Christian flag or not except to specify that no flag be flown above the American Flag. A half mast declaration by the President signifies that the nation enter into a period of mourning. At these time we should leave the Christian Flag at full mast to signify that we are yielding to the higher status of God as we request relief of our grief from him. All comments welcome.

 

[rsr]

No, the code is clear. "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." That's it; no flag above the U.S. flag, so if the U.S. flag is at half staff (half mast only if you're on a ship) all other flags are below.

Of course, the code does not have the force of law, so you can do anything you want to do.But if you want to do your own thing I don't know why you're worried about the code.

 

[Salty]

I would never fly the American flag higher than the Christian Flag.
and I am very patriotic when it comes to the symbol of the USA

 

[Reynolds]

I would never fly the American flag higher than the Christian Flag.
and I am very patriotic when it comes to the symbol of the USA

I fully agree.

 

[Marooncat79]

I would never fly any flag inside or on church grounds

There is no such things as “the christian flag”. It is a man made invention which is totally unnecessary in the worship of God

 

[Salty]

I would never fly any flag inside or on church grounds

There is no such things as “the christian flag”. It is a man made invention which is totally unnecessary in the worship of God

YES - there is such a thing as "The Christian Flag" and yes, it is man made. You stated it is totally unnecessary in the worship of God.
Could you inform us as to who has said that it is required for the worship of God? I have never heard anyone ever say it is required
for worship. By your reasoning - we should not use that man made invention of song books for the worship of God. And if you want to
go on a full court express - does the congregation even need a copy of the Bible worship. Remember for centuries virtually no one had their
own copy of the Bible.

Is it wrong to have a Christian Flag - NO! - Is it required - NO.

IMHO - you are making a mountain out of a molehill.

 

[Reformed]

YES - there is such a thing as "The Christian Flag" and yes, it is man made. You stated it is totally unnecessary in the worship of God.
Could you inform us as to who has said that it is required for the worship of God? I have never heard anyone ever say it is required
for worship. By your reasoning - we should not use that man made invention of song books for the worship of God. And if you want to
go on a full court express - does the congregation even need a copy of the Bible worship. Remember for centuries virtually no one had their
own copy of the Bible.

Is it wrong to have a Christian Flag - NO! - Is it required - NO.

IMHO - you are making a mountain out of a molehill.

I do not want to answer for @Marooncat79 but I will provide my own thoughts.

There are two ways to approach worship. The first is that we are to worship God only in the manner that scripture prescribes. The second is that we are free to worship God in any manner not prohibited by scripture. The first way is often described as the Regulative Principle of Worship and the second way as the Normative Principle of Worship. As a Regulative Principle adherent, my conviction is not to see any flag present during a worship service since worship and allegiance is due only to God. Would it be a cause for me to break fellowship with my church if we disagreed about this? Not necessarily.

 

[Salty]

Reformed - and likewise - if a church refused to have a flag - - that would not be a
reason to break fellowship.

 

[Jerome]

Reformed - and likewise - if a church refused to have a flag - - that would not be a reason to break fellowship.

Why one Southern Baptist church banned the American flag

A Pastor’s Perspective

at CHBC we have removed the American flag, not only from the platform, but from the building....Our membership includes people from the UK, Ireland, Singapore, Benin, China, Eritrea, Korea, El Salvador, Bolivia, Egypt, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, and more. Not all of our members agree with America’s politics overseas, politics which that flag represents

 

[Salty]

When I see the USA Flag, I see a symbol of freedom. Of those individuals of the counties listed - why did they come
to the USA?
Now, are we perfect - not by any means - but by the numbers of immigrants who do come- we must be doing something right.

Of that church that no longer displays the flag -
I wonder - was it a pastor only decision -
or was it the decision of the church body?

First - this was written in 2005.
I looked on the SBC site - cannot find the church or the pastor listed.

I know a pastor personally, here in CNY.
He pastors a church of which many member are from Syracuse University.
and many attendees are from all over the world. When I see him, I will ask him
if their church has the USA flag.

 

[Ziggy]

As a result of WWII, when churches were required by law to display the Nazi banner to indicate the subordination of the church to the state, you will not find local churches in Germany today displaying the national or any flag, but only Christian banners at best.

 

[37818]

The Christian flag, however defined is an extra Biblical novelty.

 

[Marooncat79]

The so called christian flag is unnecessarily offensive to many other cultures especially Islam.

They perceive it as a call to war in addition to associating it w “westernism”

Thereby making their evangelism even harder and even harder still the American Flag.

It is mot necessary to display flags in christian worship. It is a manmade innovation

 

[Marooncat79]

As a result of WWII, when churches were required by law to display the Nazi banner to indicate the subordination of the church to the state, you will not find local churches in Germany today displaying the national or any flag, but only Christian banners at best.

Correct. Everyone should read the book Hitlers Cross by Erwin Lutzer. Very eye opening

 

[Marooncat79]

I have shared the Gospel w many many Muslims and can promise you that it is an unnecessary hinderance to the Gospel

I have spent time refuting flags out of necessity instead od scripture due to their questions regarding them

Think of it this way. Would you want to see a Saudi or Iranian Flag in a worship service in one of those countries?

 

[Reformed1689]

The so called christian flag is unnecessarily offensive to many other cultures especially Islam.

Proudly displaying that we are Christian does offend people. And we SHOULD NOT CARE that they are offended by it. The Gospel is offensive to the world.

 

[Salty]

Think of it this way. Would you want to see a Saudi or Iranian Flag in a worship service in one of those countries?

Honestly, I dont think it would bother me.

 

[Reynolds]

I have shared the Gospel w many many Muslims and can promise you that it is an unnecessary hinderance to the Gospel

I have spent time refuting flags out of necessity instead od scripture due to their questions regarding them

Think of it this way. Would you want to see a Saudi or Iranian Flag in a worship service in one of those countries?

Seeing an Iranian flag in Iran would not not her me in the least.

 

[Salty]

Also many churches display the Flags of the nations that their missionaries serve in.

Pro and con.......

 

[Hollow Man]

No, the code is clear. "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." That's it; no flag above the U.S. flag, so if the U.S. flag is at half staff (half mast only if you're on a ship) all other flags are below.

Of course, the code does not have the force of law, so you can do anything you want to do.But if you want to do your own thing I don't know why you're worried about the code.

I fly our state flag over the U.S. flag.