Is it proper to display American flags in church?

Many churches in the United States prominently display the national flag. There is nothing explicitly wrong with this. Support of and reasonable pride in one’s home country is good. At the same time, imbalanced emphasis on the American flag may signal unhealthy attitudes. Each individual church should be careful about their motives for highlighting any secular symbol. It’s also good to consider the message sent by a particular display. If the flag is exhibited with biblical intent, in a proper way, and giving the intended message, it’s a valid practice. Nothing in Scripture commands Christians to dissociate from their home country. Nor does the Bible forbid expressing support for one’s nation.

The US flag can become an idol if it’s given undue reverence, especially in a church context. Honoring those to whom honor is due is biblical (Romans 13:7), but pastors and church members should be cautious that a secular symbol of a secular government does not weave itself into their practice of faith. The symbol itself may be good, and what it represents may be valuable, but there must be healthy boundaries. King Hezekiah destroyed a national relic because what should have been a reminder of God’s salvation had become an idol (Numbers 21:8–9; 2 Kings 18:4).

The relationship between Christianity and the United States is both more complex and simpler than some suggest. The essential structure of the US government was developed by men with strong Judeo-Christian convictions. It was meant for a culture that shared that basic worldview and was based on inherently biblical principles. However, US culture has rarely—if ever—been truly obedient to Scripture, even as Christian influence has dominated. American traditions and culture have tended to blend with popular understandings of faith. This was clearly seen in the mid-twentieth century, when the Christian faith was used to distinguish America from Communist rivals. Helping to fuel the Cold War was the opposition of God-fearing Americans to atheistic Soviets. Today, some things commonly associated with Christianity are, in fact, simply American; there is an important difference.

At times, US churches lean heavily into culture when visualizing a life of faith. There can be an underlying assumption that to be American is to be Christian, and the Christian life is the American life. The goal of some churches is molding politics and culture into a Christian image. Few churches would say this directly. Almost none overtly preach this or hold it as actual doctrine. But, if churches are not careful, they can send the message that cultural and political issues are primary and faith is a tool to support certain political preferences. To some unchurched visitors, seeing a Christian flag and a US flag displayed in parallel can raise questions about a church’s true mission.

Each church can decide if and how to display a national flag. Displaying any flag, banner, poster, or symbol in a church should be preceded by asking some questions:

American Christians have many reasons to be thankful for their nation. As compared to many believers in the world, US believers enjoy significant freedom and cultural support. It is perfectly reasonable for believers to appreciate and honor America. That appreciation can include displaying the national flag. This only drifts into idolatry when culture or politics becomes ingrained in one’s faith.