Just A Flag?

Just A Flag?

5/24/16

This country has been presided over by numerous flags of the world, some of these symbols we agree with and some of them we do not and it is through this type of respect that our country thrives.  During each of these tenures, it has been concluded that all circumstances within the coverage of flags were not suitable for every lifestyle which is another freedom that this country was founded.  Probably the greatest portion of freedom that one can have is to have the presence of heart to change a flag when necessary and when never to surrender the truths that a flag represents.  One may ask why doesn’t the human heart understand that changing or tearing down of a flag in an angry or hateful manner will not bring unity to the people concerned but only further separate and divide those said people and that the only way that the human heart can change for the better and on a permanent level is through the supernatural power of God and His laws.  We can only complete this truth if we understand that some flags can be rendered insignificant and that there is one flag that can never be touched if a person or nation is to survive.

I remember when I was a kid us traveling to a place called Six Flags Over Texas which was a theme park in the general area of Dallas, Texas.  I was excited of course because I was going to a place that had many rides that would get me wet, twirl me around in different directions with different accompanying speeds, or jar me enough to give me a headache, sounds fun eh.  For the most part, a kid will enjoy these types of activities at a theme park while it needs to be noted that older kids and even adults like the softer and gentler side of these fun parks which is ok as well for this type of setting have multiple varieties of actions for all ages.  Whichever portion of the park one tends to gravitate towards is represents a choice whether for physical conditions or ones which come from the heart either of which represents the greatness of such opportunity.  The only problem today is that the majority of theme parks have been either closed or are about to close because of the financial obligations for those parks have become too tremendous to maintain.

Like most kids, as we were driving to the park my mind was wandering and wondering about this park and a thought came to me about why the park was given the name that it had. So, I asked my dad a question and it went something like this: Why is the park called Six Flags Over Texas?  It was then that my father gave me a short history lesson about  Texas and how it became a part of the United States.  Like the other portions of this country, Texas was not originally part of the USA, it had been under control and subjection to other nations before it won its independence from Mexico a long time ago.

Dad told me that Texas was not always known as the state of Texas or as the Republic of Texas but had different names because were ruled by six other nations before it became a part of the United States and it was through these other ruling nations (flags) that the certain person or group had decided to create a theme park and then chose its name as “Six Flags Over Texas” just to represent those six nations that once claimed Texas as their territory.  Being a young student, this explanation gave me a bit of knowledge about the park and Texas but I left it at that as soon as my eyes saw the park.  When we arrived at the parking lot and then parked the car, it took a bit to get into the gates because of the amount of people that were already present.  As we were approaching the gates, dad grabbed my attention and pointed out to me six flag poles that were located in the center of the receiving gates and he then told me that it was those flags that were waving in the air that represented the six nations that he was telling me about earlier in the car.

At that specific time, I had no idea what human activity had occurred in this part of our country before Texas became a part of our nation.  Being of that age there would have been no way that my mind ever understood the numerous nations and cultures that controlled the land, nor could I ever decipher both the good and the bad that came from these time periods.  Plus, there would be no way that I could understand all of the meanings each of those six flags on those poles had upon the land and the people that they flew over.  The only problem that would eventually present itself to me in the coming years was that like the majority of high school students and young people, history was of no interest of to me and the wasted amount of time that I was required to learn about these flags was completed with a passer-by status at best. 

One of my first experiences with flags and their meanings came into my life when I was in the 8^th grade and living in Cleveland, Texas.  It was 1981, most everyone knows that the Cold War was ongoing and at one of its highest points of tension during its entire existence with the boycotts of the 1980 Olympics in Russia and the Russian invasion of Afghanistan.  My interests in flags and the history and geography associated with flags had already peaked in my life and I wanted to obtain as many flags of the world as possible; this notion of mine eventually subsided and went dormant for a couple of decades until it was revived at a later time.

At the time, it was popular to rant, argue and make fun of other countries, especially ones that embraced Communism or Socialism.  I remember that some of my friends had struck up a conversation about the current situation that was transpiring between the Communist Bloc States and the West like we knew anything about it, and the subject of buying flags came up in our conversation.  Of course, the topic of the American flag was talked about and all of the pride we boys had for our country rose up when we were talking about placing as many as we could along our bedroom walls as possible.  However, the mood in the room changed and almost became silent when I suggested to the group that I wanted to place a USSR flag on my wall. 

The room and the group of my friends within it suddenly changed their tune and were no longer singing praises for the specific flag that I wished to place upon the wall.  A few colorful metaphors began to fly out of their mouths and the questions of “why” and “why would you want that on your wall” soon followed.  And when I tried to give them an answer they were not having any of my words because they did not care to hear the reasons as to why I wanted one of the USSR flags hanging in my room.  

It was not because I wished this country would convert to communism nor was it any idea in my head that I personally wanted to become communist but it was because I was interested in what the flag stood for and what the people who lived under this flag believed.  I wanted to learn more about this society, not to promote it or to join it, so that I would understand why these people were considered our enemies and why, if things lasted long enough, one day I might be sent to fight these people.  Yet, my friends did not wish to hear my explanation all they wanted to do was to call me names and to place a label on my life at that time, little did I know that this would be my first encounter concerning flags, everything that they represent and how differences can come into play even amongst friends.

I really did not fully understand what a flag meant to a nation and to its people until I served in the military and it was then that I knew that nations take great pride in their flags that were raised over their land long before I discovered America and that this trend was going to continue for a long time to come.  While the pride of a nation can be visibly recognized through a nation’s flag we must remember that not all of the population within that country will always approve of what the nation proves; however, one can contend that the majority of that nation does approve and will back the actions of their country accordingly.  There are still people living today that believe that the Russian invasion of Afghanistan was a necessary detail and served its purpose along with those who continue to believe in every action that their specific nation has taken over the course of their history. 

There are those still living today that believe WWII was a grotesque situation that while we were attacked, we should have kept our neutrality and prevented all of our boys from going overseas and not returning.  The same goes for the Korean War, The Vietnam War, and all the Gulf conflicts to date.  Each time one of these conflicts arose a flag was taken down and another one raised until all of the fighting in those conflicts ceased.  

To this day, a flag still represents a country or territory and for those who study flags or the countries that they fly over, many can be readily identified and immediately understand what is transpiring in that country when our eyes meet that flag.  Some of us like to rant about certain flags, what they represent and which peoples they govern but as we are spilling our verbal dualities the question that should come to our minds is this: do we really understand everything about each flag (country, culture, and people) that that specific flag represents?  I think not.  I believe that we would easily listen to what everyone else believes about those flags first and then blindly adopt their tainted ideas concerning those flags and then act accordingly.  I realize that I could be opening a can of worms with this topic but it is essential that we grasp the truths about our history enough to make an intelligent decision about humanity instead of just relying on a whimsical line from someone else who is biased for a cause or organization.  For there is another concept concerning a flag here that is placed into this same category and lines are drawn between people and nations when referring to the Flag of God, commonly known as His Word or the Bible. 

Recently we have been witness to numerous rounds of violence in our country in the form of a shooting inside a church, shooting of teenagers in the streets by police officers, and other horrific crimes that are viewed daily across the various accounts of media.  These kinds of events are not limited to this country for one can see these types of crimes and much more like them each day as well.  Do you know that our responses, actions, and reactions to such events constitute an individual flag?  Think about this for a while for it is a fact and one that we really need to understand ourselves before we wave it publicly and fiercely for we can fall into the same medial category as nations if we do not.  And the conditions that we hold in our hearts about the Word of God also either condemn His Flag or uphold its standards, both cannot be ruling.

What happens when one person, then two people, then a multitude of people begin to consecrate ideas that are contrary to what the flag of that nation represents?  Do we fully comprehend what our actions are saying to that country and to the rest of the world when we publicly desecrate burn, rip or be lack any respect for our country’s flag?  And do we understand that our violent tendencies towards our own nation’s standard (flag) actually present what is ongoing in our hearts towards God?  Once again, think about this question and it will become clear – if you look at it with a pure heart - that the both conditions are intertwined.

When our country’s flag was first made, it did not look like the flag that flies over every government building today.  There were not as many states in the union as there is today and while the basic shape and colors have remained the same some evident additions have been made over time.  This country continued its growth over a couple of centuries and is considering adopting more territory to enhance its stability and if this occurs our flag will have to change again with the addition of white stars on the blue background, symbolizing another state or two who have chosen to adhere to the already established union.  Growth is always a positive result, but in order for this nation to grow wisely and for the greater good, the ones who wish to join must be willing to totally come under subjection to the laws of the land. 

As we all know and it has been stated above, not everyone within the confines of a border agrees totally with every law that has already been established before they arrived on its shores.  This is also true about laws that are passed that the people do not agree with after they have become a part of the community or nation; this type of occurrence can even be on the individual or family level.  We also must concede that not everyone shall be happy with the processes that transpire across the nation that they live in, but when we have a land that is based on freedom we should keep it within our hearts to respect those who have differing opinions about laws and living conditions and then work together to improve everyone’s level of acceptability in the surrounding areas.

Today, we are witnessing a sharp turning in how we view the laws and accepted practices that have been previously put in place.  Instead of calmly and rationally doing our best to change these laws and modifying them for the best of the entire country, we are now violently protesting and demanding that laws be changed and if not totally satisfied with the outcome, continue and step-up the violence for an unspecified amount of time.  We do not wish to adhere to the due process and the civility of the law but use its passed results to obtain further admissions at the expense of others.  And it is at this juncture where we have tied the spiritual into the physical and tried to merge God’s Word with the changing surroundings of our land.

To the person who does not understand the boundary lines that God and His enemy have between them this flexibility of manmade laws could be administered to God’s laws as well.  But because God cannot change and therefore cannot mix or even fraternize with His enemy His laws cannot change either.  It is through this unchanging difference between God’s laws and human’s laws that serve as the stickler and the life-saving grace that God has to offer.  It cannot be denied that the world does not wish to have any part of God or His laws, even the atheists see this change in our country.

Now, let us put this into a flag perspective and bring these two concepts into one truth.  If a person stomps on our flag or burns it on a sidewalk, campus or street that action is still possible in our country; without penalty.  What people do not understand is that when you forget about the freedoms enough to commit such an act concerning the standard of the country, that person is abusing the laws that have been established and has taken a step over the boundaries that are in place.  Question to prove this setting: How many people that we see burning a flag or stomping on it is actually demonstrating a happy attitude while performing such act?  Answer: none.  They may be happy about the attention that they are receiving at the media moment, but inside they are fired up enough to violate their country’s standard.

How in the world does the physical action of stomping on or burning a flag have anything to do with God’s Word?  Simple, it is easy for us to recognize the American flag as the standard for our country.  We live within its laws, we live on its land, drive on its streets and roads, shop at its stores, participate in the entertainment games that it has to offer, bank according to one’s own leisure, etc which means we accept the status quo and normalcy of this nation as our own standard.  The Bible is the exact same standard for God laws and therefore is represented on the spiritual standard as a flag.  However, there is one exception to this standard that differs from the physical and that is that God cannot change His standard for any reason, anybody or for any situation for if He did then His enemy and our enemy would have legal access to his ancient position in heaven again and God would be proven as a fraud and as a liar.  It is for this reason that God’s laws cannot and shall never change to accommodate human grips and whims.

It is through the deception of our enemy that we have the notion that we can manipulate God enough for Him to change His position on His laws, we are the created not the Creator.  As in the physical, this thought and belief is a dangerous position to be in because if allowed to continue the physical flag burning attitude shall increase into a more violent and deadly celebration; it is a human trait that all follow, it is just a matter of which level our actions will be taken to and how high that level will be that is concerning.  The same goes for God and His laws because if mankind gets it into their heads that God will not budge or will not participate in their wants they will simply shut Him out completely and ignore every warning sign of the spiritual destruction that they are incurring on themselves.  It is this tie that brings these two standards together and it is occurring right before our eyes this day.

What occurred when the American Civil War took place back during the 1860s?  The country was totally divided and it even had two flags that flew over two capital cities.  Hundreds of thousands of men died and the families of both sides were devastated for decades to come; as we have recently witnessed, some of those wounds have not been allowed to heal properly – according to God – and they are reappearing with a stench that has never been smelled before.  The number of stars on the American flag were legally contested and a new Confederate flag was created, the standard of a nation was then again ripped into shreds on all levels.

This same action is taking place when humans take God’s laws into their own hands and shape them according to want they want and how they feel.  God shall not bend or break His ways but as a true, complete and loving Father He shall allow His children to try and change their lives through the gift of choice.  In other words, we are stomping on His flag, burning His flag and lowering His standard for our own liking; losing stars.  What is produced is a vast spiritual canyon between God and mankind, one that will serve as a permanent and eternal dividing line that shall never be crossed, a state in which our enemy wishes to occur and one that God abhors.  There is nothing good about a civil war for it only serves to divide a union and the same is in progress on the spiritual level inside our lives as we speak but if allowed to continue shall serve as an eternal division and settling.

How much further will our nation be drug down the worldly gauntlet before we have had enough?  That answer is simple for as long as we have people in top leadership positions who dare to ask “All this for a ____ flag?” the path of destruction shall continue.  There have now been calls for the American flag not to be flown in certain areas or in some cases on private land, a progression that shall continue if allowed.  And what if these protests are successful?  What then?  What will be next and to what limits will there be?  It is a setting that is unimaginable for people in this country, but one that should be taken for its value because the threat is real and as long as the connection to the American flag and God’s flag is not understood, both sides of our nation shall be shook and fall.  If the standard of this country is allowed to be tarnished and taken down, so goes the world and the hope of any physical salvation and unity.

If God’s flag is allowed to follow the exact same path as the American flag and it is on pace to do as such we are sunk without any type of life raft.  The Church fails to recognize this truth and fact for she would rather involve herself in an argument about perverted practices rather than change the world through the salvation of Jesus Christ.  We would rather try and merge a holy temple with a godless society instead of feeding sinners with the bread of life through Jesus’ blood.  The Church would rather hide under their sins instead of hiding under the pure umbrella of protection of God through obeying His laws.  The personal physical flags are falling is transpiring and the personal spiritual flags are falling just as fast.  Unless we stop our progression, turn our hearts and eyes back to God this nation shall not be recognizable in the near future.

In truth, when we stomp on, burn or desecrate our flag for any reason we are saying that the actions that we are doing supersede those of what our country has adopted and therefore claim to be usurpers of such lands.  Self-rule is our objective and entitlement servitude demanded, on demand.  It also enables us not to have any respect for authority or any code of conduct other than our own.  What is the difference between God’s laws when put on this level?  They are identical and the responses to them shall be the same.  A flag is a representative of your land and the place where you live.  It gives us an identity to fall back on when times get tough and one to wrap ourselves in when special events come around.  The same is true about God’s Word, for it is a standard for the entire world to know and to live under, not as a suppression but a freedom from the tyrannical enemy that wants to send you to an eternal death.  Church, wake up and proclaim the true gospel of Christ, wave God’s standard high to the dying world.  Hold its truth and justice bold enough so that there is no doubt about its whereabouts in our lives.  God love us and He wants the entire world to understand this before it is too late.  He wants to see stars added, not taken away.

DLB