Comments on: God or Country? http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/god-or-country/ refusing to drink the kool-aid for anyone Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:59:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: rev-ed http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/god-or-country/comment-page-1/#comment-2459 rev-ed Thu, 18 Aug 2005 02:37:12 +0000 http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/13/god-or-country/#comment-2459 Byron - Here's the link to that post at my blog. http://rev-ed.blogspot.com/2005/07/star-spangled-idol.html A side note - the lady in charge of sanctuary decorations for July put out lots of small "Americana" type items in the windowsills and a few other places. I had no problem with it. Then I saw that she had placed a small American flag on the pulpit, hanging over the front. That wasn't going to happen. I looked at it and saw that it covered the cross which is on the front of the pulpit. Nice symbolism, don't you think? FWIW, nobody complained when I ditched the flags (not even the one on the pulpit). Byron –

Here’s the link to that post at my blog.

http://rev-ed.blogspot.com/2005/07/star-spangled-idol.html

A side note – the lady in charge of sanctuary decorations for July put out lots of small “Americana” type items in the windowsills and a few other places. I had no problem with it. Then I saw that she had placed a small American flag on the pulpit, hanging over the front. That wasn’t going to happen. I looked at it and saw that it covered the cross which is on the front of the pulpit. Nice symbolism, don’t you think?

FWIW, nobody complained when I ditched the flags (not even the one on the pulpit).

]]> By: Byron http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/god-or-country/comment-page-1/#comment-2415 Byron Tue, 16 Aug 2005 15:03:00 +0000 http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/13/god-or-country/#comment-2415 Rev-Ed, Those are good thoughts, ones I've mulled over before...should there be an American flag in the sanctuary? One I always wondered about was why, at VBS, our kids pledged allegiance FIRST to the American flag, and only then to the Christian flag and the Bible. Haven't ever thought much about patriotic songs in hymnals...hmmmm... Rev-Ed,

Those are good thoughts, ones I’ve mulled over before…should there be an American flag in the sanctuary? One I always wondered about was why, at VBS, our kids pledged allegiance FIRST to the American flag, and only then to the Christian flag and the Bible. Haven’t ever thought much about patriotic songs in hymnals…hmmmm…

]]> By: rev-ed http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/god-or-country/comment-page-1/#comment-2408 rev-ed Tue, 16 Aug 2005 02:25:22 +0000 http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/13/god-or-country/#comment-2408 Back on July 4th weekend, I blogged about the false idea that God=USA which is subtly put forward in many American churches. Too often, patriotism is seen as a part of Christianity, especially in the rural church. When I got to my church, there was an American flag sitting right beside the Christian flag in the sanctuary. What kind of symbolism is that? Why are there patriotic songs in many hymnals? It's enough to make my head spin. A pastor friend of mine is in the midst of a struggle with a member who equates God and country. It's an attitude the member learned at that church while growing up. This isn't a new problem, but for many it's an idea they never considered. Back on July 4th weekend, I blogged about the false idea that God=USA which is subtly put forward in many American churches. Too often, patriotism is seen as a part of Christianity, especially in the rural church. When I got to my church, there was an American flag sitting right beside the Christian flag in the sanctuary. What kind of symbolism is that? Why are there patriotic songs in many hymnals? It’s enough to make my head spin.

A pastor friend of mine is in the midst of a struggle with a member who equates God and country. It’s an attitude the member learned at that church while growing up.

This isn’t a new problem, but for many it’s an idea they never considered.

]]> By: Mark Merritt http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/god-or-country/comment-page-1/#comment-2401 Mark Merritt Mon, 15 Aug 2005 21:54:15 +0000 http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/13/god-or-country/#comment-2401 Frankly, I'm surprised that there are 1/3 Muslims that have a stronger allegiance to Britain! They must be nominal - certainly not extremists! My allegiance stands with the Maker of Heaven and Earth, not with any country. That said, I believe that the United States is still the best place to find the Way, the Truth and the Life. It sometimes hurts to see how wayward we are as a nation, especially in light of the way that God has blessed us. Can anyone draw a parallel between this 'Godly' nation and the disloyal Jewish nation of Old Testament times ? Frankly, I’m surprised that there are 1/3 Muslims that have a stronger allegiance to Britain! They must be nominal – certainly not extremists! My allegiance stands with the Maker of Heaven and Earth, not with any country. That said, I believe that the United States is still the best place to find the Way, the Truth and the Life. It sometimes hurts to see how wayward we are as a nation, especially in light of the way that God has blessed us. Can anyone draw a parallel between this ‘Godly’ nation and the disloyal Jewish nation of Old Testament times ?

]]> By: Byron http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/god-or-country/comment-page-1/#comment-2380 Byron Mon, 15 Aug 2005 03:02:26 +0000 http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/13/god-or-country/#comment-2380 And though I might not agree with their conclusion, I'd sure respect their commitment! And though I might not agree with their conclusion, I’d sure respect their commitment!

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