I No Longer Say the Pledge of Allegiance!
I no longer say the traditional pledge of allegiance to the American flag for fear of taking God’s name in vain.
I pray for our country and civil leaders each Lord’s Day worship, that they might restrain and punish evil and praise good, that we (Christ’s church) may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, glorifying Him and advancing the gospel.
But, I can not say a nation which allows the murder of unborn babies, exalts abominable sin, and prides itself on its own accomplishments independent of Him, is not “under God,” except as we are under his judgment whereby he already takes vengeance on those who don’t know him and obey not the gospel.
As for “indivisible,” that is a matter left unsettled by an atrocious war between the states. I remember and honor with sadness the brave heros (blue and gray) who fought and fell at Gettsburg and Vicksburg on July 3rd and 4th, 1863, both for principle and honor of nation misplaced. In God’s providence, we are a federal union until He decrees otherwise as His purpose unfolds.
Yes, honor and pray for those God has placed in positions of civil authority, and thank him for the blessings of liberty and the opportunity to share the gospel in peace for this present season. But, also cry out to him for mercy, and remember that tomorrow is the LORD’s Day first, belonging to him, and only secondarily our nation’s birthday. We do our nation and ourselves good when we remember the Sabbath and keep it holy:
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. [Isaiah 58:13-14]
I’d prefer something like: I pledge allegiance to the flag and the limited constitutional republic for which it stands, a federal union by God’s providence, in need of repentance and submission to our Lord Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords, from whom all true blessings of liberty, peace, prosperity and salvation flow. May God send repentance and revival before His full wrath falls; and may His Church to be salt and light, before judgment begins at the house of God.