Well, you’re not much help! Just kidding. Since no one advanced any ideas about just what is being pledged, let me propose a few:
Literally we are pledging loyalty. Since the pledge was developed in the years following the Civil War in an attempt to unify the country, I’m guessing it was especially directed at southerners who still might feel resentment about the war.
I think that obedience is implied. That’s admittedly the part that scares me a bit. To some extent, the pledge is saying: “I will do what this country asks of me.”
To what extent are we pledging our loyalty? Some have said, “As long as the nation is under God.” How do we determine that? If we see that the government has done immoral things, do we stop being loyal? Let’s use the classic example: Nazi Germany. At what point would the country have lost your allegiance? Or would it have?
Can you picture Christians saying a pledge of allegiance to Rome? In any form? The Romans had a simple version of the pledge. It said: “Caesar is Lord.” Christians directly attacked that statement, countering with “Jesus is Lord.”
I’ve got some more thoughts, but I’d like to hear yours first.