Pastors Fly Christian Flags Above U.S. Flag to Start “God Before Government” Campaign

By Alison Lesley --
15 Jul 2015 --

A North Carolina church flew the Christian flag over the American flag during the Fourth of July weekend as a symbol of greater commitment and service to God than to government.

Reactions to the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage ruling continue to unfold in the United States.

July 5, Pastor Rit Varriale raised the Christian flag above the American flag in front of Elizabeth Baptist Church in Shelby, North Carolina. He told WBTV that Christians need to stand up the same way the LGBT community has done recently. “They have been willing to sacrifice more and be more bold for their cause than the church of Jesus Christ for serving God, and that’s got to change.”

"We will serve God before Government" – Pastor Rit Varriale
— Travis Keef Jackson (@TravisJackson96) July 7, 2015

Now Varriale is hoping to spark a national movement, God Before Government, together with Walter Wilson, a fellow pastor who also raised the Christian flag above the American flag a few months ago in a nearby Focus Missionary Baptist Church.

Varriale has strong words for critics that have already characterized the measures disrespectful and unpatriotic: “I’m willing to give my life for my country. When you think of military motto’s, for example, God and country, God first and then country,” he said. He and Wilson will continue to talk about their cause despite the fact that not everyone is going to agree with it.