AMERICA – THE FLAG AND THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
Monday – October 2, 2017
There is a great controversy, among many other controversies, swirling in our nation and it centers around whether to honor the American Flag and the National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner. This started last year with Colin Kaepernick, a professional football player, kneeling during the National Anthem. This has persisted and a few days ago President Trump weighed in on the issue in an aggressive and emotional way saying that those players who will not honor the flag and anthem should be fired. This has as one might expect put the controversy in overdrive. This is what Colin Kaepernick said on August 26, 2016 when he knelt during the National Anthem.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
Are there people including police officers who are getting away with murder in America, likely, are there people in America including black people we are being treated unjustly, definitely. None of that is right and none of that is new. However, when there is an instance when a white police officer has shot a black person the outry is vigilante in nature and before all of the facts are known. In a good many of these instances the police officer has had their reputations and careers ruined and when then the justice system has run its course they are found innocent. The ruining of the lives and careers of innocent people is not correct and neither is it new.
These protests are racial in nature once again driving a wedge between black and white. As a Christian reading this who do you suppose the is the author of confusion, chaos, and division? As I proceed let there be no confusion with us that all of this division, associated violent protests, and relentless attacks on all things Christian is of the devil. The forces of evil from before the formation of this republic have been working to bring us down because we are a Christian nation with a firm Christian, Biblical, foundation. Could there be a reason that the police treat black men particularly differently than white men? Might there be a reason that white people react diffently to particularly black men they do not know than white men they do not know? We have allowed the forces of evil to divide us into various communities especially the black, white, and hispanic. Where is the American community, what happened to the melting pot?
When we look at crime statistics we find that the number of violet crimes committed by blacks is about the same as whites however blacks are only 13% of the population whereas non-hispanic whites is 63%. I am told that 70% of black babies are born into a single parent home. It seems there has been a significant deteriation of the “black community or culture”. Why is there even a dissussion of a “black community or culture”? Why have we the Church allowed this devisiveness? We have allowed it because it is just as rampant in the Church with denominationalism and a proliferation of the doctrines of devils. Of course, this deteriation in society could also be defined as increasingly unrestrained wickedness which is occuring across the board in Ameria. Where is the Church?
So, what about these protests in the NFL which is spreading in all directions. Many are framing it as a racial issue, others combine the racial issue with First Amendent rights. There is no question that we all have freedom of speech. The team owners have a right to deal with this as they see fit as private employers. Likewise, the general public and the Church in particular can react to this as they see fit within the law. I think all can agree that America is not perfect, she was not perfect in 1776 and if the Lord tarries she will not be perfect in 2026 but she can be better but only when Christianity prevails, otherwise we are circling the drain. History and Scripture are my confirming witnesses. How America and especially the Church reacts will be very telling. In many regards it will define who our real gods might be. Perhaps we will rationalize that this is their right and way of protesting what the protestors see as “social injustice” and attending the games and watching on TV really has nothing to do with me. Really? This puts us, Christians, in the position of de facto support of these protests which perhaps do deserve some attention but they, the protests, are being carried out in a way that disrespects America and all the good that America represents. The flag of these United States stands for all that is good about America. Over the last two-hundred and forty-one years much blood and sacrifice has been shed to advance the good of all peoples under that banner. If we were to point to the one group that has advanced the most under that banner it would be black peoples. This is not to say that work does not remain but that work must start with a return to the God and Covenant of our fathers. I do not believe the Church should be associated with these protests in any way so long as they are associated with a perverse blasphemy of our flag and national anthem. The American flag with fifty stars, six white stripes, and seven red strips has God and the Cross written all over it.
Acts 10:34-35 (KJV)
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
The word “race” above also means race. Let us continue to pray for all peoples to awaken to the need to honor, serve God, and promote His purposes which brings harmony and peace. Our Father is not a respecter of persons and we must not be either.
1 Peter 2:13-17 (KJV)
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
BLOG: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org
NEW MAILING ADDRESS: 10 Village Green Circle, Oakland, Maine 04963
