Flag Stewarship : Setting Boundaries for Freedom

A huge part of my work and ministry is sharing my flags with others, That has, on a few occasions led to damage of silk and banners. Sometimes it is because of a spiritual breakthrough and sometimes it is mishandling and even abuse of the flags.

When I received this inquiry, I knew it was time to share this with other flaggers who may have similar situations and also give an answer so we are prepared with an appropriate response when need arises.

Q. “Hi, I have a question for you if that’s OK,
a situation happened at church yesterday, & I wanted your opinion on what to do about it.
At church service yesterday, as I was worshiping with my flags (that I bought from you) one of the prophetic team members went in my bag and handed out some of my XL Quill Flags to the congregation, with out my permission.

Then some other people took it upon themselves to get flags from my bag, probably thinking it’s OK. When I realized what had happened it was toward the end of worship and I saw kids grabbing/tugging on the flags. My white flags are dirty and have shoe prints on them.

My question to you is how should I go about talking to that person about not going in my bag and giving out my flags to people with out sounding mean or controlling about my stuff. I just don’t want to come off sounding bad or greedy, but to me these flags are personal, and they’re expensive.

Not sure how to approach this situation…”

A. ‘I’m so sorry that happened to you! It is a delicate situation to be in and certainly upsetting. I too have watched helplessly as a child abused my flags and even broke them before my eyes. It is not selfish or greedy to steward the worship tools that God has provided for you.

I would probably try to confront the person saying what you told me, the flags are personal and though you would want others to express their worship, some flags are for sharing and congregational use but silk flags are much too delicate for that. It might not be their direct fault, but others followed suit and your flags were damaged. It is important to be a good steward of these things.’

There is a biblical basis for going directly to the person, in love and letting them know they crossed a line and hurt you or damaged your property.

Matthew 18:15-17 ESV

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

-At my home church the congregation has a few dozen silk and lame’ flags for anyone to use, then I bring my selection of flags from home with me. Though I and my girls prefer to have the XL flags in worship most of the time, (as our space allows) we make it a point to have a range of sizes and types of fabric because I MUST share them. It is my ministry and a desire of my heart to see others worship our God with beauty, in Spirit and in Truth.

I do however have guidelines.

-Respecting property is a must. I like to be asked, it shows that they understand these belong to someone.

– Size, skill and age appropriateness. The XL flags do not go to someone who is too short to handle them, and they don’t stay with someone who walks on them regardless of their size. I will also take them away from someone who mistreats them. Small children may only get one flag instead of two. There are a few people who value the flags and safeguard them for me. If a child mistreats a flag, I speak with the parents.

-Special Flags. These flags ARE holy items. Jillian (my 10 yr old seer) says that some flags shine with an anointing light right away and the rest of the flags acquire that shine during worship. God’s glory is literally reflected upon them. They are akin to the tools of the temple, specially crafted for His service.

So, do I with hold certain flags from general use? You bet your sweet Bible I do! There are some flags that are very special to me personally AND there are some that are set apart for ‘such a time as this’ worship which I don’t even use unless the Holy Spirit prompts. Other flags can minister to everyone, by anyone, at almost any time out of the right motivation. It is more about the HEART of the person using the flags than anything else.

Then there is the third category, like the Butterfly Wing design which simply take too much time (and therefore are too expensive) to risk damage to them.

Good stewardship requires boundaries. Be loving and compassionate with your boundaries, but have them. Even if you wish to generally share, if your spirit  or the Holy Spirit gives you a check (or uneasy feeling) then just answer ‘not right now’ or ‘not these ones’ and don’t accept guilt from the enemy. Again, it is more about the HEART of the person using the flags than anything else. Trust that unction of the Spirit.

They DO ‘all belong to the Lord anyway’, but He has given YOU stewardship over them. If there were to be no ownership, then ‘thou shalt not steal’ would not be in the Word at all, but it is. It is your authority and responsibility to care for these worship tools, Do so as unto the Lord’s flags.