US Vice President Mike Pence has received criticism for paraphrasing a scripture to elicit support for the American flag.
Pence was speaking at the Republican National Convention (RNC) when, towards the end of his address, he issued an exhortation from Hebrews 12 - the only issue was that he replaced 'Jesus' with a colloquial term for the American flag, 'Old Glory'.
"So let's run the race marked out for us. Let's fix our eyes on...Old Glory and all she represents," Pence said, as he gazed up to the American flag. "Let's fix our eyes on this land of heroes, and let their courage inspire."
The reactions to Pence's remarks were swift, with many accusing him of twisting scripture.
"Let’s fix our eyes on Old Glory...” is a blatant, intentional nationalist perversion of Christian scriptures. It is not just civil religion. It is idolatry," tweeted Pastor Nate Pyle.
Minister Sammy Rhodes added: "A Christianity in which Old Glory and Jesus are interchangeable is not biblical Christianity."
Not everyone disagreed with Pence's remarks, however. Trump administration faith advisor and commissioner with the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Johnnie Moore, told CBN News: "Pence's speeches are always artfully filled with Biblical references and Biblical allusions. His most famous quote is "I am a Christian first, then a conservative and a Republican - in that order."
Texas Baptist minister and member of Trump's Evangelical Advisory Board and White House Faith Initiative, Dr Robert Jeffress, added on Twitter:
"So grateful for our godly @VP @Mike_Pence and @SecondLady Karen Pence. Tremendous job tonight! Choosing this couple was one of President @realDonaldTrump's wisest decisions!"
