Fly the Flag

The people of God, as we're told in 1st Peter chapter 2, have been called and set apart in order that we might proclaim His praises. Isaiah 62 states:
10 Go through, Go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people; Build up, Build up the highway! Take out the stones, Lift up a banner for the peoples!
11 Indeed the Lord has proclaimed To the end of the world: "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Surely your salvation is coming; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.' "
12 And they shall call them The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord; And you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.

So, how are we lifting up a banner for the people around us, those to whom God has sent us to proclaim His glory?  We can confidently testify to the presence of Jesus within us and show that we love Him by the way we speak, the way we act, including how we love others unconditionally.  We have been given the gift of salvation through what Jesus has done for us, and we are directed to lay down our lives so that He will be exalted through us.

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We can celebrate what God has done and use the opportunities we have in a free society to give testimony to His name. Psalm 20 says this:
5 We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
6 Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

There was a flag-raising ceremony in the city of Torrington, Connecticut recently - over 200 people of a gathered as the Christian flag was hoisted into the air, according to the newspaper, the Register Citizen.  The mayor, Elinor Carbone, attended, and she was quoted as saying, "I feel fulfilled...These are the very things that a mayor in a city wants to gather together; what our churches do for our community is so important. In every emergency, the churches are there. I'm so thankful."  The article notes:

The Christian flag, with a white ground and a simple cross, was raised to show unity, according to the Rev. Steve Darr of the First Congregational Church of Torrington. "We are here for the city, the state and the nation," he said.

The event occurred the third weekend of September, and a local Messianic rabbi who leads two congregations blew a shofar to commemorate the fall feast of Rosh Hashanah. 

The newspaper article also noted:

Associate Pastor Michael Ambrose from Northwest Hills Community Church said Torrington was founded around the Christian faith. "This is an opportunity to recognize who came first," he said. "It's a recognition of our faith and a chance to pray together."

The First Congregational Church of Torrington was founded in 1741. "We've been in Torrington for 282 years," said Darr. "We baptized (abolitionist and city resident) John Brown; we've been here a long time. The Christian community provides a steadfast anchor within the city."

But, it doesn't look like that type of amazing display of unity and affirmation of the influence of the Christian faith will be taking place in Montgomery, Alabama anytime soon.  The City Council had been asked to pass a resolution recognizing American Christian Heritage Month and to allow the Christian flag to fly at City Hall.  In the September 5 meeting, according to the Montgomery Independent, the resolution was originally passed, but then was reconsidered after concerns were expressed.   The Council decided to table another vote until the September 19 meeting - last Tuesday.

At that meeting, the Council determined to table the proclamation of September as American Christian Heritage Month and tabled another resolution that provided that, according to 1819 News, "only the flags of the United States of America, of the State of Alabama, or of any United States or State military organization may be flown or placed upon any of the city of Montgomery's public properties..."

One of the proponents of the proclamation for a Christian Heritage month and flying of the Christian flag, William Green, reminded the Council that since the city of Montgomery has already taken a step to fly pride flags during June, which the Independent noted was done by an executive order by the mayor, it opened the door to flying the Christian flag.

The 1819 article quoted from Harold Shurtleff of Camp Constitution, who was denied the right to fly a Christian flag at City Hall in Boston and won a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision which stated that the city had erred in denying his petition on religious grounds while other applicants were approved.  The article states:

Shurtleff told 1819 News recently, "I agree with the city attorney that letting the Christian flag fly would open it up to other groups, some good and maybe some not so good. He is correct, and our attorney Matt Staver mentioned it in his oral argument to the U.S. Supreme Court. However, the city has already done so by flying the Rainbow flag."

"So, either fly all flags that are requested by local groups or only fly the U.S., State, County, POW-MIA and City flags which is what many towns and cities around the country have been doing in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision," Shurtleff said.

Green told the Council:

"All I'm asking from the city council is to allow me and other Christians that feel this way is to get our time to fly our Christian flag as others have already been given that."

He referred to the Supreme Court decision in the Shurtleff case and shared that the city had already "established a precedent." 

There are similar controversies in other parts of the country.  The LGBT Pride flags, according to a FoxNews.com article, that had been flown in Hamtramck, Michigan will no longer be allowed to be displayed.  And, according to television station ABC 10, in El Dorado County, California, lawmakers voted to reverse an earlier decision to proclaim July as American Christian Heritage Month.

So, what do we make of all this?  Well, please allow me the opportunity to tie this all together. The Camp Constitution Supreme Court victory was a triumph for free speech and advanced the idea that religious expression is not to be treated in a discriminatory way.  And, as Mr. Shurtleff pointed out, municipalities are now having to deal with compliance, some by limiting any other flags except for perhaps national, state, municipal or military flags.  That would eliminate gay pride flags, which is a severe blow to politicians who have been all-too-ready to embrace this harmful agenda.  So, it's a mixed bag here. But, it may, in fact, represent more pushback to the advancement of the LGBT agenda, which is a good thing. 

While some want to back down or back off from the Christian heritage of our nation, you can't rewrite history, as some are prone to do.  The founding documents show a trust in and allegiance to a sovereign God.  We recognize that God works in the affairs of nations, and it's important for Christians to acknowledge His hand.  In the name of so-called "separation of church and state," certain officials have determined that the recognition of religion in a civic capacity is to be frowned upon and deemed to be illegal. But, even our First Amendment, in addition to the Establishment Clause, has a Free Exercise Clause, and that means American Christians should be free to live out their faith in a public setting, or as it's been called, the "public square."  We can depend on God to show us ways in which we can testify to the Lordship of Jesus, not merely in the four walls of our homes or churches, but to proclaim His truth boldly and robustly.