I have on my shelf a book titled, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. This is true. Sadly this is true because quite often fickle human nature can be lead easily from one belief to another by error without placing building blocks on the permanent foundation of truth.
Consider that many Russians rallied under the Communist Manifesto to become the USSR. Believe it or not there are actually some good principles in this work that enabled the Soviet Union to stand under that banner for a time. However, there were also fatal flaws that brought the empire to its knees. Every good American knows this and is trained from kindergarten that communism is bad and must be brought to an end. However, we are not commonly taught just what the foremost flaw of communism is, that is the exclusion of Jesus Christ.
If that is the fatal flaw of the Communist Manifesto then what of the banner that we Americans stand under? I am a citizen of the United States and in our country school children say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. In fact my wife and I home-school and my own children say the pledge every morning as well with every intention to continue.
The United States pledge was written by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, in August 1892. Bellamy can be described as a Christian who was influenced by his first cousin, Edward Bellamy, who wrote the American socialist utopian novels, Looking Backward (1888) and Equality (1897). The original pledge has been modified from time to time with one notable change in 1954. In this year the Knights of Columbus persuaded Congress to add the words, 'under God,' to the Pledge. The Pledge now became a patriotic oath as well as a public prayer. This sounds like a good principle as well, but could it be a fatal flaw to pledge, 'one nation under God?'
Gladly the pen of God is also mighty in the heart of the Christian gospel in the book of Romans where we read,
6) But the righteousness which is of faith says this, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down); 7) or, 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)" 8) But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;" that is, the word of faith which we preach: 9) that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10) For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation. 11) For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed."Romans 10:6-11 (WEB)
The pledge, if you will, to become a Christian is simply to say and believe, 'Jesus is Lord.' A comparison of this pledge with the pledge of my country does provoke some thought.
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Pledges Compared
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One nation under God
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Jesus is Lord
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Infallible authorship
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No, man
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Yes, Holy Spirit
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God acknowledged
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Yes, generally
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Yes, specifically
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God acknowledged by name
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No, generally
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Yes, Jesus is God
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Humbly stated
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No, sinful man boasts to be under God
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Yes, sinful man acknowledging Jesus over us
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Scope of all nations
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No, one nation only
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Yes, Lord of all nations
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Scope of all humanity
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No, many not under God
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Yes, Lord of believers and unbelievers
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Scope of all events
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No, good only
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Yes, Lord of good and evil
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Scope of all time
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No, since 1892
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Yes, Lord of all time, a continual reality
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Spiritual adherents
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No, inducted by birth / work / war
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Yes, inducted by new birth / grace / gospel
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First understand that I am certainly not beginning a campaign to reform the Pledge of Allegiance for Christ. I am hardly a Christian socialist! There are already too many misguided Christians attempting to advance the Kingdom of Christ by lobbying the halls of Congress. What I am doing, however, is asking you flatly, what is your pledge to God for his mercy? Have you lobbied the halls of Heaven with prayer to learn the good news that Jesus is Lord? Will you stand in the public square and pledge that to God and the nations?
