It saddens and disappoints me to witness any form of disrespect towards our flag. Whether it’s individuals burning the flag, wearing it as clothing, or refusing to stand during the allegiance to the American flag, it is disheartening. From a young age, even Boy Scouts are instilled with the importance of treating the flag with the utmost respect.
The US flag, the one that many have fought and died for so that we could have the freedom to speak our minds and protest against injustice. A flag that has been carried through heavy battle in wars to the top of hills and mountains. It was 1863 when the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, the first African-American regiment, who carried our flag to glory. It was Sergeant William Harvey Carney who was awarded the Medal of Honor for grabbing the U.S. flag as the flag bearer fell, carrying the flag to the enemy ramparts and back, and singing “Boys, the old flag never touched the ground!” Their story was later told in the movie “Glory”. Those were true patriotic days.
Fall is here. A much-anticipated time for families and friends to cheer on their football team. Instead we are seeing players, coaches, and owners insulting our flag by kneeling and not standing. The flag represents our country; a country that gives football players the opportunity to earn staggering amounts of money. The national anthem gives everyone the opportunity to stand up, feel unified, and show respect for our country. These players have clearly displayed a lack of respect and gratitude for this country. Many Americans are hurt and angry, especially for those families whose loved ones were killed while fighting for American freedom.
Not only did the football players disrespect our flag and country, but they did not abide by the NFL rules. “During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking,” the NFL rules state. “The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.” What does the NFL do? They let off all 200 players with no discipline.
So here we are again, observing the seeds of discord and disunity being sown and played out on national TV and the media adds fuel to the fire. You may never like any American President but you can still love your country. You can be light in this dark world. You can be a role model for the younger generation because they are watching.
Who is really behind all this hate?
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy”, John 10:10.
Satan is real and all of his demonic angels are real. Frankly, Satan loves seeing division, strife and watching us devolve into hating each other. Satan enjoys destroying friendships, marriages, teams, businesses, countries, the NFL, your life.
What is the kneeling really all about?
After Colin Kaepernick took a knee and explained that “he was protesting the oppression of blacks”. He was bringing awareness to millions of people. Perhaps there is some truth but is it an epidemic, widespread?
Protesting
If only these football players could protest real tragedies. In the US, every day an average of 900 innocent black babies are killed and since 1973, over 16 million black babies have been killed. (www.blackgenocide.org). How about protesting the slaughtering of babies in the womb, sex trafficking, or slavery of children?
But I digress, and so did the football players. We thank you for bringing an awareness to issues you are concerned about, but the real issue is, when you do not stand for the national anthem, you are, by definition, disrespecting the flag. An NFL game is not the time or the place to protest anything; it’s a football game. Let’s just play ball. Today, on Thursday night football, they did just that. They stood. They didn’t look patriotic but at least they stood.
How are Christians to respond to all the emotional madness?
Christians have a pretty high calling, to love one another. Jesus gave us a command,
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35.
We are also called to be peacemakers.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9
Love and peace is not just a hippie slogan, it’s what God wants to see from His children.
Has anyone taken a knee for God? Tim Tebow has dropped to one knee on the football field as he took a moment to pray to our Creator, yet everyone made fun of him. It’s an upside-down world when people applaud those who break the rules and mock those who give God glory.
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil”, Isaiah 5:20
I would love to see all the players kneel on both knees during the national anthem and spend their energy praying for this country instead of despising it. I believe there is hope ahead for America.
There is a day coming when everyone on this planet will take a knee, not in protest but in submission.
“At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:10-11.
It is that day my friend, we should all be ready for.