Phil,
         We don't say the pledge during worship, but your post causes 
me to ask you another question.  The words, "under God," were not 
added until 1954 in response to McCarthyism and the communist witch 
hunts of the 50s.  This means that, during world war 2, those words 
were not there.  Soldiers of that day were fighting under a pledge 
that simply said, "one nation, indivisible."  Now, there is talk 
again of removing those words from the pledge.  Would you feel 
differently about the American flag and it's position next to the 
Christian flag if those words are once again removed?  I'm just curious.
         As far as Greg and I deciding anything, our denomination is 
more locally run, meaning that congregations have a lot of say over 
how things go.  The pastor may have his opinion, and, biblically, he 
could be right, but majority will rule.  If the congregation had 
voted yesterday to keep the American flag in the honored position, we 
would have to accept it as the rule of the people.  The majority 
supported Greg, but the veteran's all opposed him.  Actually, Greg 
didn't even start this fight, one of the Veterans did so we have been 
put in the position of responding, more or less.  I'd still prefer 
just getting the things out of the worship space altogether.  I 
suppose I'm just a wimp at heart.
Kathy


At 09:02 PM 4/23/2006, you wrote:
>Kathy,
>
>I honestly don't know what I would do.  Frankly, at my advanced age, I
>probably wouldn't make a big deal over it but I have been known to make a
>big deal before and out of something I probably should have let go.  I
>understand the spiritual side of the issue, however, and I am referring to
>taking a standing and putting God first.  As I see it, though, I don't feel
>putting the American flag where protocol says it should be displayed, as
>putting God second, or lower, or anything else.  I feel that way, simply
>because, as I said, the American flag, in my opinion, stands for religious
>freedom.  Without its symbolism, there would be no Christian flag even
>possible.  I don't consider them equals but if it were truly an issue of not
>putting God first, that would be different.  I really don't think most
>people, and I can't speak for those in your church because you know them
>better than anybody on this list, consider the American flag putting God
>second.  If we were talking about the Bible here, as I mentioned, that would
>be worth fighting for.  I like the Christian flag and the pledge that goes
>with it.  I like the pledge that goes with the Bible, too, for that matter,
>but the pledge to the American flag does still say, one nation under God, so
>that carries a lot of weight in my opinion.  The Christian pledge says
>nothing about America, freedom, or liberty, without which, again, there
>would be no Christian flag.  So I don't know.  I'm just glad you and your
>husband have to decide on this one.  If it were me?  I'd probably leave it
>just like it is since that's how others want it.  By the way, one nation
>under God, is spoken exactly that way, too, in the pledge because there is
>no comma in the phrase.  If you aren't saying the pledges to the American
>flag and the Christian flag each service, I'd leave it alone but frankly,
>there is truth on both sides of this issue and I honestly don't know which
>is which.
>
>Phil.