| Vol. VI Number 24 | June 30, 2002 |
This past week there were articles written in the paper 5 and on the broadcast news about the court ruling the present day pledge of allegiance is unconstitutional. The phrase that is contested is, ``One nation under God.'' This phrase was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954. I think that with Independence day next week, we should look at the Pledge of Allegiance and examine the phrases that are in it.
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.
Throughout the history of the Pledge of Allegiance there have been numerous changes with the latest being in 1954 when ``under God,'' was added.4 Now this past week there was a court ruling that has made the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional for mandatory recital in public schools. How many of us have recited the Pledge of Allegiance without even think about the words which we are saying. This was what Red Skelton was taught and had this comment about the Pledge of Allegiance. 3
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The following words were spoken by the late Red Skelton on his television
program as he related the story of his teacher, Mr. Laswell, who felt his
students had come to think of the Pledge of Allegiance as merely something
to recite in class each day.
Now, more than ever, listen to the meaning of these
words.
"I've been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge of
Allegiance all semester
and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to you.
If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you the meaning
of each word?"
I
me, an individual, a committee of one.
dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self
pity. Allegiance my love and my devotion. To the flag
our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever
she waves, there's respect because your loyalty has given
her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's
job! United that means that we have all come together. States
individual communities that have united into 48 great
states.
Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and
purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to
a common purpose, and that's love for country. And to the republic
a state in which sovereign power is
invested in representatives chosen by the
people to govern. And government is the people
and it's from the people to the leaders, not from
the leaders to the people. For which it stands, one nation
one nation, meaning "so
blessed by God" Indivisible incapable of being divided. With liberty
which is freedom -- the right of power to live one's
own life without threats, fear or some sort of
retaliation. And Justice the principle or quality of dealing fairly with others. For all
which means, boys and girls, it's as much your
country as it is mine.
***~~**~~***
and two words have been added to the pledge of
Allegiance... UNDER GOD
Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said
that is a prayer
and that would be eliminated from schools
too? |
What was the real purpose behind adding the phrase, ``Under God?'' Was it added to justify our nations actions, like the divine right of kings justified the actions of the nations king? Or was it added to promote a single nation to rule the world? If this was the reason, then back in 1954 the powers to be were already thinking about the antichrist and they were getting ready for him to come from the United States. When you think about you are saying, who are you as a Christian really to pledge your allegiance to? Is it to a flag? Is it to a country? Or, is it to the Lord Jesus Christ?
The Bible has something to say about this.
Matthew 22:37
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.Mark 12:30
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.Luke 10:27
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Jesus taught that we are to love the Lord with all of our heart. He did not teach that we are necessarily to pledge our undying allegiance to a country. In Jesus' day the country was the Roman Empire. Did Jesus pledge his allegiance to Rome? No! Jesus gave his total allegiance to his divine Father in heaven and not to the government. Here we have a number of Christians who are up in arms about the ruling that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional. The Christian community should be rejoicing that their children do not have to say a pledge to a nation who is ruled by Satan!
Matthew 4:7-10
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.Luke 4:5-8
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Jesus taught that we are to follow the laws of the country that we live in, but our devotion and true obligation is to the Lord. Those of us who live in the United States live in a nation that promotes every form of wickedness described in the Bible under the name of freedom. So do you want your children pledging allegiance to a country that promotes wickedness? All of these politicians who were standing on the Capitol steps pledging allegiance to the flag were doing it for political reasons.
The only time in the history of the world that there will be one nation under God is described in Revelation. That will be the time when the Lord returns with his saints to rule the world for a thousand years. Then there will be one nation under God.
3014 E Street
Philadelphia, PA 19134
Church Office Phone: (215) 634-3637
Published by: Rev. LeRoy D. Cressy (215) 535-4037
Services:
| Sunday School | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 11:30 AM |
| Sunday Morning Worship | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 12 NOON |
| Sunday Evening | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 6:30 PM |
| Wednesday Evening | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | 7:30 PM |
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