I pledge allegiance

I pledge allegiance to God. Written another way, one could say, I promise to honor and serve God.

I cannot in good faith, nor conscience, pledge allegiance to a flag, no matter which nation it might stand for.

You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3 (AMP)

While the Pledge of Allegiance, first written in 1892, originally did not have the words, “Under God”, they were added during the Cold War era, the question remains: Understanding that the US is supposed to have a separation of Church and State, which god is the pledge referring to? Money? A pagan god? A Christian God?

In Luke 4:8, Jesus rebukes the devil by saying “It is written and forever remains written. You shall worship the Lord your God and serve only Him ”.

This isn’t just an old testament Mosaic law that has been superseded by the covenant of Grace. This law still stands. It’s a major point of conflict for a lot of Christians and probably the way through this was adding the two words “Under God”. And now that’s got Atheists and people of other faiths up in arms because it calls into question the Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion as outlined in the Bill of Rights.

The upside is you do not have to say the pledge if you do not feel it’s something you should do. You can respect others and stand quietly, without uttering a word. It doesn’t make you any less American, or that you don’t like your country. And it’s within your right to abstain from saying it, but it doesn’t mean you should be overt and rude about why you won’t do it. But if you are abstaining, I would recommend not sitting – because that will just look like a protest.

Romans 12:18 “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (AMP).

If someone asks you why you don’t recite the pledge, don’t try and start a riot. Just gently tell them the truth. It’s not up to you how they receive the truth, especially if they’ve asked. If they don’t like the answer, that’s not on you.

If the individual persists and insists on you saying a pledge for which you are uncomfortable with, a question might kindly be put to them:  “If they’re just words, then why do you want me to say them?” This may start a dialogue (hopefully in a friendly manner) giving them pause to question what those words mean to them. And there’s nothing wrong with learning how someone else thinks, or what they feel on a matter.  But remember Romans – if possible, live at peace.