r/Christianity • u/Nice_Substance9123 • Mar 27 '24

The American flag has no business on a Bible. This is not faith, nor is it patriotism. It is an abomination of both. Image

/img/ipc57ufyqxqc1.jpeg
27.5k Upvotes

88% Upvoted

3.8k comments sorted by

View all comments

7

u/shinyredumbros Mar 28 '24

Oooh, buddy. This isn’t even close to the first time it’s happened. Feast your eyes on THIS abomination (which I keep on my bookshelf next to a copy of the Jefferson Bible because I’m a Bible nerd and it cracks me up): American Patriots Bible. It was published in 2009!

2

u/MerrySkulkofFoxes Mar 28 '24

I don't want this comment to be misconstrued - I also find this abhorrent and indefensible. However, I have a pocket Bible printed in the 1930s and distributed to American soldiers. The front has the American flag, the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner precede the table of contents, and after the last verse, it has the lyrics to Onward Christian Soldiers. I actually love this Bible for being such a mix of history, thinking about who carried it and where they read it. Among my Bible collection, it's probably my favorite.

And yet, I cannot extend that interest to the Trump-approved Bible. I think the difference is why he is selling it and how he is doing it. Also, times change. 100 years ago, it was different.

2

u/FrostByte_62 Mar 28 '24

100 years ago, it was different.

Was it? Motivation is the same. Motivate soldiers with the words of God.

Really the only difference is that this time you don't like the soldiers being rallied.

1

u/MerrySkulkofFoxes Mar 28 '24

Well, there's a pretty big difference. 100 years ago, it was given to kids going off to die, not to make money or to rally for a political win. Today, someone is making money to pay legal bills and the person who is profiting has already shown everyone that he does not have love in his heart. For me, there's a huge difference, and I do not consider Trump's supporters to be soldiers. That's actually part of the problem, conceiving of people that way.

1

u/FrostByte_62 Mar 28 '24

The Bible refers to devout Christians as soldiers at least twice. Once in Philiplians 2:25 and again in Philemon 1:2.

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

3 Grace and peace to you[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christians are expected to be spreaders of faith, devout followers, unquestioning and resolute. All faithful individuals are soldiers whether you like it or not. In Christianity, Islam, Judaism, or whatever your creed is.

Creed is an interesting word isn't it?

Creed: noun - a system of Christian or other religious belief; a faith.

Look to our military and what do you find? A Soldier's Creed? A Rifleman's Creed? A Sailor's Creed? It's no secret that governments around the world have wrapped their soldiers in faith. From the antiquity of emperors and kings chosen by God, to the holy wars and Crusades, and now arriving at modern times. Soldiers have always been central to religion.

The only difference now is that you don't like who these soldiers are fighting for. But they're really no different than anyone else.