I was at a predominantly white church Sunday and I have questions.

[iceberg_is_on_fire]

Foreword. I'm not doing this to be incendiary in this post, regardless of my own personal thoughts on religious. This is simply a question of function and procedure from what I grew up with. That said. I'm black and I grew up in the Baptist church till I disassociated with it. My kids were at a vocational Bible school this past week and they did some cool stuff admittedly and had a performance on Sunday with the kids. That was the hook to get us to stay for the sermon. Ultimately, I don't indoctrinate my kids towards my beliefs and I want them to be to see things for themselves, unfiltered. That said, some stuff was the usual like the collection plate. Nothing moves but the money. I'm with that. The sermon was your usual fare, intertwining the sermon with current events and activities. My concern/issue/whatever is that there were pledges given. To the American flag, to the 'Christian' flag and to the Bible. That made me have a lot of questions as a result as it relates to my level of comfort or whatever. Personally, I've never been down with the pledge to America in the sense that I didn't ask to become an American nor was it something that I earned. Mom and Dad did the nasty and I'm here. I was mostly taken aback by the other two though. Now, my opinion will be ultimately shaped by understanding if this is prevalent in other churches like this but to put or seeming raise Christianity and the Bible in that context, appears to me to unconsciously or consciously, based on intent, that only your religion is deemed correct and others are not to be considered to being on the same plane as yours. If that happens everywhere or in a vast sum of places, then I can understand the vehement opposition to Islam instead of tolerance and/or understanding.

Anyone with any insight to add to this discussion is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Big Brown Areola]

Why do you have a problem with the christian and american flag? Are you a muslim?

 

[Yehuda]

I didn't know there was a Christian flag.

 

[iceberg_is_on_fire]

Why do you have a problem with the christian and american flag? Are you a muslim?

For the sake of this conversation, I would label myself as a deist. I didn't even know there was a flag for 'Christianity' till yesterday and in regards to the American flag, I have no problem with it as a sign of symbolism or whatever. However, the juxtaposition of patriotism and religion makes for strange bedfellows. I simply don't agree with the idea of pledging fealty toward something that I had 0% choice in the matter, in regards to the American flag. Are there benefits to living in America over some other places? Of course there is but that alone should not be a reason for a pledge in my eyes. Going back to the christian flag, like I said, I never heard of this till today. Lastly, how in the world was there an assumption of me following the Islamic faith derived from my comments. I grew up Baptist in a black church, became disillusioned with it and sought out answers that I can reconcile in my head. Hence the reason for labeling myself a deist.

 

[T'krm]

What kind of church was this, and what denomination? I have never heard of a Christian flag, nor pledging to anything, save recitation after communion. That is very odd, and out of the ordinary for even a basic 'white church', then again....

 

[MasterOfAllHeSurveyz]

Is it this flag?

Sounds like Presbyterian (PCA). They are a conservative offshoot of the much larger PCUSA.

I had to go to three different church denominations growing up as my immediate and extended family attended different churches.
Presbyterian (no pledges - the most they did was recognize vets on Memorial day weekend)
Pentecostal Holiness
Baptist - Word of Faith - Full Gospel - Assemblies of God - Non Denominational (my dad's transition of churches)

 

[Black Panther]

I've spoken about this before. I attended a predominately white church for about 11 years before I left.

What questions did you have specifically, OP?

 

[Everythingg]

Foreword. I'm not doing this to be incendiary in this post, regardless of my own personal thoughts on religious. This is simply a question of function and procedure from what I grew up with. That said. I'm black and I grew up in the Baptist church till I disassociated with it. My kids were at a vocational Bible school this past week and they did some cool stuff admittedly and had a performance on Sunday with the kids. That was the hook to get us to stay for the sermon. Ultimately, I don't indoctrinate my kids towards my beliefs and I want them to be to see things for themselves, unfiltered. That said, some stuff was the usual like the collection plate. Nothing moves but the money. I'm with that. The sermon was your usual fare, intertwining the sermon with current events and activities. My concern/issue/whatever is that there were pledges given. To the American flag, to the 'Christian' flag and to the Bible. That made me have a lot of questions as a result as it relates to my level of comfort or whatever. Personally, I've never been down with the pledge to America in the sense that I didn't ask to become an American nor was it something that I earned. Mom and Dad did the nasty and I'm here. I was mostly taken aback by the other two though. Now, my opinion will be ultimately shaped by understanding if this is prevalent in other churches like this but to put or seeming raise Christianity and the Bible in that context, appears to me to unconsciously or consciously, based on intent, that only your religion is deemed correct and others are not to be considered to being on the same plane as yours. If that happens everywhere or in a vast sum of places, then I can understand the vehement opposition to Islam instead of tolerance and/or understanding.

Anyone with any insight to add to this discussion is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Your first mistake was going to a white church to learn about spirituality. All they're doing is playing with toys that do not belong to them. They have no understanding of the text they call holy and their whole religion was simply a tool of colonialism to remove indigenous people from their belief systems and introduce them to "Christianity". Thats where "Dum diverseas" an edict that came from the Pope in 1492, comes from:

"We grant you [Kings of Spain and Portugal] by these present documents, with our Apostolic Authority, full and free permission to invade, search out, capture, and subjugate the Saracens and pagans and any other unbelievers and enemies of Christ wherever they may be, as well as their kingdoms, duchies, counties, principalities, and other property [...] and to reduce their persons into perpetual servitude.["

This is probably why they put the "Christian" flag right next to the American one, though I've never seen that in any church I went to. I also dont see why you're taking your children to places to learn in beliefs that you dont believe in. Its on YOU to raise your children to the best of your ability and give them the best information you can THEN let them decide. If you have actively read through the tenets of Christianity and deem them false/illogical or whatever, why would you subject your children to it?

 

[iceberg_is_on_fire]

I've spoken about this before. I attended a predominately white church for about 11 years before I left.

What questions did you have specifically, OP?

Thanks, when I have some real time, I'll digest and ask questions .

 

[Samson]

The collection plate is normal for all churches, breh.

Monotheistic religions at its core mean that your religion is correct and all others are wrong.

 

[Behind-the-wheel]

Thats the first time I've ever heard of pledging to flags at church service....bizzarre.
All the rest is standard fare.

 

[⠀X ⠀]

Almost every church I've been to (mostly black), has had an American flag in one corner and the Christian flag in the other. I've never seen them pledge allegiance to either. Sounds like some Bible Belt, conservative stuff...

 

[iceberg_is_on_fire]

Almost every church I've been to (mostly black), has had an American flag in one corner and the Christian flag in the other. I've never seen them pledge allegiance to either. Sounds like some Bible Belt, conservative stuff...

I live in northwest Indiana, like 10 minutes from Gary and the pastor is from Missouri.

 

[blaccbeard]

Just the fact that American churches are still self segregated proves how far we aint come at all. Even white Christians, the white people who are supposed to be very best of white people, are still racist af.

 

[Aimé]

only in America