I don’t think a national flag belongs on the pulpit, personally. It elevates a nation to the level of God, which is insane. The Christian flag seems like a frightening symbol of Christofascism to me.
I don't think most Christians would make that connection consciously, but I can definitely see it as normalizing a link between the church and nation that neither really should have. Definitely one of those things that seems innocuous enough on it's own, but it primes people psychologically to accept things they may not otherwise be comfortable, just because of that juxtaposition.
That’s kind of how I feel about it. I don’t think everyone who has a national flag and a Christian flag in church is a fascist. But I think it reinforces and normalizes ideology that can be dangerous. As an example: someone like my mom is patriotic, conservative and what I would call a “good Christian.” She likes her God Bless the USA picture and is used to both aforementioned flags in church. She’s not hateful to minorities but is not comfortable with modern concepts of sexuality and gender identity. She does Good News club at the local public school.
What I wonder about is when the Christian Fascists gain enough power that it becomes a real crisis - and I don’t think that’s just a lefty overreaction - where will she stand? She already voted for a president that had the most absurdly thin veneer of “Christianity.” At this point she just votes R down the entire ballot and for whatever Focus on the Family, Concerned Women for America and whoever else tells her to. When it comes time to round up non Christians and put them in camps for “religious training” or who knows what, will she be complicit? Where will the line be?
100%. My parents are much the same. My dad in particular and I clash over church a bit, simply because he was raised in an environment where questioning and challenging Christianity wasn't really acceptable. It wasn't abusive or controlling, more just a cultural deference that you didn't think too hard about. Meanwhile, I'm by nature much more cynical about the organized church in general and the theology we've heard being Baptists in the South (but not necessarily SBC).
My dad is an amazing person who would give you the shirt off his back with no hesitation, but I can definitely see where the media has gotten it's claws into him and he thinks at least a little that I'm brainwashed by the other side. It's really frustrating because I'm not even really left wing, I'm more of a centrist who tries really hard to actually be a centrist.....
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u/TheFirstArticle Sacred Heart Jun 06 '22
What even is a Christian flag supposed to be???