abstract: U.S. Law calls for the United States flag to occupy the place of superior honor and prominence and authority when it is displayed with the Christian flag. The Bible says Jesus is King of kings, thus requiring that His emblems be given higher honor and prominence and authority than the emblems of any earthly kingdom.

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by daniel lance Herrick

My Daddy taught me that the American flag goes on the people's left, the preacher's right and the Christian flag goes on the people's right, the preacher's left.

So, that custom has always been part of the way my world works.

At the first house I remember living in, Daddy had a flagpole and proudly flew the Stars and Stripes for all to see. I have high respect for my country's ensign, and to see my flag flying at half staff has often choked me up so I could not speak.

Where Did the Custom Come From?

President Eisenhower signed an executive order declaring the manner of flying the flag. Before that it was governed by custom, but that executive order was quickly incorporated into the U.S. Code. The laws governing the display of our national ensign can be found in Chapter 1 of Title 4 of that code.

Sec. 7. The flag, when carried in a procession with another flag or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag's own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.1

The Code doesn't say "the preacher's right," it says "the flag's own right." All this is from the point of view of the flag.

The introduction to the parts of Section 7 that I'm quoting from here is found in Section 5:

The following codification of existing rules and customs pertaining to the display and use of the flag of the United States of America is established for the use of such civilians or civilian groups or organizations as may not be required to conform with regulations promulgated by one or more executive departments of the Government of the United States.2

The Code itself says this is a codification of existing customs. Now, let's get to,

The Nub of the Matter

Sec. 7. (c) No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy. No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof.3

In other words, it has been the custom of naval chaplains to put a church pennant above the national flag, and they shall be graciously permitted to continue to do so while they are conducting church services for personnel of the Navy at sea.

Aside from that quaint custom of chaplains at sea (not in port), and another exception for the headquarters of the United Nations that I have not quoted here, the U.S. Code mandates that the flag of the United States shall always have the place of superior prominence and honor.

How Was That, Again?

Thus far, I have been trying to draw your attention to something that is implied by the provisions of the U.S. Code on flying the flag. In case you have missed my point, here is the part of the Code that pointedly addresses the concern of this article:

Sec. 7. (k) ....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.4

The Code is saying that the U.S. flag should get the most prominent position, and any other flag--including the Christian flag--should occupy an inferior position.

So, Who Is the Boss?

The U.S. Code does not require that you display the national flag in your church. But, if you do, it requires you to place the national flag in the place of honor, reserving a less honorable place for any other flag you may choose to display.

The Bible says Jesus is the King of kings. The U.S. Code says the flag of the United States of America must have the position of prominence and honor if it is displayed with the flag representing the King of kings. Which king is on top? Which king is being acknowledged as the more powerful ruler?

What Is to Be Done?

One approach is to never display flags in worship. Scripture does not define an ensign for the Church, so there is no biblical need to invent one or display it.

But what if you have been displaying the national flag5 and the Christian flag in your place of worship? If you have been complying with the portions of the U.S. Code that I have quoted in this article, you have been saying, by the relative positions of the flags, that the United States of America is superior to, and deserving of greater honor than whatever you believe the Christian flag stands for.

In view of this, perhaps the best you could do is to take them both away.

But maybe you feel obliged to say with your flags/symbols what you confess with your mouth--the Kingdom of God is superior to the United States of America. But, remember that it is against the law to say that with your symbols.

daniel herrick is the Secretary of the National Reform Association and curator of the NRA's web site. He is also keeper of the electronic discussion list Theonomy-L. He can be reached at dlh@dlh.com.

Endnotes

1. You can find the Code at United States Code Title 4, Chapter 1 (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/4/ch1.html) on the Cornell Law School server. I found this by following a faq link at the Library Spot.

2. Sec. 5. (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/4/5.html)

3. Sec. 7. (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/4/7.html#c)

4. Sec. 7. (k) (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/4/7.html#i_k)

5. Note that Sec. 1. (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/4/1.html) specifies what the flag looks like. There is no mention there of a gold fringe on the flag. If your flag has a gold fringe around it, it is something other than the "flag of the United States" specified in this section of the Code. If you are displaying that flag in a position of superior honor to the position of the Christian flag, well....

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