THE PLEDGE
November 10, 2012
Most everyone of my generation knows the pledge of allegiance by heart:
“I pledge allegiance 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.” I am not sure the pledge is so well known, or well remembered today. I even wonder how true it rings today. The pledge certainly contains ideals and objectives that we should continue to strive to achieve and maintain. But are we gaining or losing ground?
“One nation”? Really? The results of the recent presidential election certainly show we are not even close to being one nation in terms of direction and ideology. We seem to be intent on going to our respective political corners until the bell rings for the next round, and come out swinging again. No matter which candidate would have won, roughly half the participating voters wanted the other guy and what he stood for. Sadly, the divide is not limited to the office of president and the man we personally wanted to fill it. The Congress is similarly divided, and it seems that one side is intent and steadfast on promoting its own political agenda. And so it goes.
“Under God”? Really? It also seems that the position of our nation being under God is even more in doubt. Recent votes, decrees, and rulings on social and moral questions seem to reinforce the doubt. Many of us don’t even want to recognize or be under God’s authority. Even if we do desire that, we seem to not even be able to agree on what that means. Why is that? Have we lost our knowledge of the truth, or forgotten the means to find our way back to it?
The apostle Paul has these words for us (Romans 13:1-2):
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority rebels against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves.”
Paul was writing to the church in Rome who was under authority that may have been even more foreign to God’s way than our current authority. I have to believe therefore, that the context of Paul’s words applies to us. Can we still disagree? Certainly. Can we voice a dissenting viewpoint? Yes, of course. But at the end of the day, the authorities are in charge by establishment of God, and we are instructed to stop short of being in rebellion.
Where are we going from here? God only knows, as the saying goes. He certainly does know, but what is it that he desires for us as a nation? One thing I know for sure is the promise given long ago to the Hebrew people:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Be blessed and race safely.
See you at the ramp.
Posted by Tom Burwinkle.
