“one of the things I loved about my church when I first joined was that it was the only one I’d been in that didn’t have an american flag anywhere to be seen.”
Interesting. If I walk into a church and there isn’t an American flag, I walk out before the service starts. (And I capitalize the “A” in American.)
Countries come and go. I believe a national flag stains the service, as a Nazi flag would have in a German church in the 1930’s and 40’s.
I sometimes capitalize “American”, depending on how lazy I’m feeling, or whether I’m using a real computer or a phone to post. :)
For me, church is not about the country I’m in. It is about worshiping my creator among other members of His flock. I love discussing politics, even in a church building, but like to keep the purpose of the gathering pure.
“13 It was in faith that all these persons died. They did not receive the things God had promised, but from a long way off they saw them and welcomed them, and admitted openly that they were foreigners and refugees on earth. 14 Those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 They did not keep thinking about the country they had left; if they had, they would have had the chance to return. 16 Instead, it was a better country they longed for, the heavenly country. And so God is not ashamed for them to call him their God, because he has prepared a city for them...” - Hebrews 11
I pray for America. I prayed for Trump’s election, and asked God to spare us President Hillary Clinton, and the appointment of “The Clinton Court”.
But when I go to church, I want to focus on the “better country they longed for, the heavenly country.”
The government is openly supporting homosexuality, transsexuals, rejoicing in men competing in sports as women, using tax payer dollars via NPR & PBS to support anti-Christians values, and has been prosecuting Christians who dare to exercise their freedom of religion. A national “Use Your Own Bathroom” law would never pass. I doubt it would get a majority of Republican votes, and it certainly would not pass.
“For a soldier to officially change gender requires only some paperwork. A military doctor or civilian medical professional must certify that the transgender person has achieved “stability in the preferred gender” and the soldier must change the gender designation on the soldier’s passport or birth certificate. From that point on, the transgender soldier is “expected to adhere to all military standards associated with their gender,” and “use the billeting, bathroom and shower facilities” of their new gender.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3566780/posts
America is STILL the most Christian nation I know of. My Dad spent 27 years in the military before dying in Vietnam. I spent 25 years in. My kids have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. But I see no need to put an American flag up in the church.
We flew the flag yesterday in our yard. But I don’t think it is needed in church. I’m in church as a citizen of another country, “And so God is not ashamed for them to call him their God, because he has prepared a city for them...”
I’ve honestly never given the matter of a flag in a church any thought.
Our church doesn’t have one, but for the most part, you won’t find a more patriotic bunch. We have at least two flags in the building. AWANA (kids group) uses one and trail Life USA (Christian boys outdoor adventure group) uses one. We also have several more that we use for flag folding and when camping.
Patriotism isn’t encouraged or discouraged, it just isn’t really part of the church setting.