Pledging Allegiance to the Political State?
“Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” — Mark 12:17
In the first century many Christians, men, women, and children met their deaths because they refused to throw a pinch of incense on an altar to Caesar. Considering the life and death consequences, was not their refusal ridiculous? After all, they could have performed the act without having a worshipful attitude toward Caesar, or changing their love and devotion to Christ.
[The question here is rhetorical to prompt your thinking. They understood the situation to be of a very serious nature. This author does not think they were ridiculous in their refusal.]
In his book The Coming Prince Sir Robert Anderson wrote:
“It may be questioned whether idolatry as popularly understood has ever prevailed except among the most debased and ignorant of races. It is not the emblem that is worshipped, but a power or being which the emblem represents.” — pg. 207
In other words, most idolaters do not worship the idol toward which they seem to pay homage; rather it is understood to be an emblem representing the power or being that they are worshipping.
Do political governments have emblems? Do any render homage to such emblems?
Consider one example:
“I pledge allegiance…”
What is allegiance? The Merriam-Webster Thesaurus lists these synonyms: “fidelity, ardor, DEVOTION, FAITHFULNESS, fealty, loyalty, PIETY.” Are not the three emphasized terms associated with religious worship? Therefore, pledging allegiance is akin to rendering worship!
“…to the flag…”
Why to the flag? Isn’t it just a piece of cloth? Why pledge allegiance to a piece of cloth?
“…of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands…”
Above Anderson said that an idol is an emblem representing (standing for) a power or being that is worshipped. So a flag is actually an idol of the political state.
“…one nation, under God…”
Does the inclusion of “under God” make the Pledge acceptable to Christians? No, many an un-Christian profanity contains the word “God.”
“…indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Does the United States provide liberty and justice for all? The simple fact is humans cannot provide true liberty and justice for all. True liberty and justice come only through God’s kingdom. — Galatians 5:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-9
Not all countries have such recited pledges of allegiance, but they do have flags, flag ceremonies, and the parading and saluting of flags; and they expect their citizenry to do obeisance to the sovereign will of the state, especially in times of war.
Christians should not show disrespect to the flag of any nation; and the Bible clearly commands Christians to be law-abiding. Subversion and sedition are prohibited. Christians are required to pay taxes regardless of what the government does with those taxes. Only when secular laws require Christians to break God’s law does the Bible permit their disobedience.
As Christians we should pledge allegiance to God and His Kingdom alone.
It is there where we have our citizenship. It is there where our treasure should lie.
The American ambassador to Canada owes no allegiance to Canada. The Canadian ambassador to America owes no allegiance to America.
Christians are ambassadors of God on earth. We are alien residents in a foreign land, and we owe no allegiance to the political powers of the lands in which we reside. Our allegiance is to God, His Kingdom, His Son, and His people. If we are Christians, we have pledged our allegiance to the Kingdom of God; and our allegiance can be pledged to no one else without betraying God, our Father, our Savior, our Friend. — Consider: Matthew 6:20, 21, 24, 33; Philippians 3:20; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Hebrews 11:13, 16; 1 Peter 2:11, 12; Mark 12:17
To those who disagree with what is written here, I ask:
Would first-century Christians who died for refusing to throw a pinch of incense on Caesar’s altar agree with you or with me?