For most kids, when they are at school, their mornings begin with them standing, hand over heart, to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. This is a key patriotic exercise that we require daily from our children as an oath of allegiance to the U.S. flag and what it stands for.

Since quarantine started, every morning we receive a call from my son’s school with the principal reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, to help continue the tradition. Today, as I was listening to the words, I wondered if our children really understand the words that they are reciting, the words that they are verbally vowing to uphold.

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.

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in August 1892 by a Christian Minister, and formally adopted by Congress as the pledge in 1942. For decades we have recited it and sworn the oath, yet many of us have not upheld the words.

One nation- We swear an oath stating that we are one nation. It doesn’t say one nation if…

If we all believe the same thing

If we all look alike

If we all…fill in the blank

We swear we are one nation no matter what.

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

Indivisible- As one nation, we are indivisible, meaning we cannot be divided. Yet, we divide our nation on political views, race, gender, ethnicity, and anything else that makes us different. We swear an oath to be united as one. Being indivisible means that we should embrace our differences to learn from one other and use each other’s gifts to strengthen us as one nation.

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there are no divisions among you.” 1 Corinthians 1:10

Justice for all -  We swear that all in our nation will receive the same treatment. Slavery ended in 1863, women were given the right to vote in 1920 and Congress adopted the pledge in 1942. The adoption of the pledge, the oath, should have been the end to unfair treatment. However, we still see injustice today. The #blacklivesmatter movement began in 2013 and has most recently been revitalized by George Floyd’s death. The #metoo movement began in 2006 and was revitalized in 2017. As a united nation where we swear justice for all, we should not need movements to fight for justice. We should equally love the woman, the child, and those who are different; in every moment and in every conversation so justice prevails for ALL.

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8 

The Pledge of Allegiance is the act of swearing an oath. An oath is a solemn promise, or a vow to uphold what you pledge to do. No matter what the circumstances are, swearing an oath is serious business. So I end with a few questions: How do we be the change? How do we begin to uphold the promise that we have pledged since childhood? How do we begin to live as one nation, indivisible with justice for all?

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1