Under God

I remember the day my son, Justice, learned the Pledge of Allegiance. I was picking him up from his first day of pre-school, and he ran into my arms, his excitement bursting at the seams.

“Mommy! I’m in the Pledge of Allegiance!” Confused, I looked to his teacher for clarification.

“The word justice is in the pledge,” she reminded me.

“Oh! That’s right, it is!”

“And he was blown away,” his teacher said through giggles.

“Liberty and justice for all!” my son said proudly as he jumped up and down. (I imagine him walking into parties as a twenty-something someday, boldly proclaiming with open arms, “Justice for all!” Lord have mercy.)

American-born citizens learned the Pledge of Allegiance at a young age. Every morning at school, we were required to rise from our desks, place our hands over our hearts, face the classroom flag, and recite the pledge. I spent two years of my childhood living in Georgia, where my public school principal followed the pledge by leading us in song. Each day we rotated between The Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America, America the Beautiful, and My Country Tis of Thee. Thanks to the prioritization of patriotism in the South in the 1980s, I still know each of these songs by heart.

Most Americans rattle off the words of the Pledge of Allegiance without much thought, but let’s consider the weight of our words. By the dictionary’s definitions, to make a pledge of allegiance is to make a solemn promise of loyalty. This is different than the pledge we take before a Girl Scout meeting or a martial arts class. With those, we are committing to abide by the rules of conduct and do our best, but a pledge of allegiance implies something more dignified. It’s a promise of unwavering devotion. The Bible has a lot to say about making promises, mainly that our word is our bond and promises are meant to be kept (Numbers 3:2, Matthew 5:33-37, James 5:12). His Word also says that our only allegiance should be to God Almighty, not the false idols of this world, (Exodus 20:1-17). This is why the words of the Pledge of Allegiance are so important: 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. “One nation, under God.” God, the cornerstone of our country and the focal point of our allegiance.

You may find it interesting to learn, as I did, that while the Pledge of Allegiance was written by a Baptist minister, the words “under God” were not included until sixty-four years later when President Eisenhower approved the addition by Congress. (You can brush up on your Pledge of Allegiance history here.) I am thankful for the inclusion because it serves as a reminder that while we are a nation of great leaders, tremendous wealth, and utmost resilience, our power and place in this world are second to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I am proud to be an American, but my sense of duty and honor will always be first and foremost to God. Psalm 33:12-15 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth- he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.” Those two little words, “under God,” are there to remind Americans that it is God who formed us before we formed this country for our independence. It is God who considers all we do before we consider the best interests of our citizens. It is God who promises to bless us when we make Him Lord instead of making lords of each other. How easily we forget.

I grew up in the church, and by the time I reached junior high, an event called See You at the Pole had swept up the Christian youth of America. Once a year, Christian students across the country would gather around their school flagpoles and pray for their classmates, teachers, and administrators. I participated every year from sixth through twelfth grade. I remember linking hands with my peers, gazing up at the American flag in the early morning light, and asking God to make us one nation under Him. I prayed for our school systems that they would recognize the responsibility they had to American students to lead them in the ways of truth and righteousness, an impossible feat without the inclusion of God. If they required us to pledge allegiance to our country, I prayed they would acknowledge that our pledge recognizes our country as a “nation under God.” Today I still pray for these things, not for myself but for my children.

Every July Fourth, my Americana playlist hits me right in the heart. As I pass out popsicles, slice the watermelon, grill the ribs, and light the sparklers, I can’t help but feel grateful for the privilege it is to be an American. I did nothing to earn it. I was simply blessed enough to be born here, and because of that, I can live a life of freedom and privilege. It’s not something I take for granted. The United States offers liberties unlike anywhere else in the world, but God offers us even more—the freedom we have as American citizens is nothing compared to the freedom we have in Christ. Pledging our allegiance to Him means a life free from the consequences of our sins. It means salvation and unconditional love. It means a life free of fear and full of forgiveness. It is a solemn promise of loyalty that means living a life under God, and there is no better place to be.

God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains to the prairies
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home