Commentary: Flag display affirms God’s blessings
A UMNS Commentary
By the Rev. Richard Stewart*
June 1, 2007
Is it appropriate to display the United States flag in United Methodist churches during worship services?
The Rev. Richard Stewart
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As a life-long United Methodist, and as a former active-duty chaplain in
the U.S. Army, I have no question as to its appropriateness. And, as a
U.S. citizen, I find it hard to imagine why some people would not want
to display the flag at their place of worship. In fact, I would be very
concerned if the flag was banned from those times in which we come
together corporately to worship God.
Since my childhood, throughout my years of wearing the military
uniform of our country and in the years since, the U.S. flag has stood
as the symbol of all that is good about this nation. I, along with
countless others - both citizens and non-citizens - wore the uniform and
served under the flag of this country, ready to give our lives for all
it symbolizes. For those soldiers who fought our battles long ago and
continue to fight them at this very moment, for those who died and
continue to die in behalf of our nation, placing the flag in our
sanctuaries demonstrates that the God who was with soldiers in those
scary places is certainly with them now.
Such a display in no way expresses the notion that God is with us to
the exclusion of our brothers and sisters from other lands and other
beliefs. I believe that God is with those against whom we fight, and
that they, too, are God's children, regardless of their faith or even
when they are of no faith at all. Such is an understanding that I
learned by growing up in the United States - the country that the flag
serves and inspires. We need look no further than the Marshall Plan
after World War II to see the generosity of those who serve under that
flag, and who serve in the defense of that flag.
“We do not display the flag to attempt to
manipulate God. Rather, by displaying it during United Methodist worship
services, we bring the totality of our existence to God - spiritual,
emotional and secular.”
The flag rallies the hopes of Americans, whether at sporting events,
parades or military funerals. Title 4, Section 7(k) of the U.S. Code
specifies how the flag is to be displayed, even in churches. While
others may express contempt and see that specification as the state
intruding upon the church, my joy is that the code does not deny the
display of the flag in churches. Such restriction and denial might be
possible, if those in power were so inclined. Instead, the code
prescribes what we as United Methodists are well adept at doing:
performing properly and with good manners, including displaying the
flag.
It is not my impression that displaying the U.S. flag during worship
means that United Methodists are asking God to favor its citizens over
others of God's people. I see the display as a response to God's
blessing upon this land - not as a ploy to curry God's favor, nor to
dissuade God from blessing his other children in other nations.
We do not display the flag to attempt to manipulate God. Rather, by
displaying it during United Methodist worship services, we bring the
totality of our existence to God - spiritual, emotional and secular.
Because God is God, and because God is good, I believe with all my heart
that God accepts and acts upon what we have long declared and implored:
"God Bless America."
*Stewart is a retired United Methodist pastor and a former staff
member of the section of chaplains and related ministries of the United
Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry. He is a clinical
pastoral education supervisor and former president of the Association of
Professional Chaplains.
News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church
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