As we consider the Christian response to the Pledge of Allegiance, we have to find some way to attempt the almost impossible: separate the pledge from its context. Its very tempting to make this a discussion of the relative godliness of the United States compared to other nations. But that’s the wrong focus. The question is: what relation should Christians have to any Christian (ed.–oops, meant to say “earthly”) nation? This question becomes more and more relevant as the church grows faster outside the United States than inside. Do we encourage Christians in other countries to make a similar commitment to their governments?
Ethnocentrism is the belief that your people’s way is the correct way, that everything should be evaluated by how your culture does things. Years of hearing “We live in the greatest country in the world” lead us to accept that as fact, without considering how other people might view their particular country. Are we going to encourage Nigerian Christians to make the same sort of pledge to their government? Russian Christians? Colombian Christians? What if the United States went to war with one of those countries like Nigeria or Cuba where we have thousands of brothers? Would our pledge of loyalty lead us to take up arms against brothers in Christ?
If we are to teach Christians in the United States to pledge their allegiance to this country, we need to be prepared to teach the same to Christians in every country. Loyalty to human government is loyalty to human government. It’s right or it’s wrong, for every Christian.
“But our nation is more godly than other nations.” I love the U.S., but I don’t kid myself about the morality of our government’s actions throughout history. I know that the faith and religiosity of the American people is one thing, and that of our government is another. If you want to believe that this country has always acted in a godly fashion, I’ll leave you to that. I just know that “more godly than others” doesn’t cut it.
But it’s not about bashing the United States. It’s about our living as aliens and strangers, pilgrims and sojourners. We’re not at home here. Our allegiance lies elsewhere.