Patriotism, Flag Day, and Our King
Editorial written by: Daniel Gerlach (Eugene, Oregon) Age: 21
Today, June 14th, is the national holiday known as Flag Day, commemorating the official adoption of the United States flag in 1777 during the Revolutionary War against Britain (1775–1783). This holiday served as a reminder of striving for freedom and unity as our newly forming country bravely rallied together to fight for our independence. Centuries after the war, we still look to the flag of the United States and memorialize our history and ideals within the symbols of its stars and stripes.
Yet, in more recent times, patriotism isn’t what it used to be. Many people today don’t see liberty, freedom, or unity when they look upon the American Flag. In this great era of division, polarization, and hatred, people are no longer rallying together in unity under our flag. Specifically, with images of the Storming of the Capitol from this past January still burning in our mind, many now identify our flag as representing white nationalism or hostile patriotism, and there is great confusion as to what our flag truly means anymore. As a result, whole generations of American people, especially the younger generations, do not see the stars and stripes as liberty, justice, and freedom for all.
Therefore, what symbol can we turn to? What banner can we look towards for security and allegiance that still holds our ideals, dreams, and hopes? The answer is turning back to Jesus and the cross. This is not a cop-out response. Shifting our eyes from all the despair of this world and turning to God with all our hopes, dreams, and prayers is the answer. For us followers of Christ, in this time of pandemic, recovery from natural disasters, political tensions, vaccinations, shortages and financial struggles, there is another flag: the banner of the Kingdom of God, the banner of love and of future hope. We must turn to God in these desperate times. Scriptures point to turning to God as our banner and symbol:
Zechariah 9:16 (NKJV) The Lord their God will save them on that day, As the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, Lifted like a banner over His land.
Psalm 20:5 (NKJV) We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
Psalm 60:4–5 (NKJV) You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah That Your beloved may be delivered, Save with Your right hand, and hear me.
Isaiah 5:26 (NKJV) He will lift up a banner to the nations from afar, And will whistle to them from the end of the earth; Surely they shall come with speed, swiftly.
Isaiah 49:22 (NKJV) 22 Thus says the Lord God : “Behold, I will lift My hand in an oath to the nations, And set up My standard for the peoples; They shall bring your sons in their arms, And your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.
In scripture, the imagery of a banner is used to rally God’s people to Him. What does that Godly banner mean in a time of great divide? What does it mean to live under the banner of Jesus? It means we love like Jesus did — regardless of race, ethnicity, financial situation, and demographic. Controversially, it also means we love people despite their political views, whether they are vaccinated or not, what religion they are, and whether they are contributing to society because that is what we are called to do by God. For every person we meet, they are a beloved child of the Creator, worthy of dignity and of being shown the same love shown us by our merciful and gracious savior, Jesus Christ, who died for us. Jesus said in John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (NIV). By loving others, we are bringing more of this world under the banner of God.
In response to the hatred, betrayal, and discord in our country, we must rally under the banner of love, of choosing to love our neighbor and lay down our grievances. Only then will we begin to heal the great divides in our nation. Choosing forgiveness over hatred, empathy and compassion over division, and deciding to listen and serve those that we consider our enemy is how we will win this war against the darkness. Paul describes our situation clearly, even thousands of years later, in Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (NIV). Our enemy isn’t each other; it never has been. It is against the darkness that wants to divide us and stop us from following God. By loving those around us and choosing to live under the banner of the Kingdom of God, we can heal this nation and make great strides in the battle against evil.
And on this Flag Day, by loving those around us and bridging divides, we are also honoring the hundreds of thousands of brave U.S. soldiers who have died for our country. Our brothers and sisters have given their lives in hopes that this would be a nation of freedom, of unity, and of prosperity. Their dream can still yet be realized if we choose to work with our neighbors instead of against one another.
So put out your flag today and remember our history and those that have died. Look to the American flag and picture the hope of the nation we long for. But remember, there is a higher calling, even greater than that of America. There is a calling to love like Jesus and raise His banner higher than any other, to pledge our allegiance to the Kingdom of God. Our hope, here at Love for Lane County, is that you choose love with us. We long to show the love of Christ to our community, regardless of any differences, in order to fulfill God’s calling in our lives and help breach the gaps in our community. Please join us in partnership in helping serve and love our community and heal the divides between us.
