Many churches in the states have a Christian flag and a USA flag at the front of the sanctuary. I've always thought that having a USA flag inside church was a bit strange. I visited another church recently for a funeral and they had an Israeli flag too. What do you think of this?
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Flags in Churches
- Thread starter FriendofSpurgeon
- Start date
Magnetic Poles
New Member
Why an Israeli flag? This isn't Israel.FriendofSpurgeon said:
I Am Blessed 24
Active Member
We have the US flag and the Christian flag at the sides in the front of the church.
During Mission Conferences, we have small replicas of each country's flag where we support missionaries along the walls. We support too many missionaries to have the large flags and we have a large sanctuary...
mcdirector
Active Member
FriendofSpurgeon said:
The Israeli flag is pushing some kind of ultra-biblical point most likely.
We do have the USA and Christian flag in the front, but we also have the day school and say the pledges in chapel. We've had the day school for almost 30 years now and I haven't been in this church that long, so I don't know if the flags were there before that.
What on earth is 'the Christian flag'? I've never heard of it. What is its use based on?
mcdirector
Active Member
Thank you for the wikipedia link. Hanging the Christian Flag should be fine, but the pledge is questionable, or I am over-sensitive.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Flag
The Pledge to the Christian Flag is:
I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag and to the Savior for Whose Kingdom it stands; One Savior, crucified, risen, and coming again with life and liberty for all who believe.
Idolitry? Swearing to a Flag?
James 5:12 ". . . swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Flag
The Pledge to the Christian Flag is:
I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag and to the Savior for Whose Kingdom it stands; One Savior, crucified, risen, and coming again with life and liberty for all who believe.
Idolitry? Swearing to a Flag?
James 5:12 ". . . swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation."
I Am Blessed 24
Active Member
We are pledging and to the Savior for Whose Kingdom it stands
No idolatry here. We are saluting our Savior, not bowing down to a flag.
No idolatry here. We are saluting our Savior, not bowing down to a flag.
mcdirector
Active Member
webdog said:What is the purpose of any flag in a Church
I have a flag flying outside my home, but not in it.
That was the reason I thought to mention that we used them in our School chapels for pledges. I don't know that there is another purpose other than that.
mcdirector said:
I asked my friend who attends this church. She said that they pray for the peace of Jerusalem. (In addition, they had a menora in there too.) I guess a lot of this comes from their premil eschatology -- but seems to be taken to a bit extreme. Note -- this was in a Calvary Chapel church.
webdog said:What is the purpose of any flag in a Church
I have a flag flying outside my home, but not in it.
I don't have a problem with the Christian flag. However, I don't think a country flag is appropriate. Another church in town has a saying, "Citizens of the Kingdom of God," which I think is a lot better. In addition, we have many different nationalities represented in our church.
There are laws about displaying the US flag. If you display a Christian flag you must also display the US flag, it is to always be on the same side (as someone noted above, which side I don't recall). If you display a Christian flag outside on a flag pole, you by law must display the US flag, which must be displayed higher then the Christian flag. To display the Christian flag without the US flag in a public place (church) is a criminal act that just isn't necessary.
I think the issue here is the meaning behind it. Some churches have many nations flags, especially those that support missions. I can see the reason for that, though I did mention to a pastor that one flag had an Islamic confession on it in Arabic. He didn't care.
I do think it is a problem if we have American flags and by that we are saying that we mix our nationalism up with our faith, as many evangelical Christians in this country do. Christ's kingdom is not of this world.
I do think it is a problem if we have American flags and by that we are saying that we mix our nationalism up with our faith, as many evangelical Christians in this country do. Christ's kingdom is not of this world.