Observations on the Pledge of Allegiance
Many people are suprised to learn that I, a pastor, am opposed to requiring students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and particularly the two words "under God." Aren't I patriotic? Aren't I Christian?
Yes and yes. I believe very strongly in the rights our Constitution gives us to worship any god we want, several different gods, or no god at all. In religious matters my rights as a faithful Lutheran are secured by the same amendment that protects my agnostic friend's rights not to be coerced into false worship. Although we are mainline now, Lutherans were once a persecuted religious minority, and as an heir of the Reformation I believe strongly in protecting religious liberty for all people.
The Pledge, with the two words "under God" (which were added as Cold War propaganda against "godless Communism" and intended by Congress to set America apart as a nation of believers) is an affront to that religious freedom. Yes, so also is the national motto "In God We Trust" (also changed during the Cold War to reflect Judeo-Christian faith over against the heathen Reds). In adopting these words, our lawmakers deliberately made religious claims about God to be the law of the land: namely, that God exists, that he is sovereign over all, and that we as a nation trust in him. This is an overt endorsement of religion by Congress, and must be found unconstitutional when held up to scrutiny.
"But it doesn't endorse any specific God," some will object. True, but that's irrelevant. It endorses "God" over "gods" or "no god at all," both of which are perfectly legitimate and protected beliefs for an American to hold.
Do I, as a Christian and pastor believe in God? OF COURSE I DO. Do I believe that God is sovereign over the United States? Anyone who has heard my feelings on the positioning of the American and Christian flags in places of worship knows how strongly I do. ;)
But I also believe that God exists whether the Pledge affirms him or not, and that God coerces no one to believe in him or to follow him. That's not his way, and it shouldn't be our way, either. God uses the methods of tireless love and gentle persuasion to pull us in. My God is not so insecure in his deity that he needs Congress to force testimony for him out of the mouths of schoolchildren.
Christians can and should recall that allegiance to the United States is always a distant second to allegiance to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Truth be told, Christians should pledge their allegiance to God only, and promise to live as good citizens of this land to as great a degree as Scripture and faith allow. If we must choose between God and country, our choice must always and ever be God. Prayer at home and in the church, personal use of whatever pledge or creed is desired, and faithful life as members of the Body of Christ and the body politic are all good and appropriate.
But Christians must protect the religious rights of all Americans, including "godless" ones and those whose gods do not have a capital "G". It honors God to use his methods of persuasion ("evangelism" means sharing the GOOD news!) and to encourage our neighbors to seek him rather than to anger them by forcing their children to confess his authority every morning at school.
For an excellent history of the Pledge of Allegiance and the notorious phrase's roots in anti-Communist propaganda, see the article The Pledge of Allegiance - Why we're not one nation "under God" by David Greenberg.
Yes and yes. I believe very strongly in the rights our Constitution gives us to worship any god we want, several different gods, or no god at all. In religious matters my rights as a faithful Lutheran are secured by the same amendment that protects my agnostic friend's rights not to be coerced into false worship. Although we are mainline now, Lutherans were once a persecuted religious minority, and as an heir of the Reformation I believe strongly in protecting religious liberty for all people.
The Pledge, with the two words "under God" (which were added as Cold War propaganda against "godless Communism" and intended by Congress to set America apart as a nation of believers) is an affront to that religious freedom. Yes, so also is the national motto "In God We Trust" (also changed during the Cold War to reflect Judeo-Christian faith over against the heathen Reds). In adopting these words, our lawmakers deliberately made religious claims about God to be the law of the land: namely, that God exists, that he is sovereign over all, and that we as a nation trust in him. This is an overt endorsement of religion by Congress, and must be found unconstitutional when held up to scrutiny.
"But it doesn't endorse any specific God," some will object. True, but that's irrelevant. It endorses "God" over "gods" or "no god at all," both of which are perfectly legitimate and protected beliefs for an American to hold.
Do I, as a Christian and pastor believe in God? OF COURSE I DO. Do I believe that God is sovereign over the United States? Anyone who has heard my feelings on the positioning of the American and Christian flags in places of worship knows how strongly I do. ;)
But I also believe that God exists whether the Pledge affirms him or not, and that God coerces no one to believe in him or to follow him. That's not his way, and it shouldn't be our way, either. God uses the methods of tireless love and gentle persuasion to pull us in. My God is not so insecure in his deity that he needs Congress to force testimony for him out of the mouths of schoolchildren.
Christians can and should recall that allegiance to the United States is always a distant second to allegiance to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Truth be told, Christians should pledge their allegiance to God only, and promise to live as good citizens of this land to as great a degree as Scripture and faith allow. If we must choose between God and country, our choice must always and ever be God. Prayer at home and in the church, personal use of whatever pledge or creed is desired, and faithful life as members of the Body of Christ and the body politic are all good and appropriate.
But Christians must protect the religious rights of all Americans, including "godless" ones and those whose gods do not have a capital "G". It honors God to use his methods of persuasion ("evangelism" means sharing the GOOD news!) and to encourage our neighbors to seek him rather than to anger them by forcing their children to confess his authority every morning at school.
For an excellent history of the Pledge of Allegiance and the notorious phrase's roots in anti-Communist propaganda, see the article The Pledge of Allegiance - Why we're not one nation "under God" by David Greenberg.
posted by Bob at
6:23 PM
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