Posted on Jul 7, 2015
Proper Flag Etiquette: Flying the Christian flag over the American Flag. What is your response?
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Personally, I think if you can't/won't show the American Flag proper respect, you shouldn't fly it. Period.
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(Note: Full article added by RP Staff.)
SHELBY, NC (WBTV) – In Cleveland County, Old Glory flies high. From shops, to homes, to houses of worship – the red, white and blue can be spotted on every street corner.But this Fourth of July weekend, one Shelby flag pole will be reassessing its priorities. On Sunday, Pastor Rit Varriale will raise the Christian flag above the American flag in front of Elizabeth Baptist Church.
“Our typical flag etiquette is to have the American flag above the Christian flag. But when you stop and think about it, it should be our commitment to God first, then our commitment to country,” Varriale said.
The controversial move is one that Varriale noticed his fellow pastor, Walter Wilson, doing down the road a few months ago at Focus Missionary Baptist Church.
“As I was changing the rope one day, the Lord just laid on me that he is first and when he told me that, I switched the flags around,” Wilson said.
Now, the two pastors are hoping to spark a movement across the country in light of the United States Supreme Courts recent ruling on same-sex marriage.
Varriale tells WBTV he believes Christians need to stand up just as the LGBT community has been doing recently.
“The reality is, they have been willing to sacrifice more and be more bold for their cause than the church of Jesus Christ for serving God, and that’s got to change,” Varriale said.
The decision is getting push-back online from some saying the move is disrespectful and unpatriotic. But this former Army Ranger says the move isn’t about not loving his country.
“I really don’t need a lecture on patriotism, I’m willing to give my life for my country. When you think of military motto’s, for example, God and country, God first and then country,” Varriale said.
The two pastors know the move is sure to turn heads, but say they’re okay with that.
“We know that not everyone is going to agree with that. But that’s not going to make us sit down and stop talking about what’s important,” Wilson said.
Wilson’s church will come together with Varriale’s church on Sunday morning for the flag raising. Service begins at 11 a.m.
http://800whistleblower.com/church-flies-christian-flag-above-american-flag/#
http://video.foxnews.com/v/ [login to see] 001/north-carolina-church-to-fly-christian-flag-over-american/?#sp=show-clips
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(Note: Full article added by RP Staff.)
SHELBY, NC (WBTV) – In Cleveland County, Old Glory flies high. From shops, to homes, to houses of worship – the red, white and blue can be spotted on every street corner.But this Fourth of July weekend, one Shelby flag pole will be reassessing its priorities. On Sunday, Pastor Rit Varriale will raise the Christian flag above the American flag in front of Elizabeth Baptist Church.
“Our typical flag etiquette is to have the American flag above the Christian flag. But when you stop and think about it, it should be our commitment to God first, then our commitment to country,” Varriale said.
The controversial move is one that Varriale noticed his fellow pastor, Walter Wilson, doing down the road a few months ago at Focus Missionary Baptist Church.
“As I was changing the rope one day, the Lord just laid on me that he is first and when he told me that, I switched the flags around,” Wilson said.
Now, the two pastors are hoping to spark a movement across the country in light of the United States Supreme Courts recent ruling on same-sex marriage.
Varriale tells WBTV he believes Christians need to stand up just as the LGBT community has been doing recently.
“The reality is, they have been willing to sacrifice more and be more bold for their cause than the church of Jesus Christ for serving God, and that’s got to change,” Varriale said.
The decision is getting push-back online from some saying the move is disrespectful and unpatriotic. But this former Army Ranger says the move isn’t about not loving his country.
“I really don’t need a lecture on patriotism, I’m willing to give my life for my country. When you think of military motto’s, for example, God and country, God first and then country,” Varriale said.
The two pastors know the move is sure to turn heads, but say they’re okay with that.
“We know that not everyone is going to agree with that. But that’s not going to make us sit down and stop talking about what’s important,” Wilson said.
Wilson’s church will come together with Varriale’s church on Sunday morning for the flag raising. Service begins at 11 a.m.
http://800whistleblower.com/church-flies-christian-flag-above-american-flag/#
http://video.foxnews.com/v/ [login to see] 001/north-carolina-church-to-fly-christian-flag-over-american/?#sp=show-clips
Etiquette
Religion
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 82
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LCDR (Join to see) I think it would be best to have on separate poles in the proper position at the church, if they want to fly both. Just my 2 cents.
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SFC Jeremy Stocker
Fly them on separate poles with the National Colors above. Separation of church and State combined with freedom of religion puts us as a nation not to place any religion above any other. If we put a specific religion above the Nation that would imply that our Nation is of that religion.
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SGT Michael Chittum
why do people keep throwing "separation of church and state" in with freedom of religion. The constitution says nothing about separation of church and state. It says that no religion will be specified by the government, and that people are free to practice whatever religion they see fit. If they had not wanted religion in the government, God would have been left out of the oath of office!
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NTP 13
"No other flags or pennants shall
be placed above or, if on the same
level, to the right of the national
flag. The only exception to this rule
is during church services conducted by
naval chaplains at sea for personnel of
the Navy, when the church or Jewish
worship pennant may be flown above the
national flag. The term "at sea" is
interpreted to mean on board a ship of
the U.S. Navy."
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/images/ntp13b.pdf
"No other flags or pennants shall
be placed above or, if on the same
level, to the right of the national
flag. The only exception to this rule
is during church services conducted by
naval chaplains at sea for personnel of
the Navy, when the church or Jewish
worship pennant may be flown above the
national flag. The term "at sea" is
interpreted to mean on board a ship of
the U.S. Navy."
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/images/ntp13b.pdf
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Suspended Profile
CPL Mielke, the prohibition of desecration was unfortunately overridden by a short sighted, liberal Supreme Court. But, the finding of the majority was that since the US Government disposes of flags by burning, they could not consider it desecration nor prevent the citizens from doing the same. So for arguments sake, if the goverment found another way of disposing of the flag, they could call burning desecration and based on the finding of the Supreme Court they would be forced to relook the previous determination. In regard to the IDIOTS that are walking on the flag, that has never been pushed in court as desecration, and those individuals should be arrested for thier actions then we could force the courts to make a decision on that. Society has just accepted that people can do anything and get away with it as free speech because they fail to understand all the facts and no one wants to stand up and take responsibility in turning it around or making the courts take a stand.
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
@ Navy LCmdr, isn’t a Navy Base considered the same as “being aboard a vessel” I’d been to Norfolk Navy Base and a few others and have been welcomed “aboard”... I was there attend’g a seminar Johnson & Wales culinary school sponsored at the base. I could had waited another month and went to one at Little Creek but I just happened to be at Norfolk of my own accord.. maybe it’s just the use Of the acronym “aboard”...
As for Cpl. Miele: Fly the Church banner over the flag is much less disrespectful than actual desecration .. after Service is over put Old Glory back on top, it was only momentary (a couple hours)
Burning the flag, stepping on is a final act..
As for Cpl. Miele: Fly the Church banner over the flag is much less disrespectful than actual desecration .. after Service is over put Old Glory back on top, it was only momentary (a couple hours)
Burning the flag, stepping on is a final act..
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SSgt Boyd Herrst
Another point is people signing a Flag... I can see it if the Flag is retired. No longer in condition to be
Flown. Some Veteran Service orgs have done Flag retirements with a prayer service and taps and retiring the Flag... for a long time retiring a Flag was done in privAte.
How it went from private to a ceremony has been a questionable sitrep to me. As part of our Post Ritual team, I’ve participated on the Color Guard .. I’m not saying I’m for against, just neutral on it...
Flown. Some Veteran Service orgs have done Flag retirements with a prayer service and taps and retiring the Flag... for a long time retiring a Flag was done in privAte.
How it went from private to a ceremony has been a questionable sitrep to me. As part of our Post Ritual team, I’ve participated on the Color Guard .. I’m not saying I’m for against, just neutral on it...
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Does the church own the property? Then they can fly it upside down, diagonally, below or above. Land of the free, whether you agree with it or not. If I were to drive by their church I would think their ignorant but my life would still be pretty awesome and my rights would not be infringed.
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Suspended Profile
Actually, the flag code provides for the proper and legal treatment and display of the American flag. Therefore regardless of if they own the property, they still can't treat the flag however they want to.
SGT (Join to see)
SGM William Vernon - The flag code was at one point in time legally binding. Now it serves as a guideline rather than law even though it is technically still part of U.S. Code. No legislator has removed the code even though it has been struck down in two separate Supreme Court cases. Probably because it wouldn't look good to voters. Here are the decisions; Texas v. Johnson; June 21, 1989 and United States vs. Eichman; June 11, 1990.
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SGT (Join to see)
LT Charles Baird - They could say it represents the idea of "One nation under God". Although that would be a terrible description of our nation and its ideals. We are a nation of free men/women, free to believe in one god, multiple gods, or no gods; with everyone receiving equal protection under the law. Our pledge didn't contain that statement until President Eisenhower added it in the 1950's.
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Maj John Bell
SFC Nikhil Kumra - Freedom of speech protects us from government consequences for unpopular speech. So yes, legally it is absolutely OK "...for them to fly a flag of a man having sex with a goat? Or a child? if you had a family would it be okay for your kids to see this?" But legally OK is not the same thing as socially OK. There is nothing in the Constitution that protects from the social consequences of unpopular speech.
I suspect that you already knew the answer to the question:
_ Would everything be okay if it is their property? As long as it is within the limits of the law, yes.
_ The link tells you where the line is.
https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/about/faq/which-types-of-speech-are-not-protected-by-the-first-amendment/
I suspect that you already knew the answer to the question:
_ Would everything be okay if it is their property? As long as it is within the limits of the law, yes.
_ The link tells you where the line is.
https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/about/faq/which-types-of-speech-are-not-protected-by-the-first-amendment/
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