Pastoral Ponderings—Flag Day
This week we in the United States celebrate “Flag Day,” while we United Methodists “Conference” together in our area’s annual business meeting for the denomination. An interesting coincidence when I also just recently had some conversations with some of our church folk about flags in the church, and oddly enough, when going through some of my old papers, I ran across some articles about flags in churches dating back to the WWI era when it first became a common practice.
I never thought about flags in church until I was in seminary more than 30 years ago, when one of my seminary friends from Australia, asked “why do you have the American Flag in your churches, when I thought we were in church to be worshipping God, NOT the country?” I had never even thought about it, so certainly didn’t have any kind of answer to his question.
Turns out when you look at the history of flags in American churches, the common practice goes back to the WWI era, when there was a strong populist push for political isolationism and staying out of the war under President Woodrow Wilson’s leadership. By the end of the war, though, many American churches showed their support of our war efforts by flying US flags in their churches.
But when our worship spaces, especially our chancel areas where flags often reside, are intended to focus our eyes, hearts and souls with the symbols of Christian worship, can we express how the flag has a theological place in our centers of Christian worship? Add to this question, that the official Flag code says the flag should always (even in churches) hold the place of highest honor. But doesn’t that directly clash with the ultimate priority of God in our lives and faith, over ALL other loyalties?
Definitely something to think about. And being a church, shouldn’t our guiding thoughts come from scripture, as well as from using our God’s eye lens, rather than a more worldly lens? Having been retired from being a Soldier for more than 20 years with three combat deployments, I’m certainly not shy on patriotism, and I’m probably irked more than most at the sight of tattered flags still flying, or flags being displayed inappropriately. So what’s your theology on flying flags in church—but think about it as a facet of our faith, not just a personal preference or from a sense of nostalgia. Might make a good conversation!
Keep being a blessing—Pastor Jim, Chaplain (Lt. Col.), ret.
Take a look at the article link below for more