The Cross and the Flag

As a pastor, the 4th of July is my least favorite American holiday. It isn't that I'm anti-American. I love being American. But it's so easy to uncritically blend faith and nationalism. The the photo above, taken by my friend, Scott Arany while on vacation in Virginia, says it all. This kind of display of the cross and the flag isn't that unusual in America. But every time I see this kind of, what I would call, syncretism - it gives me the chills.

I don't think it's too much to call it idolatry. At best this kind of image is just confusing and misleading. Thankfully, for the past three years I have been able to totally avoid the mention of the 4th of July in worship. In our church, the story of God takes presidence over the story of America.

Thanks, Scott, for sending this to me and for taking such a beautiful - even haunting - photograph.