By: Rev. David Wilson Rogers
Some took a knee, some stood. Some placed their hands over their hearts and some stayed in the locker room. Some cheered and some jeered. Some called it a triumph for free speech while others called it a disgrace to the flag. Some say the military stands for such diversity and others considered the statements to be an insult to the military. Amid all the back-and-forth bantering, posturing, proclaiming, and insulting, Christ calls for a better approach.
Aside from being dangerously idolatrous—Christians worship God, not the flag—the fact is that people all over the nation have allowed themselves to become so spun up in righteous anger at being offended that Christ’s love and ministry have both become lost in fight.
The 15th Chapter of Matthew speaks to the issue in very clear terms. Jesus was confronted with religious hypocrisy because the Pharisees and scribes had insisted on behaviors and rituals that served their understanding of cultural cohesion, but did nothing to uphold the principals of scripture. Jesus firmly denounces them for teaching earthly rituals as God’s commands and leading people astray for the practice. For Christ, the problem was not so much the ritual, but the bitter and resentful distraction it caused.
The ridiculous uproar over kneeling during the National Anthem is only one vivid illustration of the increasing problem Christians are having in modern politics and how Christ’s teachings in Mathew 15 are so relevant today.
The fact of the matter is that when the practice was first demonstrated by Colin Kaepernick last year, it was nothing more than a simple, peaceful, and faithful call for attention to be placed on the problems many people of color were having with police brutality in parts of the nation. It in no way branded all police as problematic, nor did it excuse the criminal behavior of individuals. He was simply using his position in the public spotlight to call attention to a problem.
Yet, the matter quickly erupted into questions of loyalty to the nation, respect for the military, and the authenticity of one’s patriotic behaviors. People read into his actions their own biases, prejudices, assumptions, beliefs, and world-views. The result was that some found hope and encouragement in his actions while others found disgrace and shame.
Amid the vastly different assumptions and beliefs that surround the non-biblical rituals surrounding the American National Anthem, the nation lost focus. Rather than seeking wisdom and understanding amid the diversity of opinions and beliefs, people started shouting down opposing views. Christians who hold strong and vital faith in Christ surrendered the love of Christ in place of a hate-filled rant against everyone who believes differently regarding the American Flag. Consequently, we argued over rituals at football games and lost sight of Christ completely. Did Christ die on a cross so we can argue over a flag?
It is time that Christians stand up for Christ. We must recognize that forcing rituals on others in a free nation is problematic, while also acknowledging that those same rituals are very important and have significant meaning. We must acknowledge that there are those who feel disenfranchised and cut out of American equality and their voices need to be heard. We must understand the beliefs others hold—and why they are important—so we can find the legitimate common ground we genuinely share as one nation under God. Rather than argue over a piece of cloth, it is time that Christians work together to build a nation with liberty and justice for all.
