What is the United States "Pledge of Allegiance" and Flag Salute Really Saying ?

Is the "pledge of allegiance" and flag salute of a religious nature ? Does participating in these actions constitute a compromise of Christian integrity ? Should persons sacrifice their lives for their refusal in participation on this issue ?

The United States Pledge of Allegiance
"I pledge allegence 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"

Anotherwards, "I vow to be loyal to the symbol of the country and to the Republic for which this flag stands - one nation and it's allies under God, united in purpose, unable to divide, with liberty and justice for all." The person who cites this allegiance vows to be loyal to his country, provided the country fulfills it's vow to supply "justice and liberty to all."

Certainly this vow or promise has been broken many times over the past two centuries and is continuing today. There has been a civil war, inner divisions, wars, corruption, greed and a lack of justice and liberty for all on a large scale basis. Just think, if these were not the facts and the vow of the countries side of the issue was truly obeyed, with "justice and liberty for all", this would be a Christian nation, approved by God.

According to Christian theology, the entire earth is under Satan's system, "the god of this system of things" and all humans and countries are in "spiritual warfare", with none being able to accurately promise and deliver true justice and liberty for all. However, that does not stop Christians and other people of integrity from trying to do the best they can to be fair and just to their fellow man. Scriptures promise that only when God's kingdom comes will there be true justice and liberty for all. This does not, however, restrict Christians from political involvement as a compromise to their integrity to God.(2 Cor 4:4; Eph 6:12; Matt 6:10; Dan 2:44)

Idolatry ?

Can pledging allegiance to a countries flag constitute as an act of idolatry and image worship ? Consider the case of Daniel and his three companions, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. After taking on the names Belchazzar, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego, named after Pagan Babylonian false gods, they then took active positions in the political government of Babylon. None of this came as integrity issues to the one true God, Jehovah. (Dan 1:1-7; 2:48-49)

Only after King Nebenchazzar constructed a large golden idol, representing one of the many babylonian false gods, did an issue of integrity to the one true God, Jehovah, arise. All those who resided in Babylon, including all of the Jewish exiles, were to bow down and perform an act of worship to this statue, acknowledging this idol as a god to be worshipped. When Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego refused, they received the punishment of being put in a firey furnace to die. (Dan 3:1-30)

Can this account be compared to pledging allegiance to a flag or the symbol of a country and what the country stands for , liberty and justice for all ? In the account of Daniel, it is clearly an act of worship, the type of worship that only belongs to the one true God. But in the flag salute, it is not religious worship, but a vow of loyalty to liberty and justice for all. Showing loyalty to a country using an image is far different from worshipping it. Certainly, anyone can take the flag and other objects and either show respect for it or worship it, the choice being theirs. The same can be true with any object, person, place or thing. They can be respected and admired or they can be worshipped, the choice totally depending on the individual, not to be subject to a restrictive, judgemental, blanket condemnation, from some self appointed slave class, such as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.

Under the "pledge of allegiance", if the country were to ask a person to engage in actions that are contrary to God and against their vow of "liberty and justice for all", then they are breaking their part of the vow. In return Christians would refuse , "obeying God as a ruler, rather then men." (Acts 5:29)

Worship can be both an act of reverence, whether paid to man,

The Christian Pledge of Allegiance

"I pledge allegiance to Jesus Christ and to the kingdom for which he stands, (Putting Mercy to All Others as Foremost and Above Sacrifice), one nation under God, indivisible with true liberty and justice for all who have faith. "

such as bowing when a judge or court official enters into a room, (see chap. Matt. 18:26) or to God (see chap. Matt. 4:10) Idolatry is putting the type of worship that belongs to the one true God only, towards idols, images, practices, teachings, rituals and activities.

To enforce a legalistic ruling judgement with an intolerant blanket condemnation, putting a person's life in danger for their refusal of saluting a flag or singing the national anthem, is to "go beyond the things written", enslaving men to man made rules and regulations that put a "heavy yoke" on their shoulders. Legalism such as this has caused countless numbers of unnecessary deaths, where families are destroyed and broken up, all for the sake of following the legalistic sacrifices of a man's religious organizational policies, not Gods.

No Part of This World

Jesus Christ instructed his followers to be "no part of the world." Not to be "taken out of the world" but to be no part of it. Why were they no part of it ? Because Jesus "chose them out of the world" as his deciples and heirs of the kingdom. But how were they to be not part of it ? Was he ruling out all political, economic and social involvement in the present world ? No, he did not state this, but rather warned his followers of the coming persecution they would receive for putting faith in him and following his teachings of faith, mercy and love, including the moral code and preaching to others about the Christ. This is how Jesus followers would be "no part of the world." (John 17:11, 14-19)

This moral decadence and selfishness of the world are precisely what the context of Apostle James words are about in chapter 4, stating that there are many "arguments and fights", coming from the selfish desires of persons, while many "pray but do not receive" what they ask for because they are asking for only their own self pleasures, but as Christians we should be "loyal to God", and pray according to his will, not being a "friend of the world", in pursuit of our self pleasures over the welfare of others, that is hurting others, stepping on them or failing to show kindness to them in order to pursue our pleasures, which makes us "enemies of God", but to imitate Christ, "considering others superior to us" and being humble, "faithful and discreet slaves", "freely forgiving" "all persons, especially those in the faith."

This is the context of James chapter 4 verses 1 to 10, that is, not to put selfish desires first in our lives above showing mercy and kindness to others, as the majority of the people in the world do. To apply verse 4, along with Jesus words of being "no part of the world", as not celebrating various holidays, not saluting the flag and a blanket restriction against all political, economic and social involvement is to put a legalistic external meaning, taking these scriptures completely out of their context as the Watchtower Society does. (James 4:1-10; Matt 25:45-47; Phil 2:1-4; Col 3:13-15; Gal 6:10)

Apostle Paul tells us that we are not "not to use the world to the full" and Apostle John confirms, being "no part of the world" is not to love the "things in the world", and the showy display of them ahead of helping others, wanting things to please our selfish and sinful desires of the flesh over empathy and consideration of others. This is how we are to be "no part of the world" in harmony with Jesus words, not as a blanket condemnation against all or any involvement in the world governments, which act as "God's minister" to "bear the sword to those who do bad." Certainly where governments do wrong, then we "obey God as a ruler, rather then men", but on other issues and involvement there of, it is up to each individual Christian's conscience, being "fully convinced in his own mind", not the mind of a religious organization, slave class or governing body. (1 John 2:15-17; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Cor 7:31; Rom 14:5)

Word Definitions

pledge / n. a formal promise, oath to do s.t.: He signed a pledge to stop drinking. -v. pledged, pledging, pledges to promise, vow formally to do s.t.: I pledge allegiance to the
flag of the United States of America.

al·le·giance / n. [C;U] loyalty, strong feeling for a country, leader, political cause: School children say the Pledge of Allegiance to the US flag every morning.

loy·al·ty / n. [C;U] -ties faithfulness, devotion, (syn.) allegiance: The loyalty of dogs to their owners is well-known.

de·vo·tion / n. [U] 1 dedication, loyalty: The soldier won praise for his devotion to duty. 2 loving attention: She is full of devotion to her family.

in·di·vis·i·ble / adj. not able to be forced apart, solid, unified: That family is indivisible; they stay together even during troubled times.

i·dol·a·try / n. [U] the worship of idols: Idolatry was practiced in ancient civilizations by making offerings to the gods the idols represented. -adj. idolatrous.

wor-ship - proskuneo / n / v"to make obeisance, do reverence to" (from pros, "towards," and kuneo, "to kiss"), is the most
frequent word rendered "to worship." It is used of an act of homage or reverence (a) to God, e.g., Matt. 4:10; John 4:21-24; 1 Cor. 14:25; Rev. 4:10; 5:14; 7:11; 11:16; 19:10 (2nd part);
22:9; (b) to Christ, e.g., Matt. 2:2,8,11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9,17; John 9:38; Heb. 1:6, in a quotation from the Sept. of Deut. 32:43, referring to Christ's Second Advent; (c) to a man, Matt. 18:26; (d) to the Dragon, by men, Rev. 13:4; (e) to the Beast, his human instrument, Rev. 13:4,8,12; 14:9,11; (f) the image of the Beast, Rev. 13:15; 14:11; 16:2; (g) to demons, Rev. 9:20; (h) to idols, Acts 7:43. Note: As to Matt. 18:26, this is mentioned as follows, in the "List of readings and renderings
preferred by the American Committee" (see RV Classes of Passages, IV): "At the word 'worship' in Matt. 2:2, etc., add the marginal note 'The Greek word denotes an act of reverence, whether paid to man (see chap. Matt. 18:26) or to God (see chap. Matt. 4:10)'." The Note to John 9:38 in the American Standard Version in this connection is most unsound; it implies that Christ was a creature. J. N. Darby renders the verb "do homage" [see the Revised Preface to the Second Edition (1871) of his New Translation].


Back to Lightbearer's
Former JW Page