Last week, a prominent civil liberties attorney was jailed by a judge when he refused to join in saying the Pledge of Allegiance.
The law of the land is clear: no American can be forced to make a pledge against his conscience, no matter how angry it makes the governmental authorities. It goes against everything that is American to coerce a citizen to commit his heart or his mind to a pledge against his will.
The Supreme Court case that established liberty of conscience in these matters, "West Virginia State Board v. Barnette," was decided in 1943. The Court asked, and rightly so, what sort of patriotism is it that demands on pain of jail such conformity from our fellow citizens?
The coercion of the heart and mind are condemned by the Scriptures. The negative example is Nebuchadnezzar's attempt to force the three Hebrew children to bow before his false god.
The positive example is that of our Lord Jesus, who rebuked his disciples when they suggested that Christ's opponents be punished.
Our Lord Jesus submitted to the refusal of men to acknowledge His person and authority. He was meek and gentle with such men. It was foretold that He would not cry aloud in the streets when He came.
Though Christ and His Gospel are never to be spread by force, yet hundreds of millions of pagans have been gently led to Him as their Redeemer. The Lord expects His people to follow after His example in eschewing coercion and force as we carry out His business in this world.
Our Lord does not force us to Himself against our wills. Rather, He changes us to be willing to do His will.
Our wills are in bondage to sin, but God liberates them and draws us unto His Son!
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“ Reply to 'Anonymous Name' ” Again, the main focus of the sermon was not whether it is right or wrong to pledge allegiance - only that it is WRONG to force somebody to make a pledge against his own conscience.
There's nothing wrong or un-Christian in loving your country, just so long as you are ready to stand up against it when it is wrong.
The only person we can pledge allegiance to without reservation is the Lord Jesus, because He is never wrong, and He will never betray His loved ones.
Anonyomous Name (4/11/2020)
“ Eternal Loyalty Vs. Temporal Loyalty ” We ought to declare our loyalty to King Jesus and His Eternal Kingdom rather than to temporal things like the American Constitution. Pledging loyalty to a piece of cloth like the American flag is idolatry in The Lord's Eyes. The American flag will vanish away, but Our Lord's Kingdom will last forever. Worth noting Colossians 3:2 in times like these.
Mary Freeman USA (1/13/2018)
“ Great Sermon! ” I will not pledge my allegiance to a piece of cloth. I pledge my allegiance to God and to my fellow neighbor, but not to a piece of cloth. The wording of this pledge is wrong. It starts out by saying "I pledge my allegiance to the flag....."
No I will not pledge my allegiance to a flag.
Change the wording to "I pledge my allegiance to God and to my neighbor...."
But since there are atheists in America, then I guess it is less embarrassing to pledge allegiance to a piece of cloth then to God. I guess we have to make people happy first, instead of pleasing God first.
John Pittman Hey (9/22/2016)
from Mississippi
“ Reply to George Schofield ” I did not address the question of whether a Christian should say the pledge of allegiance in this sermon.
p This sermon was about the evil of forcing other people to recite the pledge. To do so is to run afoul of Scriptural teaching.
p It is also unpatriotic to force another man to say something he does not believe, or to force his conscience to say something he believes to be false.
p Forcing a man to pledge allegiance is a far worse desecration of the flag than stomping it ground. Lovers of liberty will never be a party to such wickedness.
George Schofield (9/21/2016)
from Southern Pines, North Carolina
“ Pledge ” Are we not to obey the law of the land? I would not put the pledge or the country before my Lord Jesus, yet the pledge of Allegiance is a privilege to recite...
George Schofield (9/21/2016)
from Southern Pines, North Carolina
“ Forced To Pledge ” Are you saying that you do not think a person, especially a christian should pledge their allegiance to a Nation that God raised up and instructed?? Do you count yourself a patriot??
I'm not sure I understand where your loyalty lies?? should be protest like those in the NFL??
John Pittman Hey was born in 1961 in Jackson, Mississippi, to Godly parents who from the beginning raised him in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. With child-like faith he came to Christ on his fourth birthday at his mother's knee. He received his education at church...
