To decorate for missions month at our church we display flags from nations around the world. These flags serve as a reminder that God loves all people and has called us share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all all people.
A young boy who is part of my church approached me after service today...I think he is about ten years old. He approached me with an innocent smile on his face and said, "Do you know what the words say on the green flag?" I said, "Do you mean those really strange characters?" He nodded his head, and then knowingly replied, "It says, 'There is no God but Allah'".
So I replied by saying, "Wow -- That is seems like an odd statement to have hanging at the front of a church. Do you think we should take it down since it says that?" He nodded his head...I told him I would think about it and I appreciated him pointing this out to me. I then proceeded to tell him that we totally disagree with what the flag says, but we know that God loves the people who live in the nation that is represented by the flag -- and that we could use their flag as a reminder to pray for them even though we disagree with their belief and that statement.
Tonight I read the following:
Saudi Arabia's flag uses green to honor the country's puritanical Muslim Wahabi sect, and also because green is widely believed to be the prophet Muhammad's favorite color. The white, centered script, the shahada, is the Muslim Statement of Faith, "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God". The sword represents Abd-al-Aziz.
So, what do you think? Replace the flag with that of another nation, or leave it there at front of the church as a reminder to pray for the lost people of the world?
8 comments:
Thought provoking. We too have flags in our church. It is there to remind us to pray for all God has created and love. SA has to be represented by its flag - irregarless of what it says. And the Truth shall set men free.
I agree with you - God deeply loves all people whether or not they believe in Him. The flags are a reminder of those who do not know Him. Will we exclude them because they acknowledge they do not know Him?
But isn't the declaration on the flag one of the biggest spiritual lies in our world today? Wouldn't you go as far as saying its origins are demonic and to put that statement prominently in a church isn't right? -- Just another thought...
We are called to the ministry of reconciliation, not judgement. Their flag represents a nation of people for whom Jesus died. If anything, it should inspire us to pray all the more that the eyes of their understanding be opened to the GOOD news that there is a God of love with arms extended in welcome to ALL who seek him with their whole heart.
Amen -- great point Eileen.
Definately keep the flag up. Maybe even draw attention to it at some point. I think it's a great reminder to love people who's beliefs are different. If we take that flag down we should also take down the banner with our mission statement of love, acceptance and forgiveness. The flag serves as a representation of people and not of our own beliefs. If someone came to visit who believed in Allah would we not pray for them? Would we not go to a Muslum country ourselves?
Also, I'd love to meet the kid who brought this to your attention. Way to go. It does bring up another topic of our ignorance to most of the world. I couldn't even tell you where most of those flags are from let alone what they sybolize. I just think they look cool.
Ultimately we have a choice on this issue -- a choice to pray for Saudia Arabia, but also an opportunity to choose to not post a lie on our wall - even though no one agrees with the statement, it still is a statement of untruth. In belief of that statement, horrible atrocities are being committed today. My choice is to not honor that statement -- but at the same time to pray for and care about the people of that nation.
I think that it is interesting that we are concerned about a piece of cloth that is hanging in a structure made out of wood and nails.
Now, if we are talking about having Islam taught to the church (the People or Gathering of God, according to your excellent lesson on Feb.11th), that is another issue altogether.
While we are on the subject, is it right to display the flags of nations that brutally oppress other faiths, ideologies, and political viewpoints? If not, why are we displaying flags of countries that engage in these practices? It is easy to see how, if some exceptions are made, many others can be found.
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