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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.
How is saying the pledge worship to a flag?
The whole way you posted and bragged about how you didn't recite the pledge speaks volumes as far as I am concerned.
I get tired of people trying to pin their own personal convictions on others and judging others as sinning based on their own opinion and interpretation of scripture.
Wow. Communist swine. Nice.
I'm not sure I'd go that far. I just think it's petty, short-sighted and ignorant. Then again, many Baptist pastors are petty, short-sighted and ignorant.
So I guess it's par for the course.
Great response. Thank you.
I think it's important to remember that I'm specifically talking about the pledge in corporate worship. I'll be honest, I don't pledge at all anymore, but I'm not so bothered by it's presence in public school or other gatherings. I just feel it's completely inappropriate in corporate worship. In fact, it compromises corporate worship.
Regarding being a Communist, had you told me your going to be a US Senator today or a Congressman get elected & then conspire with wall street bankers to flit away the tax payers money & bankrupt the country, then maybe I'd consider you a Communist.
So why don't you pledge allegiance at all anymore?
Apparently some abide by a different pledge and they keep repeating that in their mind. It is similar to almost any other entity that wants to grow by devious means.Do the Banksters down on Wall Street do the Pledge every morning?
I think the commie thing was regarding the pastor who said he'd fire me if I did this at his church.
Apparently some abide by a different pledge and they keep repeating that in their mind. It is similar to almost any other entity that wants to grow by devious means.
Ps. 9:20, "Put them in fear, O Lord; Let the nations know that they are but men. Selah." Nations are men.Because the flag (and, by extension, country it represents) becomes the focus. And because I'm pledging something that belongs to God's Kingdom alone.
So where does God tell us to worship him in this way in the church? Don't you think God knows the proper way to worship him? And don't you think he told us what the proper way to worship him is?If you have a personal conviction, then abide by it, but I think it's judgmental to assume it's a sin for those who do incorporate the pledge into worship services. I've already stated that for me, the pledge inspires worship to God. It is not a sin for me to say the pledge during church service simply because someone else says it's wrong FOR THEM to do so. It's not a sin for me to honor mothers during worship on Mother's Day. If it's a sin for you, then don't do it.
I get tired of people trying to pin their own personal convictions on others and judging others as sinning based on their own opinion and interpretation of scripture.
What is the purpose of the church? Is it not to worship God AND edify the believers? What if we can do both at the same time?So where does God tell us to worship him in this way in the church? Don't you think God knows the proper way to worship him? And don't you think he told us what the proper way to worship him is?
I am not sure where man gets the prerogative to worship God in his own way. You are correct that it's not a sin to say the pledge during a church service because someone else says its wrong for them to do. I would say it's a sin because it is contrary to what God told us to do.
1) Several come to mind, (2) yes, those are among them though there are more, and (3) we can and should. All worship should edify believers.What is the purpose of the church? Is it not to worship God AND edify the believers? What if we can do both at the same time?
As a part of worship, absolutely right. It is a sin to sing Happy Birthday to someone as a part of the worship of God.With this logic, it must be a "sin" for my church to sing happy birthday to its members, because God didn't tell us to do that.
I can agree to those two points.When God has told us how to worship him, we don't have the right to consider what we think helps us to worship him. It's not our call. It is God's call.
And again, I would make the point that the distinct nature of the church is the absence of nationality. We should do nothing to send any other message. The pledge of allegiance divides the church because not all are American in the church, and we are asking people in the church to divide themselves on the basis of national allegiance rather than unify themselves on the basis of the gospel.
If you want to be patriotic:
- Vote. Not just in large, general elections. Participate in the local elections and the primary processes.
- Stay in contact with your elected representatives on local and national levels. Be part of the solution where possible. Be a thorn when necessary.
- Find out about a young man/woman going through basic training (who may be 18 and away from home for the first time). Send them a card or letter of encouragement.
- Find out about a deployed soldier/seaman/airman. Provide specific support for their (and/or their young family's) needs. They don't have to be in a combat zone but could be on remote assignment in some other "garden spot".
- Other....
In short, being patriotic is like ministry. You have to get your hands a little dirty for it to be the real thing.
This is true and false. I think some funerals can be worship services, but many are not. I refuse to call it worship when we hear how great Mr. Smith is for an hour and we hear singing about how we can't wait to see Mr. Smith and grandma and grandpa and we'll all get together on the porches of our respective mansions.A funeral is not a worship service.