Comments on Gen-X Rising: The flag, the cross, and the sanctuary

Johnnie says: "It just bothers me that churches a...

2008-07-04T13:38:00.000-04:00

Johnnie says: "It just bothers me that churches are wasting time and effort over something so meaningless."

The reality, however, is that flags are not meaningless. A flag always symbolizes something. More often than not, flags symbolize real boundaries in our society. The message of a flag automatically separates oneself from those bearing other flags. Just think of a baseball

new pastor, new church... ive been inching the us ...

2008-07-04T11:06:00.000-04:00

new pastor, new church... ive been inching the us flag and xn flag further and further off the main stage each sunday... its a bit passive aggressive, but so far it works

I think it is ridiculous that this even an issue.....

2008-03-22T20:22:00.000-04:00

I think it is ridiculous that this even an issue...whether for the flag in the church, or against it. It's no wonder we can't reach the people outside of our church walls when we're so worried about what's hanging on them...or the colors of the walls, or whether the ministers are wearing robes, suits, or jeans! Andrew this is no knock aginast your post...as I see it as an intersting topic for

I do respect our country. The idea that not wantin...

2007-07-09T10:38:00.000-04:00

I do respect our country. The idea that not wanting the flag in the sanctuary is equivalent to not respecting the country is exactly the mindset that I want to avoid. The flag, by its nature, is an extremely political image. Think about images we have all seen of burning the flag; most people have a sense of horror that a symbol so representative of the whole nation would be desecrated in such a

Clark wrote: "Is it not possible to worship The Lo...

2007-07-08T22:49:00.000-04:00

Clark wrote: "Is it not possible to worship The Lord and respect out great country at the same time?"

Where do you get the idea that he does not respect our country? I didn't get that idea from his post at all.

Another aspect of the situation that provokes my d...

2007-07-08T22:44:00.000-04:00

Another aspect of the situation that provokes my discomfort is some of the patriotic hymnody we use. While we have many non-patriotic hymns that address fellow believers instead of God ('Stand Up Stand Up for Jesus' is an example), it seems very odd to sing a hymn addressing America in a worship context. While I would assume most adults upon singing such a song would not venture that they were

Is it not possible to worship The Lord and respect...

2007-07-08T14:13:00.000-04:00

Is it not possible to worship The Lord and respect out great country at the same time? Are you really that easily disillusioned by its presence or just looking for something to bitch about, c'mon be honest.

I appreciate your post. What I usually hear is th...

2007-07-07T22:15:00.000-04:00

I appreciate your post. What I usually hear is that I can't really be patriotic and I must not love my country if I object to the flag in the sanctuary.

PS for the record I also think it's unnecessary to...

2007-07-05T04:21:00.000-04:00

PS for the record I also think it's unnecessary to have a denomination flag ...or logo IN the sanctuary. I'd have it on the door so people are aware ..

Not AmericanIn Finland we don't put flags in churc...

2007-07-05T04:19:00.000-04:00

Not American

In Finland we don't put flags in churches. In Estonia they do 'on special days'

whether we put flags or not we all have a duty to pray for our national (and local) leaders ....

what I like about the Finnish flag is that there is a cross on it - and my prayer is that one day that will really mean something again

but my allegiance is to God - it's

Thanks for the way you've handled this, Andrew. An...

2007-07-04T21:43:00.000-04:00

Thanks for the way you've handled this, Andrew. And thanks for sharing your experience with the Peruvian Church. I have wondered (including recently) whether having a national flag in the worship space and having a "patriotic" service is uniquely American or if the people of God in other places had similar customs. One wonders about the formative nature of this phenomenon on our ecclesiology, no?