Just a few years prior to the time when the Roman pontiff Pope Pius V1 was about to be taken prisoner by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798, the young budding nation of America had just come upon the stage of action in July 4 of 1776. And as the Pilgrim fathers relished the moment of their new-found freedom, a new day was about to dawn upon the world which would usher in a flood of new inventions, technologies, and above all, the promise of civil and religious freedoms, which were to form the backbone of America’s genius.
But as time went by, the nation became embroiled in wars, and as communism began to threaten the very fabric of American culture, the author of our pledge of allegiance was moved to pen those now famous words. The author was a Baptist minister, by the name of Francis Bellamy, and for some historical content we should know that the original pledge of allegiance did not include the two words “Under God”. Those two words were added later, because of the threat of communism which existed in the 1950’s.
In 1954, in response to those perils posed by secular communism from the Nazis, President Eisenhower then encouraged Congress to add the words "Under God," which then resulted in the 31 word pledge we have currently. Thus, the phrase “Under God” was an afterthought, and was never originally intended. It is worthy of note that the addition of the words “Under God” was made when the nation felt it was being threatened, as is so often the case when folks are prone to make commitments to God when they face existential threats.
God much more prefers if we commit ourselves to Him in good times, because of His goodness and not merely as a last resort, when our backs are against a wall. However, when the words “Under God” were added a very serious omission occurred, because at that time congress did not stipulate which God was being referred to. And to this day it has never been written in stone, who is the God in our pledge.
Some assumed that it should be the Judeo-Christian God of the Bible, but that immediately causes apprehension in the minds of many, because America is indeed a melting pot of many different creeds, cultures, and religions, including atheism. When Moses was called by God to go into Egypt to lead out His people, and ultimately to incorporate them as one nation under God, Moses had at that time asked a valid question, for he stated that the Hebrews would ask him, what is God’s name, so that they could believe Him. In response, God said to tell them Yahweh, the great I Am, had sent him. Let’s read:
Exodus 3:13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.
Therefore, as we face uncertain times, when many existential threats exist, the same question is being asked of the God in our pledge of allegiance: What is His name? Can it be the God of the Bible or is it the god of the Quran or is it a Hindu god? To further add to the mystery, the phrase, “In God we trust” is printed on the back of our dollar bills, flanked on either side by a pyramid and an eagle. So again, the question is asked: “Which god is it that is being referred to in our pledge?
Could it be a composite god, of all of the previously mentioned gods, condensed into one generic god, who is relegated to humbly acquiescing to any, and every dictate of the human agent? Thus, because it has never been made abundantly clear, and also for purposes of this Bible study, we’ll humbly assume that it is the God of the Bible that is being referred to.
Now, if that is the case, there are a few things about the God of the Bible that must be made abundantly clear, because, to include that phrase: One nation under God is not a trifling matter by any means for pledges made to God are to be held sacred. In fact, when the nation of Israel was proposed by God to enter into a covenant relationship with Him, thus bringing the them under His direct jurisdiction, the invitation was based upon what God had done for them by delivering them from cruel, Egyptian bondage.
This signal deliverance was cited by God as one of the main reasons for the proposal, for it clearly demonstrated that God was well able to protect and provide for His people. In addition, it is worthy of note that it was God who had initiated it, and not man, and therefore, the terms and conditions of the covenant were originated and instituted by God. But whenever a nation takes the initiative of making a covenant with God, they will almost always do so on their own terms, as is the case currently, hence the reason why God is held in a subservient position to the human agent in the minds of many.
In other words, to many minds, God does not reign as Sovereign here in the United states but rather as a sort of tag-along, in which the human agent calls all the shots and God is expected to humbly sign off on our dictates, or to follow along where man leads the way. In fact, when we take a closer look at the pledge of allegiance, it becomes quite obvious that God is not even to play second fiddle, but third fiddle, because the commitment is made first and foremost to the flag, and then to the Republic for which it stands. Then in last place, we have “Under God. Let’s read:
"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."
This structure inevitably places the human agent at the helm, and God is expected to accept whatever we may designate as being right, and therefore, in too many instances, we have designated wrong as being right, and right as being wrong, at the same time we’re expecting God’s blessing and approval to whatsoever our standards of morality dictate.
But this will present very serious problems, because whenever there is a form of government, made by the people and for the people, the majority opinion will ultimately be dictating morality, which will then open the floodgates of popular, majority sentiment, as the driving force behind our moral compass. As a direct result, the conscience of the nation will devolve into one where there is no absolute truth anymore, and the standard of right and wrong will become something that is fluid, changing from state to state, and from person to person, as the laws of the land permit.
What this does is to create an umbrella to allow for a culture which countenances self-expression in any form, without any accountability, once the rights of others to do the same are respected. Religious and civil liberty are the two overarching principles which make this nation great, if and when those principles are respected. But lately there has been a tectonic shift under our feet, where those who may disagree with one form of morality, are prone to persecute those who beg to differ, and thus, without the moral compass of absolute truth many are left to drift upon a morasse of divergent views, personal preferences and widely different concepts of right and wrong.
Thus, cursing by public figures and cursing in movies is protected as free speech, marriage is now defined as being between two consenting adults, regardless of gender, and lying is accepted, and often expected in high and low places. In addition, there are other spin-offs of the concept of self-expression, because gender is being defined in many instances, not by birth anymore, but by the person in question, with freedom to be identified as a he or she, a queer, a trans, non-binary, or in some extreme instances as “They”.
A few days ago, a person identifying themselves as “They” was on the news, and for a while I became confused, for even the English language does not make accommodation for one, single person to be referred to as they. Therefore, the only way such a reference can be made is by using bad English. This is what occurs when the moral compass of any nation is left up to individuals who are driven by the popular majority opinions of the day, and whereas it may be for the benefit of those who might desire freedom to do any and everything, inevitably, those who choose to follow godly, Biblical principles will be persecuted, and boycotted for doing so.
It would have been nice if Cain were to allow Abel to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, but Cain would have none of it, because he soon Boy-Cutted Abel. Therefore, even if the provision is made for free expression of a person’s religion, threats of persecution, isolation, and Boy-cuts have become the order of the day.
But when we read the scriptures, a very different picture of what one nation under God looks like emerges, for God is The One who determines what morality is, accountability is baked into the fabric of social justice, and the law of God is the only moral compass, guiding the practices and decisions of its citizens. A very far cry from what occurs currently. In other words, the phrase “One nation under God” that is currently sacredly enshrined in our pledge of allegiance, ought to have meaning, because it is an integral part of our pledge, and all pledges made to God, and man should be held sacred and binding.
Therefore, if the God in our pledge of allegiance is indeed the God of the Bible, it behooves us to see for ourselves what “One nation under God” would look like and for this we must turn to the scriptures. Let’s read:
Exodus 19:3 And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. 7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him.
Exodus 24:7 And he took the book of the covenant and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.
Obedience, and a willingness to obey all that God stipulated formed an integral part of the covenant made by the nation of Israel, and even though they apostatized many times, yet God recognized them as His people, until Christ was formally rejected. In addition, the covenant relationship included the temporal aspects of life, such as health, wealth, and protection from sickness and diseases, if the nation would follow God’s wise instructions. God isn’t only interested in the spiritual aspects of our lives, but also the temporal for they are a direct reflection of what obedience produces. Let’s read:
3rd John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe and do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. 3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 7 The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way and flee before thee seven ways. 8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
9 The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways. 10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee. 12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them.
Deuteronomy 7:15 And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee.
The principles and laws, statutes, and instructions were given for the spiritual and temporal good of the nation. And even though the covenant was only made with Israel, any other nation who desired to come under God’s jurisdiction would be more than welcome by God to do so, once the same terms and conditions laid out by Him were adopted. God desired that not only the nation of Israel, but that all peoples and nations would choose to be governed and instructed by Him, for He sent His Son Jesus to die for all and therefore, Israel was a sort of specimen in embryo form, of what any nation which desired to be “Under God” would look like. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 4:1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you. 2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. 5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; 10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. 13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
But as is the case currently Israel had departed from the covenant which they entered into with God, and the sure results followed. In the days of Elijah they were teaching their children in schools that it’s Baal, and not God who was their sole provider. Idolatry had overspread the land like a thick dark cloud, and strange forms of worship, together with warped concepts of God had been introduced, and almost imperceptibly the people had departed from truths and principles which had guided them in former years.
Thus, they refused to be one nation under God any- more, and with their fearful departures from right, their vulnerabilities became exposed, and famine, disease and death spread across the land. But God, who’s rich in mercy didn’t leave the nation to perish in its sins. Instead, He sent the prophet Elijah to show them the root cause of their distress, and how they could once more come into the divine favor. And thus, when the time had come for national reckoning, the prophet of God, traced the root cause of their trials. It was, and still is in our day, a departure from the great principles of righteousness. Let’s read:
1st Kings 18:17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim. 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
In our day, God is asking us same question, both on a personal and national level: How long halt ye between two opinions? The teaching of evolution has done much to destroy the knowledge of God across the land, because it removes God from His creation and thus, if kids are taught that there was no intelligent planning in the making of our world then it follows that we are all here by chance.
In addition, the marriage institution ordained by an intelligent God, and which forms the nucleus of all society, has become greatly distorted, and violence is being done to that which was ordained to be as a cohesive, binding agent across all nations. When kids are taught gender neutrality pertaining to the use of bathrooms, or that having two moms or two dads is acceptable, then it is just a matter of time before the entire foundation of society comes crashing down, and how one feels from day to day will be made to determine their gender.
Therefore, The God of heaven is asking again: How long halt ye between two opinions? If we desire to be one nation under the God of the Bible, then we will need to return to Biblical teaching and laws. But if we insist on a composite god, then, like ancient Israel, our vulnerabilities will be exposed, and there will be none to deliver. God is now calling on us to choose.
There are great changes to be made across the land if we would be one nation under God, and the call to repentance must take place on a national and personal level, if we desire The God of the Bible to guide us with His wisdom and discretion. In harmony with this plea we will end with passages of scripture which lay before us the terms God has given to one and all, if we desire a change of heart, and a change of fortunes. Let’s read:
2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
God Bless!