Several years ago I began to seriously question things that I had taken for granted or really never thought about. While mostly that involved what the church taught and spiritual matters, it also involved much more mundane ideas. Things I threw out included:
Doctors are always right.
If it is legal it is OK.
If the government has said it is safe it is.
Leave the important stuff up to the experts.
Who am I to question what has been an accepted belief or practice for decades or centuries?
Singing songs that essentially were a lie or made a promise I knew I couldn’t keep.
One of those many things I looked at is the Pledge of Allegiance.
“I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America,
and to the republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.”
What does it mean to pledge?
What is allegiance?
Where should my allegiance lie?
Is it a lie to say “under God” considering our nation?
How does James 5:12 affect the Pledge of Allegiance for me as a Christian?
James 5:12 (ESV) But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
Have you even considered the issue? Or was the post I Pledge Allegiance … the first time you thought about it? So now what are your thoughts?
I have been very blessed to grow up in the United States of America. There is still a reason people all over the world risk their lives to come here. I don’t know of anywhere else that has the abundance of resources, the freedom, the safety or the opportunities we are blessed with in the USA. But our freedom and opportunities have come at a heavy price. Many, many men and women have given their lives to defend our freedom. They and their families are due our respect and honor for the freedom they paid so dearly for.
But does respect and honor require me to Pledge of Allegiance?
First of all what does it mean to pledge?
A pledge is an oath or promise. According to Webster’s “a binding promise or agreement”.
What kind of oath are we making to the flag? to the republic?
Should a believer be making oaths like that?
Are we promising to support the United States no matter what?
Are we pledging to give the United States wholehearted devotion?
What about the Lord?
Does He not demand wholehearted devotion?