A friend from another blog life posted about "the church militant", in particular about a gun-bearing color guard standing behind a member of the clergy while he preached. To which I really only have one response, one that has been bubbling in me for quite some time:
Take the flags out of our churches.
All of them.
Now.
The church is not American. The church should not ever be American. The Gospel has no nationality, and neither should the people of the Gospel. Churches out to be like embassies: each embassy, no matter what country it happens to be located in, is sovereign soil of the country it represents. Churches, especially sanctuaries, are sovereign soil of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Isn't it really about the first Commandment? American Christians have made the nation into a god, into an idol, that we look to as the thing that we trust in and rely upon. I have actually had a member say to me (about Obama): "I could never vote for him. By not putting his hand to his chest during the pledge he disrespected the flag, and that's like disrespecting God." It doesn't get any closer to good old pagan idolatry than that.
Take out the flags. Become Christians who happen to live in American, rather than American Christians.
Of course, it leaves the whole issue of what to do about the pledge and the first commandment, but that is another topic for another time.
UKRAINE
1 year ago
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6 comments:
A rebellious reverend from Texas! How lovely. "A friend from another blog life...." That's intriguing. You've got me curious now.
Thanks for visiting my blog. I'll give you a link, if you like.
Thanks for stopping in - your blog is a wonderful read and often very insightful.
Rebellious, I gave you a link on my blogroll, which is sure to send you thousands of visitors.
Thanks for the link Mimi - such a kind woman.
I had a young German pastor visit my church once (in another life).
She was very disturbed by the presence of the flag in the sanctuary. I told her I was, too.
Her reasons were historical, of course; and educational.
rmj,
Yes, I think the historical example points to some of the inherent problems in becoming a "national" or "patriotic" church. Now, it is not too big problem. But down the road, will we know when to turn around? Will we know the moment when we are supporting something that absolutely contradicts the Gospel? And will we be able to turn it off at that point?
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