[Elationist]

I know this might go in the political thread but it ends up being a theological one as well. So here goes:

The Houston Chronicle (newspaper online) has the news best presented on this.

A Principal in Houston TX is under debate for flying the Mexican flag over his public "high school" and Christian's and non alike are both debating this issue heavily today. This has got my gears going! I am not sure what stand to take and why I should.

As citizens of the United States...as Christian citizens of the world...as a Texan...I find myself wanting more intuitive thought and that made me think of you guys and gals!

Thoughts? Should the principal be charged or addressed in any way? Is this a ridiculous thing to be so adamant over as many in the press (secular and Christian) are? Should he be only reprimanded or be counseled?

What if the principal were to fly the Iranian flag or the Israeli flag? Being that predominantly the population in the school are Mexican, this [Principal was making a political statement and or a statement of homage and patriotism. But not to the U.S? To Mexico?

Now why does it enter the theological stand? I knew you would ask!
Note: Because what about a Christian school, publicly funded)..yes they exist (Government is into grants and "faith based initiatives" currently )...what about flying the Christian flag? What about Islamic schools (and there are dozens even here in TX alone) flying the flag of Islam? Do these two things have anything in common? Is one issue one of patriotism to country and the other patriotism to faith? Are they linked?

Well, we knew it would happen eventually, but what should we as Christians do? Help me with this one. Thank you and I look forward to your responses.

Here's an article on the specific Houston-TX School situation in question.

P.S. Also: Somewhat conservative newsmax.com article. This is extra but not specifically on the above issue.

[Insane Drummer]

There is quite a diference in flying a Christan flag at a Christian school and flying a Mexican flag at an American school.

Christian at Christian
Mexican at American

The flag represents the Mexican nation. Flying another nation's flag at one of our schools is just a little strange if you ask me.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Elationist

I know this might go in the political thread

Wh sh

(I couldn't decide if I should put this here or Current Events....move as necessary)

[Elationist]

more people...will most likely ignore it here and it ususally turns into anti-Bush or something pathetic but thanks anyhow.

Hopefully not. This debate is theological as well especially because (I am Christian, it involves my family and friends directly, my country directly, I am in TX, in the talk-media live 5 days a week, front page things like this are on the table) yeah I am right smack down in the middle of it and need Christian perspectives mainly not governmental perspectives mainly. That's why I chose the thoelogy thread. But let's see how this goes in here.

I am excited about learning more on this.

[Insane Drummer]

I don't really see how there is a "Christian" opinion on the matter. There doesn't seem, to me, to be anything Christian about the topic.

[Elationist]

InsaneDrummer said:

There is quite a diference in flying a Christan flag at a Christian school and flying a Mexican flag at an American school.

Christian at Christian
Mexican at American

The flag represents the Mexican nation. Flying another nation's flag at one of our schools is just a little strange if you ask me.

Yeah that it is. The Christian flag represents the Body of Christian Nation. It has the cross on it so we're sure to hear much more about this in the nearby following days.

Thank you for sharing that and thanks for your opinion too about it not having anything to do with Christian perspective. What specific perspective do you believe would be best to address this matter?

[JerryLove]

A private school is welcome to fly whatever flag it likes. It's the porogative of the schools owners.

I think it is inappropriate of a public school to fly the flag of the origin nation of some students and not others as a matter of course.

I think it is extremely inappropriate for a publicly funded school to fly a foreign nation's flag (again as a matter of course) above their State flag.

The aside comment about making a student remove paint for American and Mexican flags: I think the students should have the right to have any flag they choose; though paining flags on their faces in general is not always appropriate.

Yeah that it is. The Christian flag represents the Body of Christian Nation. It has the cross on it so we're sure to hear much more about this in the nearby following days.

I thought the Bible had Jesus pretty opposed to a physical kingdom on Earth.

[FTS]

Originally Posted by Elationist

Because what about a Christian school, publicly funded...what about flying the Christian flag? What about Islamic schools flying the flag of Islam? Do these two things have anything in common?

No, it's as Insane Drummer explained

Is one issue one of patriotism to country and the other patriotism to faith?

Not really, it's just a matter of reason

Are they linked?

Not that I can see, unless a public school, claiming no religion, decided to put up a flag of a religious nature.

Well, we knew it would happen eventually, but what should we as Christians do? Help me with this one. Thank you and I look forward to your responses.

Christians should keep the faith?

[jfahler03]

The entire debate (the immigrant situation) seems to stem out of the government's ignorance, citizens' inflamed nativism, and a economic globalization that is spinning out of control.

That said, I would support the principal. The folks surrounding him seem extremely... worried about the issue to the point that they're apparently worried about trivial things. Like a bunch of children will openly revolt.

Regarding this thread, first of all I don't know what it has to do with theology except for Matthew 25:35-40. Other than that, the Bible is pretty mute regarding flying banners of another nation or making government policy on illegal aliens. Considering the fact that it's (Matt. 25:35-40) cut and dried coming from Jesus' lips, I don't understand any need for debate or discussion, other than the fact that we as Christians fail miserably at this in so many ways (myself included).

And as far as government, I only see the thin connection between government and the public school system. I don't think it belongs here... off to Current Events.

[Elationist]

Thank you.

Jfahler3 said:

Regarding this thread, first of all I don't know what it has to do with theology except for Matthew 25:35-40. Other than that, the Bible is pretty mute regarding flying banners of another nation or making government policy on illegal aliens. Considering the fact that it's (Matt. 25:35-40) cut and dried coming from Jesus' lips, I don't understand any need for debate or discussion, other than the fact that we as Christians fail miserably at this in so many ways (myself included).

Yeah--What doesn't concern the church? What should we not be involved in? We are dual citizens and most of all people, we are "salt and light".

We should be change agents in the society and not merely changed by the society or among it...correct? We aren't what some may consider the Sleeping Giant. We are active in the politics and government very much so.

Since I am in the Christian Talk Radio Media every weeknight and I am Christian, it applies to me directly because of locality and nationality as well as many others out here in the U.S. Not only there, but people call in and talk about it and that's mostly why I want to know more on how to react to this from the Christian perspective. I am teachable and continually learning from nearly everyone here.

However, I see your point. I also would like to say that this kind of thing leads to other things we must be aware of. When rights are expressed, added or taken away in any form, religious freedom is on the list as "to go" in this country and around the world.

I believe alot of what is discussed is a waste but something's are very much worth discussion. Thank you very much for your response and opinion. I am taking everyone's comments here into account.

Wow! ...on the Move. Thanks for moving this around in context of the evolution of the discussion.

[Elationist]

JerryLove said:

A private school is welcome to fly whatever flag it likes. It's the porogative of the schools owners.

I think it is inappropriate of a public school to fly the flag of the origin nation of some students and not others as a matter of course.

I think it is extremely inappropriate for a publicly funded school to fly a foreign nation's flag (again as a matter of course) above their State flag.

The aside comment about making a student remove paint for American and Mexican flags: I think the students should have the right to have any flag they choose; though paining flags on their faces in general is not always appropriate.

Excellent! Thank you for this. I can see the wisdom in this and how its not cold-necessary to only have Christian's talking about it.

I (Elationist) said:

Yeah that it is. The Christian flag represents the Body of Christian Nation. It has the cross on it so we're sure to hear much more about this in the nearby following days.

JerryLove said:

I thought the Bible had Jesus pretty opposed to a physical kingdom on Earth.

Good point. Yeah, He has however chosen man to make this heavenly nation with. So for now from Earth's (also Heaven's) persceptive, Christian's everywhere and throughout the ages make a Christian Nation.

Christian's are taught in Scripture to be a Holy Nation.
1 Peter 2:9 (KJV) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

With that said: Many Christian's and non-Christian's alike all over the world acknowledge the Christian flag to represent what it represents--Christianity... ...and there are many others in Christianity who simply do not acknowledge the same flag to have anything with their patirotism to Christ or Christianity. In other words to some people in Christianity it is a sacred symbol and beautiful thing to raise and fly ; whereas to others it is perhaps only some flag with little meaning if any acknowledgement at all.

[Elationist]

I asked:

Are they linked?

Kepa said:

Not that I can see, unless a public school, claiming no religion, decided to put up a flag of a religious nature.

Yeah, being that this country was founded on Christian-Judeo ethics, it would be crazy to see our public schools flying the flag of Islam or something other than perhaps a Christian flag.

With that said, it would be crazy to even see the Christian flag flying higher than the State flag or Country flag [Ole' Glory]. In many instances it would be crazy to see the Christian flag flying in any public setting.

Well, we knew it would happen eventually, but what should we as Christians do? Help me with this one. Thank you and I look forward to your responses.

Kepa responded:

Christians should keep the faith?

This thread started out in the Christian Theology-Thread addressed to Christian's for their advice as how a Christian should deal with this; and it has migrated from there to Government-thread to Current Events-thread. So the context keeps altering with the flow. And so has my analysis because with both Christian and Non-Christian alike, I am receiving a much better value on the matter. Thank you for your reponse Kepa. Speaking of globalization!

[JerryLove]

Yeah, being that this country was founded on Christian-Judeo ethics, it would be crazy to see our public schools flying the flag of Islam or something other than perhaps a Christian flag.

I fear I cannot agree with either point.

1. Our government stands out from it's predecessors (Sweeden, England, etc) in the fact that it is as secularly founded as it is. While my statement is more true of the Fed than each state (their level of theism when writing their constitutions seems to have varied), I don't see that much in the way of peculiarly Christian ethics are repeated.

2. Islam has the same ethics as Judaism. Whether Christianity has the same as the two of them depends on the Christian.

That said, I'll shut up now before I hijack the topic

[Grasshopper359]

I don't see how there's anything to debate. If it's a public school, then they fly the flag of the nation to which the system belongs. If the school has a Christian / Jewish / Islamic theme but is funded by public money, then I suppose that it's between the school administration and the boards that fund them to decide which flag to fly. I really don't see how there's anything theological about it.

[Elationist]

JerryLove said:

I fear I cannot agree with either point.

I knew you wouldn't but that's the way it is. And, I knew if I said this also you wouldn't agree. But thanks for your insight and point of view. Very wise.