The Pledge of Allegiance

[ladiesbballcoach]

Flags are indentifiers. They've been used for over 4,000 years. Long ago, knights carried flags into battle because it was hard to know who the knights were when they were dressed up and covered in armor ready for battle! Flags were important because they helped soldiers tell their friends from their enemies in battle. The Pledge of Allegiance is simply an affirmation of loyalty to one's country and to the symbol of our country.

 

Question, If you refuse to pledge allegiance to the flag, based upon the premise that it is idol worshipry, do you then have no objection to the desecration of the American flag?

 

Honestly, I have an inner battle on the issue. The worldly American has one view and the Christian doesn't have a strong view on it.

 

I would also prefer to say that I pray for this country instead of refusing to say the pledge of allegiance.

[cshs81]

 

I still don't do the patriotic songs during worship .

 

What about "Battle Hymn of the Republic?"

[Incognito]

We all have different convictions that God places on our hearts.

 

Many people consider the sanctuary as sacred. Others feel the 'church' is group of christians regardless of where they choose to worship.

 

What about communion? is it symbolic of Christ's blood and flesh? or do you consider it as worshipping grape juice and unleavened bread?

 

Some christians will not swear on the Bible in a court of law. They use the word 'affirm' instead.

[CoachBuckett]

LBBC, I understand what you are saying.

 

But the pledge says "One Nation Under God"

 

So I don't think I am worshiping a flag, I am saluting the men and women that have died for my freedom. I do not put the flag above God, because I spend more time worshiping the Lord than I do saying the pledge.

[Hatz]

What about "Battle Hymn of the Republic?"

 

On the surface the lyrics seem okay but when you take them into context of the triumphalism they imply for the culture and country then I have an issue in the context of worship. Afterall the very title implies a Crusade like mentality for the Republic of "For God and Country."

 

Besides, in Virginia, southerners don't care too much for Miss Julia's song and Mr. Lincoln's Country.

[Royal Uncle]

I feel that God convicts all people differently. If that is your conviction, I won't argue with you about it. I have never had this conviction. I think God knows pledging allegiance to a flag causes a problem for you, and that is what he has laid on your heart. As long as you don't question the salvation of other Christians that take this pledge, I'm OK with what you feel in your heart.

[kygirl]

I believe Royal Uncle has stated very eloquently my thoughts on The Pledge of Allegiance. I respect those who have died for this country for me its not worshiping. I worship God and only God. I am attaching one story that goes to the core of why I say this pledge.

 

"The Pledge of Allegiance" - by Senator John McCain.

 

As you may know, I spent five and one half years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. In the early years of our imprisonment, the NVA kept us in solitary confinement or two or three to a cell. In 1971 the NVA moved us from these conditions of isolation into large rooms with as many as 30 to 40 men to a room. This was, as you can imagine, a wonderful change and was a direct result of the efforts of millions of Americans on behalf of a few hundred POWs 10,000 miles from home. One of the men who moved into my room was a young man named Mike Christian. Mike came from a small town near Selma, Alabama. He didn't have a pair of shoes until he was 13 years old. At 17, he enlisted in the US Navy. He later earned a commission by going to Officer Training School then he became a Naval Flight Officer and was shot down and captured in 1967. Mike had a keen and deep appreciation of the opportunities this country and our military provide for people who want to work and want to succeed. As part of the change in treatment, the Vietnamese allowed some prisoners to receive packages from home. In some of these packages were handkerchiefs, scarves and other items of clothing. Mike got himself a bamboo needle. Over a period of a couple of months, he created an American flag and sewed on the inside of his shirt. Every afternoon, before we had a bowl of soup, we would hang Mike's shirt on the wall of the cell and say the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

I know the Pledge of Allegiance may not seem the most important part of our day now, but I can assure you that in that stark cell it was indeed the most important and meaningful event.

 

One day the Vietnamese searched our cell, as they did periodically, and discovered Mike's shirt with the flag sewn inside, and removed it. That evening they returned, opened the door of the cell, and for the benefit of all of us, beat Mike Christian severely for the next couple of hours. Then, they opened the door of the cell and threw him in. We cleaned him up as well as we could. The cell in which we lived had a concrete slab in the middle on which we slept. Four naked light bulbs hung in each corner of the room. As I said, we tried to clean up Mike as well as we could. After the excitement died down, I looked in the corner of the room, and sitting there beneath that dim light bulb with a piece of red cloth, another shirt and his bamboo needle, was my friend, Mike Christian. He was sitting there with his eyes almost shut from the beating he had received, making another American flag. He was not making the flag because it made Mike Christian feel better. He was making that flag because he knew how important it was to us to be able to Pledge our allegiance to our flag and country. So the next time you say the Pledge of Allegiance, you must never forget the sacrifice and courage that thousands of Americans have made to build our nation and promote freedom around the world. You must remember our duty, our honor, and our country.

 

"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.”

[Alabama Larry]

You need to hear John Wayne's version of the "Pledge". It might change your thought process.

 

When you think about that Flag and the Pledge this is stateing how you feel about all those stars on the Flag and how we should work together, as a republic under God as one nation. This gives you the right to choose whether to say it or not.

 

I've never really thought about this...its just something I want to do and love saying it.

[1owlzfan]

Allegiance - 1) commitment: the act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action 2) the loyalty that citizens owe to their country (or subjects to their sovereign)

 

I don't really see how you make the jump from allegiance to worship. I see it as nothing more than pledging to be loyal to your country, to be patriotic, etc. The flag is simply a symbol used to represent these ideas. The words in the pledge IMO do not indicate the any type of worship is taking place.

 

The national anthem is simply a patriotic song, I see it as no different than "God Bless American" or "America the Beautiful".

 

You stand up during the national anthem as a sign of respect for your country. Is this any different that standing up as a judge enters the courtroom. Does the judge now become an idol that we are worshiping?

 

You have some great points and as a Christian I agree 100% with you.

[Alabama Larry]

I agree ^^^, I have to go to court on Monday, when the judge enters I'll stay seated. The Bible says we are to obey the laws of the Courts. Jesus said pay to Ceasar what you owe him. I'll stand when the human being enters the court room.

[Old Hillbilly]

You need to hear John Wayne's version of the "Pledge". It might change your thought process.

 

When you think about that Flag and the Pledge this is stateing how you feel about all those stars on the Flag and how we should work together, as a republic under God as one nation. This gives you the right to choose whether to say it or not.

 

I've never really thought about this...its just something I want to do and love saying it.

 

 

I've had the pleasure of listening to John Waynes version yet, but I do like the way Red Skelton recites his version as told to him by his grade school teacher.

 

http://www.poofcat.com/july.html

[GaViking]

I believe Royal Uncle has stated very eloquently my thoughts on The Pledge of Allegiance. I respect those who have died for this country for me its not worshiping. I worship God and only God. I am attaching one story that goes to the core of why I say this pledge.

"The Pledge of Allegiance" - by Senator John McCain.

As you may know, I spent five and one half years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. In the early years of our imprisonment, the NVA kept us in solitary confinement or two or three to a cell. In 1971 the NVA moved us from these conditions of isolation into large rooms with as many as 30 to 40 men to a room. This was, as you can imagine, a wonderful change and was a direct result of the efforts of millions of Americans on behalf of a few hundred POWs 10,000 miles from home. One of the men who moved into my room was a young man named Mike Christian. Mike came from a small town near Selma, Alabama. He didn't have a pair of shoes until he was 13 years old. At 17, he enlisted in the US Navy. He later earned a commission by going to Officer Training School then he became a Naval Flight Officer and was shot down and captured in 1967. Mike had a keen and deep appreciation of the opportunities this country and our military provide for people who want to work and want to succeed. As part of the change in treatment, the Vietnamese allowed some prisoners to receive packages from home. In some of these packages were handkerchiefs, scarves and other items of clothing. Mike got himself a bamboo needle. Over a period of a couple of months, he created an American flag and sewed on the inside of his shirt. Every afternoon, before we had a bowl of soup, we would hang Mike's shirt on the wall of the cell and say the Pledge of Allegiance.

I know the Pledge of Allegiance may not seem the most important part of our day now, but I can assure you that in that stark cell it was indeed the most important and meaningful event.

One day the Vietnamese searched our cell, as they did periodically, and discovered Mike's shirt with the flag sewn inside, and removed it.

That evening they returned, opened the door of the cell, and for the benefit of all of us, beat Mike Christian severely for the next couple of hours. Then, they opened the door of the cell and threw him in. We cleaned him up as well as we could. The cell in which we lived had a concrete slab in the middle on which we slept. Four naked light bulbs hung in each corner of the room. As I said, we tried to clean up Mike as well as we could. After the excitement died down, I looked in the corner of the room, and sitting there beneath that dim light bulb with a piece of red cloth, another shirt and his bamboo needle, was my friend, Mike Christian. He was sitting there with his eyes almost shut from the beating he had received, making another American flag. He was not making the flag because it made Mike Christian feel better. He was making that flag because he knew how important it was to us to be able to Pledge our allegiance to our flag and country. So the next time you say the Pledge of Allegiance, you must never forget the sacrifice and courage that thousands of Americans have made to build our nation and promote freedom around the world.

You must remember our duty, our honor, and our country.

"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.”

 

Amen!

[Uncle Jed]

It depends on what you think the flag represents. If you look at it is a representation of a great country with many freedoms, I think as a Christian you are commanded by Jesus to give the flag, and the republic for which it stands, it’s proper showing of respect.

Mark 12:17

And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.

Also keep in mind what Paul wrote in Romans.

Romans 13:1-6

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Of course if you look at the flag as being a golden calf, and one that would stand between you and God, then you may be right to avoid it. But I think you’re smarter than that.

[strike-3]

It depends on what you think the flag represents. If you look at it is a representation of a great country with many freedoms, I think as a Christian you are commanded by Jesus to give the flag, and the republic for which it stands, it’s proper showing of respect.

Mark 12:17

And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.

Also keep in mind what Paul wrote in Romans.

Romans 13:1-6

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Of course if you look at the flag as being a golden calf, and one that would stand between you and God, then you may be right to avoid it. But I think you’re smarter than that.

 

Nice post. :thumb:

[ekubum]

Most everything has already been said but here is my feeling.

 

1. The Pledge is not even close to worship, it is a dedication to your country.

 

2. Wouldn't God want you to be dedicated to your country?

 

3. It would appear that you have over-thought this situation in my opinion. Sin is sin is sin, that is very clear, but I find it hard to imagine that the POA would be a sin.

 

Having said all that, do what you feel is right. If you have a strong conviction then stick with it, or at the very least pray about it long and hard and allow God to speak to you.