Tomorrow, many Americans will enjoy a day meant to celebrate the United States’ founding. Some will fly American flags to salute the sacrifices made in forming this union. Others will denounce this idea—though most while enjoying a day of leisure.
We each have a unique story about what the Stars and Stripes mean to us. At this middle stage in life, I’m drawn toward the sacrifices this symbol represents. So, following in the footsteps of my very patriotic father, tomorrow I’ll gladly fly the flag representing the country into which I was privileged to be born.
I don’t have to like everything about America to appreciate this celebration. We’re a country that has sadly embraced such tragedies as abortion-on-demand, after all, and our moral integrity is fast eroding.
No, honoring our country on this day doesn’t mean agreeing on everything that happens within it. But it’s important to pause to celebrate our blessings, and July 4 is a day to acknowledge the good, despite our failings.
All of last month, a colorful flag waved everywhere we looked; one representing a segment of our country that claims the rainbow as their signature emblem. In contrast, we get only a day to honor the flag representing the pursuit of “liberty and justice for all.”
It begs the question: To which do we owe our steadfast loyalty: rainbow or American? Which has true unity at its core? The one focusing on a portion of citizens or that which honors all under its banner?
Ironically, the United States government showed its preference by holding the rainbow flag central, above our own country’s flag, at a White House celebration. Those opposing this inversion of allegiance are called hateful. But honor by coercion is false.
The American flag emerged as a symbol to celebrate freedom, including the freedom to speak truth without fear and practice religion freely, abiding by our God-given consciences. These rights, and others, were meant for every citizen of our great country, not just some.
The rainbow flag also represents a distortion of the original Biblical symbol of the rainbow signifying the covenant of love between God and man. Love should be central in our lives, a driving force. We’re obligated as Christians to love all people, mirroring God’s love for us. But we’re not obligated to genuflect to anyone but God.
Additionally, the rainbow flag has been used to promote sexual aberrations and untruths, such as unquestioning adherence to the transgender movement. Mary Rice Hasson, attorney and policy expert, noted in a talk that the promise of changing people’s sex through surgery and hormone drugs is deceitful; only the outside appearance changes, with permanent destruction of the body’s natural sexual function resulting.
Nevertheless, despite the flaws of the rainbow flag, we can, and should, show love toward the souls held captive by its lies. And despite our country’s flaws, we can, and should, honor our American flag, embracing the idea of freedom for which we all yearn, and God alone fulfills.
[For the sake of having a repository for my newspaper columns and articles, I reprint them here, with permission, a week after their run date. The preceding ran in The Forum newspaper on July 3, 2023.]
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