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No Man Can Serve Two Masters. Has the American Flag become an Idol?

C

Clapton is God

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I was raised from a young child in a very conservative fundamentalist church that wanted everyone there three times a week. They had a "school" where we pledged allegiance to the American Flag, and then a Christian Flag, and then a pledge to the Bible every morning. Yes, it was very annoying.

What was interesting is that the American Flag was permanently displayed on the stage in the sanctuary of the church. I remember many times hearing the pastor discussing Jesus' where he said you can't serve two masters. You will hate the one or love the other, but you cannot serve God and man. This is interesting because on days like the 4th of July, the church would even pledge allegiance to the flag.
In my opinion, Jesus wasn't the master of that congregation.

Did Jesus pledge to the Roman government or did he serve his Father?
 
Clapton is God said:
I was raised from a young child in a very conservative fundamentalist church that wanted everyone there three times a week. They had a "school" where we pledged allegiance to the American Flag, and then a Christian Flag, and then a pledge to the Bible every morning. Yes, it was very annoying.

What was interesting is that the American Flag was permanently displayed on the stage in the sanctuary of the church. I remember many times hearing the pastor discussing Jesus' where he said you can't serve two masters. You will hate the one or love the other, but you cannot serve God and man. This is interesting because on days like the 4th of July, the church would even pledge allegiance to the flag.
In my opinion, Jesus wasn't the master of that congregation.

Did Jesus pledge to the Roman government or did he serve his Father?
Click to expand...

There was a quote circulated on that topic back then.
 
King James Bible
And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him.

How soon we forget.
 
Clapton is God said:
I was raised from a young child in a very conservative fundamentalist church that wanted everyone there three times a week. They had a "school" where we pledged allegiance to the American Flag, and then a Christian Flag, and then a pledge to the Bible every morning. Yes, it was very annoying.

What was interesting is that the American Flag was permanently displayed on the stage in the sanctuary of the church. I remember many times hearing the pastor discussing Jesus' where he said you can't serve two masters. You will hate the one or love the other, but you cannot serve God and man. This is interesting because on days like the 4th of July, the church would even pledge allegiance to the flag.
In my opinion, Jesus wasn't the master of that congregation.

Did Jesus pledge to the Roman government or did he serve his Father?
Click to expand...

What was the third day of the week? Sundays, Wednesdays, and what other day?

Why is "school" in quotes? Was it a "Sunday school" or three-day-a-week religious instruction for children?

I Googled because I'd never heard of making a pledge to the Bible:

These words are attributed to Homer Grice, a Southern Baptist minister who promoted Vacation Bible School through the Baptist Sunday School Board. It dates back to 1924, when he combined the scripture quotes from Psalm 119 into this simple prayer. (Source & Source).

“I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God’s Holy Word, I will make it a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path and will hide its words in my heart that I might not sin against God." Pledge to the Bible

I don't understand why you're asking whether Jesus made a pledge to the Roman government. I really don't understand why you would wonder whether Jesus served His Father. Even if children attend church only once a week, I'm guessing they already know the answers to your "question."
 
Clapton is God said:
I was raised from a young child in a very conservative fundamentalist church that wanted everyone there three times a week. They had a "school" where we pledged allegiance to the American Flag, and then a Christian Flag, and then a pledge to the Bible every morning. Yes, it was very annoying.


What was interesting is that the American Flag was permanently displayed on the stage in the sanctuary of the church. I remember many times hearing the pastor discussing Jesus' where he said you can't serve two masters. You will hate the one or love the other, but you cannot serve God and man. This is interesting because on days like the 4th of July, the church would even pledge allegiance to the flag.
In my opinion, Jesus wasn't the master of that congregation.
Click to expand...

I don't agree with the way they did things. But I think when you say Jesus wasn't the master of the congregation, you might be implying they weren't in relationship with God, in which case they aren't even Christians. If that's your implication then I think that would be going a bit far. I would characterize it instead as a Christian congregation with an idolatry problem. Everyone has problems, no one does everything perfectly; for that congregation, the problem they had was one of idolatry.

I would never attend such a church and I question whether they are doing more harm than good. Still, I expect to run into those people in heaven.
 
nota bene said:
What was the third day of the week? Sundays, Wednesdays, and what other day?

Why is "school" in quotes? Was it a "Sunday school" or three-day-a-week religious instruction for children?

I Googled because I'd never heard of making a pledge to the Bible:

These words are attributed to Homer Grice, a Southern Baptist minister who promoted Vacation Bible School through the Baptist Sunday School Board. It dates back to 1924, when he combined the scripture quotes from Psalm 119 into this simple prayer. (Source & Source).

“I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God’s Holy Word, I will make it a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path and will hide its words in my heart that I might not sin against God." Pledge to the Bible

I don't understand why you're asking whether Jesus made a pledge to the Roman government. I really don't understand why you would wonder whether Jesus served His Father. Even if children attend church only once a week, I'm guessing they already know the answers to your "question."
Click to expand...

I said school because it was a school. I did not say Sunday School. It was 5 days a week K-12 literal school like many churches have all around the country. Some are better than others, but many are pure indoctrination centers.
 
WCH said:
King James Bible
And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him.

How soon we forget.
Click to expand...

Caesar was Rome and it's 2,000 years later. We're not discussing taxation. If I were, I would ask you if you believe Thou Shalt Not Steal applies to earthly government? Can majority vote or government action nullify a God-given law? Who is Sovereign? Since most evangelicals agree abortion is wrong because the Bible says Thou Shalt Not Kill. Since the Bible says Thous Shalt Not Steal then taxation that is forced is also a violation of scripture and the "inalienable rights" he gave us to life, liberty, and specifically here property.

Render unto Cesar did not negate what Jesus said about serving God and God alone. Christianity is not "Americanity"
 
Clapton is God said:
I said school because it was a school. I did not say Sunday School. It was 5 days a week K-12 literal school like many churches have all around the country. Some are better than others, but many are pure indoctrination centers.
Click to expand...

I am not a mind-reader; I am a text-reader. You wrote, "I was raised from a young child in a very conservative fundamentalist church that wanted everyone there three times a week. They had a 'school' where we pledged allegiance...." And you put quote marks around "school," which changes the meaning to "not a school."

Besides Sundays and Wednesdays, what was the other day?
 
Clapton is God said:
I was raised from a young child in a very conservative fundamentalist church that wanted everyone there three times a week. They had a "school" where we pledged allegiance to the American Flag, and then a Christian Flag, and then a pledge to the Bible every morning. Yes, it was very annoying.

What was interesting is that the American Flag was permanently displayed on the stage in the sanctuary of the church. I remember many times hearing the pastor discussing Jesus' where he said you can't serve two masters. You will hate the one or love the other, but you cannot serve God and man. This is interesting because on days like the 4th of July, the church would even pledge allegiance to the flag.
In my opinion, Jesus wasn't the master of that congregation.

Did Jesus pledge to the Roman government or did he serve his Father?
Click to expand...

Didn't pay attention to the biblical lessons, obviously.
 
Clapton is God said:
I was raised from a young child in a very conservative fundamentalist church that wanted everyone there three times a week. They had a "school" where we pledged allegiance to the American Flag, and then a Christian Flag, and then a pledge to the Bible every morning. Yes, it was very annoying.

What was interesting is that the American Flag was permanently displayed on the stage in the sanctuary of the church. I remember many times hearing the pastor discussing Jesus' where he said you can't serve two masters. You will hate the one or love the other, but you cannot serve God and man. This is interesting because on days like the 4th of July, the church would even pledge allegiance to the flag.
In my opinion, Jesus wasn't the master of that congregation.

Did Jesus pledge to the Roman government or did he serve his Father?
Click to expand...

Well, that's easy. Everything I've been taught about Jesus tells me his allegiance was to his father. Personally, I don't think he gave much thought to "the state." Pledging allegiance to the flag is not mutually exclusive. One can have loyalty to one's country without AT ALL sacrificing one's allegiance to the Holy Trinity.
 
nota bene said:
I am not a mind-reader; I am a text-reader. You wrote, "I was raised from a young child in a very conservative fundamentalist church that wanted everyone there three times a week. They had a 'school' where we pledged allegiance...." And you put quote marks around "school," which changes the meaning to "not a school."

Besides Sundays and Wednesdays, what was the other day?
Click to expand...

Sunday Morning, Sunday Night, and Wednesday night like most Southern Baptists, Missionary Baptist, Independent Baptist, Primitive Baptists, etc...
 
MaggieD said:
Well, that's easy. Everything I've been taught about Jesus tells me his allegiance was to his father. Personally, I don't think he gave much thought to "the state." Pledging allegiance to the flag is not mutually exclusive. One can have loyalty to one's country without AT ALL sacrificing one's allegiance to the Holy Trinity.
Click to expand...

"Cause you don't count the dead when God's on your side"-Bob Dylan
 
Clapton is God said:
Sunday Morning, Sunday Night, and Wednesday night like most Southern Baptists, Missionary Baptist, Independent Baptist, Primitive Baptists, etc...
Click to expand...

Oh! That's not three days; that's two.
 
Clapton is God said:
I was raised from a young child in a very conservative fundamentalist church that wanted everyone there three times a week. They had a "school" where we pledged allegiance to the American Flag, and then a Christian Flag, and then a pledge to the Bible every morning. Yes, it was very annoying.

What was interesting is that the American Flag was permanently displayed on the stage in the sanctuary of the church. I remember many times hearing the pastor discussing Jesus' where he said you can't serve two masters. You will hate the one or love the other, but you cannot serve God and man. This is interesting because on days like the 4th of July, the church would even pledge allegiance to the flag.
In my opinion, Jesus wasn't the master of that congregation.

Did Jesus pledge to the Roman government or did he serve his Father?
Click to expand...

Why is school in quotes?
 
Clapton is God said:
I said school because it was a school. I did not say Sunday School. It was 5 days a week K-12 literal school like many churches have all around the country. Some are better than others, but many are pure indoctrination centers.
Click to expand...

... and it was in quotes. Why?
 
Bodhisattva said:
... and it was in quotes. Why?
Click to expand...

The reason it was in quotes is that I believe there is a distinction between education and indoctrination. The purpose of that school was indoctrination and not so much education. Even in theology they would just tell you "this is what the Bible means" without any education on theological schools of thought that see it differently.There's a profound difference between telling children what to think and how to think! They wouldn't even let us read certain Shakespeare plays in English class such as MacBeth because certain characters were witches and witchcraft is satanic.
It was structured in a very authoritarian fashion with almost all authority concentrated in the pastor. The school was under his control and say as well. Even his personal political opinions that supported George W. Bush or anything else expressed in church was essentially taught without distinction from bible. The very rare church member who disagreed with the invasion of Iraq had to be shunned for disagreeing with the man of God-aka the pastor.
 
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