Once again, Bruce Prescott alerted me to the following:
DeLand pastor gets threats after removing U.S. flag from church
A local church pastor who removed the U.S. flag from the church sanctuary has taken a leave of absence after receiving harassing and threatening notes — including one left in his hymnbook in the church, police and church officials said.
An investigation is ongoing into at least three notes sent to Rev. Sean Oliver Allen of First Baptist Church of DeLand, 725 N. Woodland Blvd., said DeLand police Lt. Pete Moon.
“We are looking at it criminally and working to determine if there is any criminal intent behind the letters,” Moon said.
Rev. Allen consulted with church elders and decided to take a four-week leave after receiving the latest note in the mailbox of his DeLand home on May 1, said Education Pastor John Long.
The note said, “Resign this Sunday or else,” according to a DeLand police report.
Here’s what I did…I wrote the following letter and sent it to ministers in the area:
I recently read an article about pastor Sean Allen of First Baptist Church of DeLand that stated that he had received threats for removing the American Flag and the Christian flag from the church sanctuary. Whether or not you agree with what Rev. Allen did, it would be a nice gesture for you to support him during this difficult time.
As an ordained Southern Baptist minister it pains me to see my brother being threatened. I’ve sent him an encouraging email. However, I think that you have a tremendous opportunity to show support to your brother in Christ. I humbly offer a few suggestions for you.
First, mention this in Sunday’s sermon. Condemn the un-Christian attitude of a person that would issue an anonymous threat. Challenge your congregation to pray for Rev. Allen and the person(s) who threatened him. Pray for his congregation that they would seek to glorify Christ in all they do.
Next, consider an act of solidarity. The article clearly states why Allen chose to remove the flags. Any reasonable person could see why one might see having an American flag in a sanctuary could send a wrong signal. A Christian’s ultimate allegiance should be to Christ, not a country. Allen’s brave act should be honored. Christ’s obedience also resulted in persecution. This could be an opportunity to show that following Christ is not easy, and that doing the right thing sometimes is costly.
I appreciate you taking the time to read and consider my suggestions. May God continue to bless your ministry.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Let’s see how they respond!
Once again, 
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