Does anyone know the origins of the christian flag? ie who is attributed to making it,how it came into existance? this is for my daughters show and tell project for school thanks in advance for any help anyone can be.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2000

Answers

Well, just off the top of my head:

This flag, like an unplanned baby, was born into the Christian fellowship 103 years ago, where open arms gave it a loving welcome. Today, it is no longer an infant. Some 244,000 churches display one or more Christian flags in their sanctuaries and classrooms.

THE BIRTH OF THE CHRISTIAN FLAG 103 YEARS AGO
The featured speaker failed to arrive for the Sunday School Rally in a Coney Island Chapel in 1897, and - the Christian flag was born: Like so many of the great and memorable things of history, a Christian flag was not contemplated or predesigned. A fortuitous happenstance gave it birth. The Sunday School was holding an old- fashioned Rally Day of the kind which was so much the custom in years past. For this occasion, a favored speaker had been engaged, but for some reason undisclosed did not show up. Superintendent Charles C. Overton, in the emergency, called upon his own gifts of innovation to fill in the time. An American flag lay there across the pulpit. Overton addressed his words to the flag and its symbolism. Then like a flash came the thought, why not also a Christian flag? His impromptu but constructive ad-libbing was to produce a verbal picture of what is today, and for the past hundred years has been, the Christian flag.

Today the Christian flag is one of the oldest unchanged flags in the world. It was conceived at Brighton Chapel, Coney Island, New York, Sunday, September 26, 1897, and was presented in its present form the following Sunday by its originator. Call it chance, or providence, serendipity, or the plan of God. On that day, the Christian flag was born.

Here's the link

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2000

Duane thats a great story,thanks,and thanks for the link too.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

Here's a question ... do you think it is proper, when using both the Christina flag and the American flag, to give the American flag the place of honor over the Christian flag ... when they are used together in a worship center?

I'm as patriotic as the next guy ... maybe more ... but I worry when we put anything in a place of honor over our Christianity.

And yes, I understand the flag is just a symbol ... and not the focus of our devotion to God and His Son Jesus Christ. I'm just posing the question for some discussion.

Darrell H Combs

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2000

Darrell:

Though, I am not one that has very much interest in anything like a "Christian Flag" since His "Banner over us is love" and we do not use any such symbol in our assemblies. I know that you and I both served in the U. S. Navy. If you will remember on Sundays the only flag that flew above the U. S. Flag on board ship was the "church flag" and we had "silence about the deck". It seems to me, that if even the military gives precedence over that flag on the Lord's day the Christians who see using such a symbol in their asemblies (though I am not convinced that they should)ought to have at least as much regard for what they consider a symbol of God's Kingdom as does the wordly military. Doesn't that make sense?

Your Brother in CHrist,

E. Lee Saffold

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2000

Darrell,

We had this disscusion at Christian camp when we were told that the American flag was to fly "above" the Christian flag.

My opinion is that we are said to be, "One nation under God"... seems to me the Christian flag should have presidence "over" the American flag. If it were not for Christ, what good would the American flag be?

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2000

When I was in the military, the Christian flag always was higher than the American flag. In chapels, the Christian flag was always taller than the American flag. I think, Marc, that someone was mistaken at that camp. Since our government plainly practices that the Christian flag should be above the national flag, that then should be the accepted practice everywhere in this country. I know its hard to argue with someone set in their ways (I have no doubt they "always did it that way"). This guidance I know is in an Army regulation. I wouldn't doubt it is in the Boy Scout handbook too, it a less military source is required. Maybe from American Legion or someplace like that?

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2000

Check out the American Legion 'Flag Code' at: http://www.legion.org/flagcode.htm

Here are a couple of pieces:

(c) No other flag or pennant should be placed above, or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy.

....

When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2000

I used to insist that we display the Christian Flag in the "superior" position; but visitors, as well as some members, thought that we were either ignorant or disrespectful about the proper place for the American flag. For many, it just means the "proper" place and not necessarily a matter of priority of allegiance.

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2000