{"id":5264,"date":"2011-05-30T05:00:39","date_gmt":"2011-05-30T09:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/?p=5264"},"modified":"2013-05-31T18:29:42","modified_gmt":"2013-06-01T02:29:42","slug":"pledge-of-allegiance-idolatry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/pledge-of-allegiance-idolatry\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the Pledge of Allegiance Idolatry?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every year on Memorial Day, people remember the men and women of our country who have given their lives to defend our freedoms, many people will be displaying a flag, both to commemorate the sacrifice of these soldiers, and to display a sense of patriotism.<\/p>\n

\"United<\/p>\n

There are many Christians, however, who choose not to fly a flag. <\/strong>Also, if you were to ask them, they will refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance.<\/p>\n

Why do some Christians refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance?<\/h2>\n

It is because they believe that the flag, and particularly, the Pledge of Allegiance, is idolatrous. And they have a case.<\/p>\n

In the early centuries of the church, the Roman Empire also had it’s banners and seals, and Roman Citizens were required by law to swear fealty to Caesar by stating some sort of Pledge of Allegiance to one of his banners or seals. Many Christians believed that since Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, and it is to Him alone that we must swear fealty, then any such oath to a flag, or a human ruler, is idolatry (cf. similar concerns raised by Greg Boyd in The Myth of a Christian Religion<\/em><\/a>\"\"). Those Christians who refused to swear, often paid for this decision with their lives.<\/p>\n

So, can we say the Pledge of Allegiance today? Can we fly a flag?<\/h2>\n

I think we can.<\/p>\n

First, in the first centuries of the church, the Caesars believed that they were divine, and therefore required people to worship and honor them as a Son of God. The Roman banners and seals were symbolic of this Caesar worship, and so the early Christians were right to reject it. Today, however,\u00a0in flying a flag or saying the Pledge, nobody is stating that they believe the flag, the President of the United States, or even the United States itself, is divine.<\/strong> So flying a flag and saying the pledge are not, in my opinion, idolatrous.<\/p>\n

Second, and more importantly, refusing to fly a flag or say the Pledge of Allegiance today is not going to get anyone killed.<\/strong> At most, you might be considered unpatriotic. If we really wanted to find some idolatrous practice that was equivalent to what the early Christians faced, it would have to be something that might result in our persecution and death if we did it (or refused to do it).<\/p>\n

When society forces you to do something or face rejection, it is then that we have possibly encountered an idolatrous practice. Like what? There are numerous possibilities, but the one that comes to mind first is the head-long plunge into materialism and greed. If you live in a way contrary to the materialistic goals of our society, people will shun and avoid you, and think you are insane. As I stated yesterday, we need more Christians who are “suicidal<\/a>” in this way.<\/p>\n

How ironic it is then, that those who refuse to fly a flag out of loyalty to Jesus, turn around and buy thousands of dollars of clothes, a brand new car every other year, go on vacations and trips around the world, and build multi-million dollar stadiums which are then stamped with the name of Christ.<\/p>\n

So I say wave a flag. Honor our fallen soldiers. And then, make some decisions about how you are going to honor Jesus with you money and possessions this year.<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are many Christians who choose not to fly a flag or say the Pledge of Allegiance. Why is this? It is because they believe that the flag, and particularly, the Pledge of Allegiance, is idolatrous. 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