The Name Which is ABOVE Every Other Name

 

Thursday, June 9, 2022

…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  Philippians 2:10

I would ask you to keep in mind this morning that this is my front yard.  The flagpole belonged to my Dad before I inherited it.  You will notice the flag is at half-staff, in memory of the school children and teachers who lost their lives in Uvalde, Texas, and those who were victims, both wounded, and all the families who, in shock and grief, mourn their losses, still today, and for a lifetime. 

I take great care, when hoisting or lowering the flag, to do it respectfully, never allowing it to drag on the ground, or remain unfolded, soiled, or torn.  I respect the flag, and the country for which it stands.  Scripture tells me that Jesus said I should give honor to whom honor is due.  I pay attention to that.

That is one reason why I have trouble seeing this in so many church yards.  Of the three flags flying, the American flag is given the place of prominence, while the Christian flag comes in no better than a tie for second place with the State flag of North Carolina.  As previously mentioned, I honor our flag and all for which it stands; As a disciple of Jesus, I cannot place country over Christ, under any circumstance.

To those who would, out of good conscience disagree (and I do not judge the state of anyone else’s conscience), I will not engage in an argument over this.  If a person wishes to display a flag, it is that person’s preroggative.  But that flag says something about the person (or in this case, church) that displays it.  To those who would say it is law to hoist Old Glory higher than any other flag, I would offer the US Legal Code concerning flags, which states:

When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence….^[1]

The code is just that, a statement of etiquette about the right way to display a flag.  It is a matter not of legal prohibition, with penalty, but simply a matter of social deference, or submission to societal pressure.  This is etiquette (code) not law.  There is no penalty, federal, or otherwise.  It may be offensive, however, so the more reasonable solution would be to not display the American flag in worship or at the church at all, except for the times when there is an event that appropriately requires^[2] a flag.  This suggests also that the Christian flag should not be displayed during such an event or gathering.

Let me assure you I’m aware that Jesus told us to be good citizens.  The dilemma arises when we try to limit that to which tribe we’re honoring.  I am to be a good citizen of my country…and I endeavour to the fullest extent.  But I have dual citizenship; I belong to another land, to which I am bound at an exceedingly higher level and price.  And I will raise no flag higher than that country’s!

For You Today

The Apostle Peter told the authorities:

“We must obey God rather than any human authority.  Acts 5:29

This is required of Christians if they really want to be good citizens.  And honoring no name or country above the name of Jesus with flag or mouth, is the criteria!

Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.  Proverbs 14:34

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road with Jesus; have a blessed day!  

[1] Images:  Pixabay.com   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©  

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[1] Cornell Law School’s website

[2] This is problematic, since Congress also makes no laws regarding the free exercise of worship.  

Shattered Beyond All Hope of Repair

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Thursday, January 18, 2018

This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy a clay jar.  Then ask some of the leaders of the people and of the priests to follow you.  Go out through the Gate of Broken Pots to the garbage dump in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, and give them this message.  Say to them, ‘Listen to this message from the Lord, you kings of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem!  This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says:  I will bring a terrible disaster on this place, and the ears of those who hear about it will ring!  “‘For Israel has forsaken me and turned this valley into a place of wickedness.  The people burn incense to foreign gods—idols never before acknowledged by this generation, by their ancestors, or by the kings of Judah.  And they have filled this place with the blood of innocent children.  They have built pagan shrines to Baal, and there they burn their sons as sacrifices to Baal.  I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing!  So beware, for the time is coming, says the Lord, when this garbage dump will no longer be called Topheth or the valley of Ben-Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.  “‘For I will upset the careful plans of Judah and Jerusalem.  I will allow the people to be slaughtered by invading armies, and I will leave their dead bodies as food for the vultures and wild animals.  I will reduce Jerusalem to ruins, making it a monument to their stupidity.  All who pass by will be astonished and will gasp at the destruction they see there.  I will see to it that your enemies lay siege to the city until all the food is gone.  Then those trapped inside will eat their own sons and daughters and friends.  They will be driven to utter despair.’  “As these men watch you, Jeremiah, smash the jar you brought.  Then say to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:  As this jar lies shattered, so I will shatter the people of Judah and Jerusalem beyond all hope of repair.  They will bury the bodies here in Topheth, the garbage dump, until there is no more room for them.  This is what I will do to this place and its people, says the Lord.  I will cause this city to become defiled like Topheth.  Yes, all the houses in Jerusalem, including the palace of Judah’s kings, will become like Topheth—all the houses where you burned incense on the rooftops to your star gods, and where liquid offerings were poured out to your idols.’”  Then Jeremiah returned from Topheth, the garbage dump where he had delivered this message, and he stopped in front of the Temple of the Lord. He said to the people there, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says:  ‘I will bring disaster upon this city and its surrounding towns as I promised, because you have stubbornly refused to listen to me.’”  Jeremiah 19:1-15^(NLT)

There are some parts of Scripture which, beyond setting the context, need very little comment; Jeremiah preached a very clear sermon that day.  When a nation stubbornly digs its heels in the sand, refusing to follow God, all hope for that nation is empty.

Jerusalem had entered the no-hope zone.  The shattering nations of the North were gathering on the horizon and God’s people were still offering incense to statues and burning their children on the town garbage heap.  Having become a world power because the hand of God had strengthened them against all enemies, Jerusalem was about to be broken to pieces like so many discarded clay pots.  And, despite the reality that was threatening utter destruction, they were as proud as an emperor wearing an invisible suit of clothes to the parade.

America:  superpower, a nation under ONE God?

          ·       Our diversity of conflicting faiths says not

          ·       Our aborted babies strewn on the law books proclaim otherwise

          ·       Our obsession with sex laughs at terms like adultery

          ·       Our preoccupation and love of money and power are hardly Godly

This list is only the tip of a sordid, shameful iceberg. 

We need to take a lesson from Jeremiah! 

For You Today

Many who call themselves Christian stand quickly to reverence the flag, which is simply due respect for one’s homeland.  However, in the larger picture, it is getting more difficult for a committed disciple of Jesus Christ to honor a nation that lives like the Jerusalem of old – shattered pots on the garbage heap. 

So, where does your bedrock loyalty fall? 

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image: Pixabay.com