Appropriateness of Flag Lifting in Church Worship
The practice of lifting flags in Christian worship is not explicitly addressed in the New Testament, but various biblical passages and theological traditions offer insights into the use of symbolic gestures and objects in religious contexts. The Old Testament describes flags or banners (Hebrew: nes) being lifted as signals or rallying points, such as in Isaiah 13:2, where a flag is raised on a mountain, or Isaiah 5:26, where it signals a distant nation [1, 3]. Isaiah 18:3 also speaks of a flag lifted on mountains as a sign for all peoples [2]. These instances primarily denote communication or assembly rather than worship.
In Christian theology, the appropriateness of physical symbols and gestures in worship is often considered in light of their meaning and potential to distract or edify. John Calvin, a prominent Reformed theologian, emphasized that ceremonies should be "of some use for instruction or admonition" and criticized "pictorial" exhibitions that are "only fitted for amusement" [9]. He also noted that the lifting of hands in prayer is a ceremony designed to remind believers that their thoughts should rise upward to God, signifying a removal from earthly cares [6]. This gesture, for Calvin, is a "sign instead of the reality," where "pure hands" express a "pure heart" [4]. Similarly, John Gill, a Baptist commentator, observed that lifting hands is a gesture used in swearing, with both hands signifying greater solemnity [5]. Augustine, in his exposition on the Psalms, also interprets the phrase "exalt ye your hands unto holy places" as belonging to "a more exceeding honour" [11].
Catholic tradition, as articulated by Thomas Aquinas, views the Church's ordinances and rites, including the imposition of hands in sacraments like Confirmation and Holy Orders, as "directed by the wisdom of Christ" and therefore appropriate [7, 8]. These actions signify "some abundant effect of grace" [7]. However, Aquinas also notes that miraculous apparitions in the sacrament, such as flesh or blood, can sometimes be "on the part of the beholders" rather than a change in the sacrament itself [10].
The Augsburg Confession, a Lutheran statement of faith, allows for the keeping of "such ordinances for the sake of love and tranquillity," provided that "consciences be not burdened to think that they are necessary to salvation" [12]. This perspective suggests that practices not explicitly commanded in Scripture may be observed for order and peace, but without imposing them as requirements for salvation.
While the Bible mentions flags as signals, it does not prescribe their use in New Covenant worship. The focus in Christian worship traditions tends to be on the spiritual disposition of the worshiper and the symbolic meaning of actions, rather than the objects themselves.
Sources
- Isaiah “Isaiah 13:2 (BBE) — Put up a flag on a clear mountain-top, make a loud outcry to them, give directions with the hand, so that they may go into the doors of the great ones.”
- Isaiah “Isaiah 18:3 (BBE) — All you peoples of the world, and you who are living on the earth, when a flag is lifted up on the mountains, give attention; and when the horn is sounded, give ear.”
- Isaiah “Isaiah 5:26 (BBE) — And he will let a flag be lifted up as a sign to a far-off nation, whistling to them from the ends of the earth: and they will come quickly and suddenly.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 11.2: their Father; and in Christ is now fulfilled what Malachi had foretold, that not only in Judea, but throughout the whole world, pure sacrifices are offered. ( Malachi 1:11 .) Lifting up pure hands As if he had said, “Provided that it be accompanied by a good conscience, there will be nothing to prevent all the nations from calling upon God everywhere. But he has employed the sign instead of the reality, for “pure hands” are the expressions of a pure heart; just as, on the contrary, Isaiah rebukes the Jews for lifting up “bloody ”
- Daniel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Daniel 12:7: And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river,.... Christ, as he appeared in a human form, and as the High Priest our profession, and as the Mediator that has power over all flesh; so he pronounced articulate sounds with a human voice, and so loud, clear, and distinct, that Daniel could hear every word he said, and for whose sake it was said: when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven; the lifting up of the right hand is a gesture used in swearing, and the lifting up of both hands is either for the greater solemnity o”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: themselves for prayer but those who are so impressed with the majesty of God that they engage in it free from all earthly cares and affections. The ceremony of lifting up our hands in prayer is designed to remind us that we are far removed from God, unless our thoughts rise upward: as it is said in the psalm, “Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul,” ( Psalm 25:1 ). And Scripture repeatedly uses the expression to raise our prayer , meaning that those who would be heard by God must not grovel in the mire. The sum is, that the more ”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Sacrament of Penance, Art. 4: Article: Whether the imposition of the priest's hands is necessary for this sacrament? I answer that, In the sacraments of the Church the imposition of hands is made, to signify some abundant effect of grace, through those on whom the hands are laid being, as it were, united to the ministers in whom grace should be plentiful. Wherefore an imposition of hands is made in the sacrament of Confirmation, wherein the fulness of the Holy Ghost is conferred; and in the sacrament of order, wherein is bestowed a ce”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Sacrament of Confirmation, Art. 12: Article: Whether the rite of this sacrament is appropriate? I answer that, Our Lord promised His faithful (Mt. 18:20) saying: "Where there are two or three gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." And therefore we must hold firmly that the Church's ordinations are directed by the wisdom of Christ. And for this reason we must look upon it as certain that the rite observed by the Church, in this and the other sacraments, is appropriate. On the contrary: On the contrary, Is the u”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 27: of events, and pictorial, which merely exhibit bodily shapes and figures. The former are of some use for instruction or admonition. The latter, so far as I can see, are only fitted for amusement. And yet it is certain, that the latter are almost the only kind which have hitherto been exhibited in churches. Hence we may infer, that the exhibition was not the result of judicious selection, but of a foolish and inconsiderate longing. I say nothing as to the improper and unbecoming form in which they are presented, or the wanton licens”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Way in Which Christ Is in This Sacrament, Art. 8: Article: Whether Christ's body is truly there when flesh or a child appears miraculously in this sacrament? I answer that, Such apparition comes about in two ways, when occasionally in this sacrament flesh, or blood, or a child, is seen. Sometimes it happens on the part of the beholders, whose eyes are so affected as if they outwardly saw flesh, or blood, or a child, while no change takes place in the sacrament. And this seems to happen when to one person it is seen under the species o”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM LXXII.(10) (part 9): no more: but by "be exalted," only that it is raised to a higher place. Which indeed when it is put in a bad sense is wont to signify pride: as is the passage, "In thy wisdom be not exalted."(1) But in a good sense it belongeth to a more exceeding honour, as, for instance, when anything is being raised; as is, "In the nights exalt ye your hands unto holy places, and bless ye the Lord."(2) Here then if we have understood the expression, "be removed," what will be, "until the moon be removed," but that it be so dealt with”
- Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), 55 It is proper that the churches should keep such ordinances for: 55 It is proper that the churches should keep such ordinances for the sake of love and tranquillity, so far that one do not offend another, that all things be done in the churches in order, and without confusion, 1 Cor. 14:40; comp. Phil. 2:14 . 56 but so that consciences be not burdened to think that they are necessary to salvation, or to judge that they sin when they break them without offense to others; as no one will say that a woman sins who goes out in public with her head uncovered p”