Editorial
Flagging Faith
Caesar in the Sanctuary
When used on a speaker's platform, the flag [of the United States], if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. 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, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience. [From the United States Flag Code, 4 U.S.C. 7(k)]
Sometime in the early twentieth century, an emblem called the Christian Flag was invented, a white flag with a blue canton containing a red Latin cross in the corner where the union is found on the United States flag. By all accounts this flag stands for the kingdom of Christ. In churches it is typically displayed at the rear of chancel or platform, to the left of the clergyman or speaker as he faces the audience, in the place of lesser honor, while the flag of the United States, in accordance with the law cited above, is given the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right.
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S. M. Hutchens is a senior editor and longtime writer for Touchstone.
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