Some churches today use worship flags in their services. These flags are usually waved around by church members or the worship team, and you’ve probably wondered what these flags are used for and why.
What are worship flags and why do people use them? Worship flags are colorful flags usually made of silk that Christians use as a visual and tangible way to worship God. They can be used in church, at Christian concerts, and in interpretive dances, and are meant to serve as a reminder that the Lord is our Banner. They can also be used to declare victory over spiritual warfare and remind believers of God’s closeness and beauty.
God is infinite and His characteristics of beauty, power, and peace are infinite. Since this is true, it’s easy to see how worshipping God with flags that reflect His beauty and creativity is biblical. However, there are some Christians who would say that worship flags should not be used in church.
Viewpoints On Worship Flags
Nowhere in the Bible does God command His people to use worship flags. He does command them, however, to worship Him alone, to sing praises to Him, and to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
If you’re wondering if you should use a worship flag as you worship, ask God to show you the answer as we go through these viewpoints. Ultimately, what God wants in your worship isn’t a flag, it’s your heart.
It’s all about the posture of our hearts during worship, so here are some ways to calculate if using worship flags will help you worship God with your whole heart, or if they’ll get in the way of that.
#1 – Worship Flags Don’t Help Believers Worship God
Some Christians would say that worship flags aren’t appropriate to use since they distract people and cause them to focus on the flag and the person using the flag rather than the True Banner who is God.
If we’re truly focused on God, then we can know that He is all we need. Because of this, worship flags are hindrances to seeing Jesus alone.
Jesus said that no one can come to the Father except through Him, and some Christians would say that this applies to our worship as well.
If all we need is Jesus, then why throw in a mix of confusing flags?
Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’
John 14:6 ESV
It’s true that Jesus is the only way to the Father for our salvation, but that isn’t the case in worship. In worship, God gives us His Holy Spirit and creative outlets to experience His presence, including the use of worship flags.
#2 – Worship Flags Do Help Believers Worship God
Most Christians would say that worship flags do help them worship God.
The Bible doesn’t mention worship flags exactly, but it does reference banners and places of worship, and each time it does, its purpose is to focus our attention on God.
And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner
Exodus 17:15 ESV
Worship flags remind us that the Lord is our Banner and that He is close to us. They also remind us that He is listening and has the power to fulfill all of our petitions that are according to His will.
May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!
Psalm 20:5 ESV
As long as worship flags are used to honor God and glorify Him, then Christians can use them.
They are also a great representation of who God is. They display His beauty, creativity, and the life of His Spirit, which is why many Christians hold to the viewpoint that worship flags do help believers worship God.
#3 – Worship Flags Should Only Be Used For Spiritual Warfare Or According To Color
One of the main purposes of worship flags is to remind us to pray against spiritual darkness and for God’s presence to replace it. Another way worship flags are used is according to their color.
Here’s a list of what some different colors mean and how they’re used as prompts for our prayers:
- Red = The Blood Of Jesus
- Fuchsia = Joy
- Yellow = Glory Of God
- Green = New Life
- Purple = Royalty/God’s Reign And Authority
- Blue = Holy Spirit And Prayer
- Turquoise = Healing
- Orange = Fire Of God And Deliverance
- Gold = God’s Presence And Power
- White = Purity
Because our version of worship flags is directly linked to the war-worship banners of ancient Israel’s day, some Christians believe that worship flags and their specific colors should only be used when praying against spiritual warfare.
This is a legalistic view of worship, however, and there’s nothing in the Bible that tells us to only use worship flags when we’re experiencing spiritual warfare.
All worship is warfare because it invites the Holy Spirit into our earthly spaces and gives God glory where evil used to reign.
Every time we worship we’re making the enemy flee and shrink back, and we’re glorifying the Father through thanking Him and praising Him. This causes the spiritual atmosphere to shift, whether we’re using worship flags or not.
Nonetheless, worship flags are still a great way to be reminded of who God is, His beauty, His creativity, and His presence. This means that whatever color flag we have, it won’t limit our prayers and we can worship God in spirit and in truth no matter what.
But if you think that the Holy Spirit is calling you to make a big deal of worshipping Him through worship flags, then here are the best places to buy those for your next time of worship:
Where You Can Buy Worship Flags
You can’t usually find Worship Flags in stores, so I’ve found three places you can buy worship flags online.
Worship Flags – Amazon
You can buy silk worship flags of all different colors and sizes here on Amazon.
Prices range anywhere from $18 to $130, and their styles include angel wing flags, fan flags, and scarf veil flags.
Worship Flags – Catch The Fire’s Website
Catch the Fire Worship Flags is a site dedicated to elevating praise in the house of the Lord through worship flags.
They have endless styles, colors, and sizes, and prices are around the $100 mark. You can purchase Catch the Fire’s worship flags here at their website.
Worship Flags – Etsy
Etsy is a great place to buy worship flags since they tend to be more unique and less expensive than other sites.
Their prices range anywhere from $17 to $120, and you can find all kinds of different prints and sizes here on Etsy’s website.
Worship Flags Matter
Worship flags matter because they serve as a reminder that the Lord is our Banner.
They matter because they can also be used to declare victory over spiritual warfare and remind believers of God’s closeness and beauty.
They are a great representation of who God is, and as long as believers are worshipping with flags because they want to glorify God, not themselves, then using them is completely fine.
Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
Daniel 2:20
Ultimately, God is after our hearts, not how we worship with flags. Because of this, we can know that we can worship Him and glorify Him full-heartedly, with or without a worship flag.