It started when Rit Varriale, a pastor at the Elizabeth Baptist Church in Shelby North Carolina, flew the Christian flag above the American flag. Now there’s an online campaign, and never several churches are following.
“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,” – Rit Varriale
God Before Government
“Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow.” Romans 13:1-2
“the flag of the United States must always be at the top except that the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for Navy personnel when conducted by a Naval chaplain on a ship at sea.” – US Flag Code
Despite the bible specifically forbidding this type of activity, the pastor has also started a movement called God Before Government. The bible however, would disagree with this. Romans Chapter 13 specifically tells you that all governments are put in place by God for a reason and that you are to obey your government and pay your taxes.
Obeying your government means respecting the ethics code on the American flag. The pastor is quoted as knowing it was wrong, yet he does it anyway. According to the US flag code, you are not supposed to flag a religious flag above the American flag unless you are a Navy Chaplin under specific conditions.
The problem we have with this
Gods Before Government is a terrible idea if you think about it. One of the main things this movement will accomplish is dividing a group that is already divided enough. People are divided on this issue even though both the bible and flag code discourage this type of activity. When I asked people who identify as Christians about this locally, the response was split down the middle.
This is considered controversial which is why it gets so much attention. Often times people use controversial tactics to gain attention. Bringing this type of attention to Christianity is doing a disservice to it. It is associating Christianity with the flag disrespect crowd and it is only going to encourage more hatred for religion.
Another problem with this is that the bible tells you that you can’t selectively pick which parts of it you want to follow and which parts you don’t. The bible does tell you that you have to obey the “law of the land” and submit to governments, because God put them there.
Then you have the fact that not 100% of the US Army identifies as Christian. You have to consider that there are people who fought for that flag who would be offended by seeing you raise your religions flag above the flag they gave their all for.
I don’t know what the true intention of this Gods Before Government is, but I know what the result will be, and it’s not the result they are hoping for.
I don’t think God put this crap government here. The fools in this country did.
I’m a Christian, but that part from Romans sounds like Shari’a to me.
Sorry if this offends anyone.
I don’t know what to make of the God Before Government activism, although I somewhat agree with the “Problem We Have With This”, at least as to the point about the military. But until Americans put down the remote, quit turning the other cheek, and take action against the assault on us, I don’t care that much which flag flies atop the other. If we’re not going to fight for the men who died and were injured for us now that the rubber is meeting the road, I don’t have much respect for the flag-wavers or the bible-thumpers. Yeah, I know. That’s harsh. But there it is.
on US soil no flag should ever be flown above the US flag,the only state the legally can fly their flag at the same height is Texas!
This is the typical point of Non-Christians. They quote Godless “Government” created and printed regulations/laws to try to “Prove” we should display the American Flag above the flag representing the Creator of the Universe. How silly! America is the greatest nation to ever exist on this earth I believe. But, it is still ONLY a nation, among many many others that exist and have existed. If God delays, America will cease to exist like so many other nations have. But God is eternal! As Peter put it, “should we obey God or you government officials” (paraphrased). There is no contest in the hearts of true Christians!