The Pledge of Allegiance: 31-Words of Freedom

Sermon Title: The Pledge of Allegiance: 31 Words of Freedom

Good News Statement: Jesus sets us free

Preached: Sunday, July 2nd, 2023, at Dogwood Prairie and Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): 2 Corinthians 3:17  & Galatians 5:13- Today’s scripture reading comes from two of Paul’s epistles. The first one comes from Second Corinthians chapter three verse seventeen and Galatians chapter five verse thirteen. However, a majority of today’s sermon is based upon “The Pledge of Allegiance.”

2 Corinthians 3:17: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

Galatians 5:13: “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become enslaved to one another.”

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

 

Introduction:

Happy Fourth of July! Here are some fun facts related to this holiday of freedom and remembrance. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of declaring independence from Great Britain. At the time, John Adams believed that July 2^nd, not July 4^th, would be the date remembered by history. “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable [day] in the history of America,” Adams wrote in a letter to his wife on July 3^rd of that year. The Declaration of Independence was officially adopted two days later, marked by the ringing of the Liberty Bell at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Additionally, did you know that only John Hancock actually signed the Declaration of Independence while the others who signed it didn’t sign it until August 1776?  And did you know that every Fourth of July the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is tapped thirteen times in honor of the original thirteen colonies? This means that the bell is not actually rung. Instead, it is only being tapped.

Furthermore, three presidents have died on July 4^th: Thomas Jefferson (1826), John Adams (1826), and James Monroe (1831). The state of Massachusetts became the first state to make the Fourth of July an official state holiday in 1781 which was 89 years before Independence Day became a federal holiday in 1870 during the Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant and 20 years (1801) before Thomas Jefferson became the first president to celebrate the Fourth of July for the first time in the White House. President Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4^th, 1872.

On a lighter note, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, “Americans typically eat 150 million hot dogs on Independence Day, enough to stretch from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles. The same council reported in 2018 that Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest that is held annually on July 4^th, that the 2018 Hot Dog Eating Champion, Joey Chestnut, ate 74 hot dogs and buns in just ten minutes. (That’s approximately just over nine packages of hot dogs and hot dog buns!) About 16,000 July 4^th fireworks displays pop up each year in the United States, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association. Lastly, the famed Macy’s fireworks show in New York City uses more than 75,000 firework shells each year and cost roughly $6 million dollars to produce.

As you can tell, the Fourth of July certainly has a profound significance in our country: from our presidents, long-lasting traditions, and sometimes whimsical eating contests. The Fourth of July establishes our country’s DNA, its purpose, its meaning, and to some regard its sacred edification. The Fourth of July is one of those holidays that has the power to make us contemplate our country’s history through the lenses of sacrifice, ritual, remembrance, and justice and liberty for all. Amongst these eye opening realizations about the Fourth of July, there is one more characteristic of the Fourth of July that we need to consider: it’s religious impact on the freedom of our life. As you celebrate the Fourth of July this year, I encourage you to think about the following five phrases: Freedom from Death, Freedom of Sin, Freedom  to Choose your Path, Freedom to Proclaim the Gospel, and Freedom to Enjoy Life In Christ. The Fourth of July is more than eating hot dogs and watching the rainbow of fireworks bring color to the night sky. It is about remembering our freedom: the freedom that we have been freely given by God through Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit. This freedom is found in the words that many of us grew up saying in school, The Pledge of Allegiance. In the words of The Pledge of Allegiance is God’s promise of freedom for all people.

 

Body:

It was the summer of 2007, and my dad, mom, and older brother, Thomas, hit the road for Brookings, South Dakota, a small college town about an hour north of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. My brother accepted a job at Daktronics—a company that designs, manufactures, and installs digital display screens on the interstate, in sport complexes, concerts, and for a variety other businesses–and his first day of job training was Monday, July 2^nd. We packed his truck and our rented Jeep of his belongings and drove the next eight hours to the middle of nowhere.

Along this journey, my dad introduced me to two very important recordings: the first was a song by Sheb Wooley titled “One-Eyed, One-Horned, Flying Purple People Eater,” and the second was Red Skelton’s rendition of “The Pledge of Allegiance.” Although I found Wooley’s song to be comical and catchy, it was Red Skelton’s reciting of “The Pledge of Allegiance” that really caught my attention. On January 14, 1969, on CBS, Red Skelton recited “The Pledge of Allegiance” in front of a nation that was battling civil disputes about racism, listening to President Nixon state during his inaugural address, “Americans cannot learn from one another until we stop shouting at one another,” a nation that was preparing to land people on the moon for the first time, and welcoming over 400,000 people to The Woodstock Music and Art Fair in New York. Red Skelton gave meaning to those sacred words and provided  a definition and purpose to something that takes less 30 seconds to recite. “The Pledge of Allegiance” is composed of 31 words that have the potential to remind us of our freedom if and only if we truly take to heart what we are saying. But I ask you, “When was the last time you recited ‘The Pledge of Allegiance’?”

“The Pledge of Allegiance” was written in August 1892 by minister Francis Bellamy. It was originally published in The Youth’s Companion on September 8, 1892. The original text read, “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” It wasn’t until 1923 that the words “the flag of the United States of America” were added. Then in 1954, in response to the Communist threat of the times, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words “under God,” creating the 31-word pledge we say today. (As a side note, Bellamy’s daughter objected to this alteration.)

As I listened to (Richard) Red Skelton recite “The Pledge of Allegiance” sixteen years ago through the speakers of our rental car, I didn’t realize what I realize today. As I think about those 31-words—what they mean, what they represent, and their purpose in our devotion to the land of the free and to the home of the brave—I realize that “The Pledge of Allegiance” reminds us about our freedom: our freedom to live in and through Jesus Christ, who offers us freedom from death, freedom from sin, freedom to choose our path, freedom to proclaim the Gospel, and freedom to enjoy life in Christ. In a way, “The Pledge of Allegiance”—embedded in its 31-words—highlights the words of the Apostle Paul who states in 2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” and Galatians 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become enslaved to one another.” Again in the words of former President Nixon, “Americans cannot learn from one another until we stop shouting at one another.”  “The Pledge of Allegiance” is something more than what we simply recite: it is a prayer of freedom—to experience the Spirit of the Lord. To highlight this realization, I will do  what Red Skelton did in 1969, and give my interpretation of what each word and phrase means for us as disciples today.

First, Freedom from Death and Sin: “The Pledge of Allegiance” begins, “I pledge allegiance…” I, me, myself, an individual, a creation of God fearfully and wonderfully made in His image, have been called forth to be who God has called me to be as I take up my cross and follow Him with my whole heart, mind, body, and soul, and boldly proclaim before the LORD, just as Isaiah did, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). Pledge, to wholesomely devote and dedicate all that I am and will be to the works of the Lord who has set me free from the yoke of slavery and the chains of oppression and from the caves of death and sin; and I give myself to Christ so that I might abide in him as he abides in me (John 15:4). Allegiance: loyalty, reverence, honor, respect, faithfulness , the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) to the one up above who is and forever will be the “way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6) of our eternal salvation, blessed assurance, and amazing grace.

“I pledge allegiance” begins our freedom. These words represent our freedom from death and sin. We devote ourselves, just as God has created us, to God himself as we give our allegiance and reverence to His mighty deeds and works. John states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). For those who pledge allegiance to God will not perish but will have eternal life and be forgiven of their sins. The very reason why Jesus had to die on the cross is to free all of humanity—you and me—from sin and give us the opportunity to attain eternal life. That is how much God loves us. He sacrificed His own begotten Son just to save you from your sins –– to save you from death!

John wrote in his Gospel when quoting Jesus, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever.  So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34-36). We will constantly battle the ways of sin in our life: around every corner, Satan is waiting for you to give into jealousy, pride, greed, addiction, gluttony, selfishness, and to judge others. However, when you pledge allegiance to the Lord, you are set free from sin because Satan will not have the last word, Satan will not conquer Christ, and Satan cannot take hold of a heart that is truly devoted to the Lord. “I pledge allegiance” to Christ so that I may be set free from sin and death as I seek to experience eternal life with him. Are you willing to pledge allegiance to God today?

Second, Freedom to Choose your Path: The next portion of “The Pledge of Allegiance” is as follows, “to the flag of the United States of America .” To the flag: the symbol and emblem of our freedom that is so gallantly streaming and waving bravely through the rockets’ red glare and the bombs bursting in the air. This flag, a physical and tangible sign of victory and justice is composed of thirteen stripes and fifty stars that are all stitched together by the sacrificial words inscribed on the hearts of many, “In God We Trust.” The phrase “to the flag” is a declaration of freedom that gives proof that trust in God can and will triumph over the mistakes, messes, and trials in our life. In the King James Version, Isaiah 53:3 reminds us of how powerful and healing stripes can be: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes, we are healed.”  Of the United States of America: a nation—young, independent, and developing—a piece of land, created by God in the beginning to forever be the land of the free and the home of the brave by which seeks to unite the people by having them love their neighbor as they love themselves all while striving to develop practices by which exemplifies a path of living “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Both the flag and the United States of America represent the people’s dreams of being able to choose their own path in life in hopes of being set free. When writing to the people of Corinth, Paul notes, “All things are permitted for me, but not all things are beneficial. All things are permitted for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12). We have the freedom to choose our path, just like those who fought for the significance of the flag, but our path must always find a way to lead to or return to God. Paul continues in chapter 9, “For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might gain all the more” (1 Corinthians 9:19).  Paul chose a path of freedom that resulted in him serving the people, hoping to unite them as one people of God.

“To the flag of the United States of America,” represents our free will, our freedom to choose our own path, to stand firm, and to not “submit again to the yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). God has given us the act of free will so that we might learn from our mistakes and find our way back to Him so that we might be united with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and be made one in him (Ephesians 4:4-6). For those who will choose Christ, God guarantees them eternal life. Aside from this, He will help us attain success and a life full of peace, order, and justice despite our current circumstances. Whatever we do with our lives, we should always seek God’s counsel and choose to honor Him over anything else.

Third, Freedom to Proclaim the Gospel: “The Pledge of Allegiance” continues, “and to the republic for which it stands.” And to the republic: a sovereign group of people who come together as one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God of all (Ephesians 4:4-6) for the sake of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world; a group of people who are different on many fronts but are one in God’s kingdom; a group of people who love their neighbor, enemy, and the stranger as they love themselves; and a group of people who confess, “We, the people, in order to form a more perfect union trust in God to secure justice and love to all.” For which is stands: we stand in the presence of God to create His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven—a kingdom that will stand the test of time, will reject worldly temptations, and will seek to bless and rescue the lost.

Jesus states in Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind and to set free those who are oppressed…” We are free to proclaim the Gospel. As a republic, as a people, as believers in Christ Jesus, we have been commissioned to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). We have been given the tools that we need to spread the good news, to proclaim release, to help people see the way of the Lord, and to free those who have yet to be set free. We have been called to be representatives, ambassadors for Christ. We have been called to live out the words of Locke, who Thomas Jefferson quotes in the Declaration of Independence, we are endowed by our Creator to seek “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for the sake of bringing the Gospel to life. We are free to proclaim the good news in ways that invite others to stand firm on the promises of God, to look at the cross before them, and fulfill the message of the Jesus’ resurrection. We have been set free to proclaim the Gospel, to allow people to pursue life, liberty, and happiness,  but what is holding us back from doing so?

Fourth, Freedom to Enjoy Life in Christ: “The Pledge of Allegiance” ends with these words, “One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” One nation under God: we are one people, one common entity, one source of hope and light. As one nation, who is under God, we find ourselves under God’s reign and protection. One nation under God is our cry to come together, to live as one, as God intended: one God and Father of all. Indivisible: united, unable to be separated, joined and knitted together, unbreakable, immutable, and impassible. Under the protection of God nothing can separate us from His unending love and amazing grace. With Liberty and Justice for all: with freedom, with emancipation, with free-will to do good and not do harm. To practice liberty and justice for all, we must be willing to allow our plans to subside while God’s plans reign, we must commit our works to the LORD, we must seek to follow the foot prints of Christ, and we must fulfill the purposes of the LORD in everything that we do (Proverbs 16). We must love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Administering justice and liberty for all—not a select few who we agree with but for those who we disagree with as well—means that we have chosen to enjoy a life in Christ.

Paul writes to the Romans, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Romans 8:1-2). The Psalmist writes in Psalm 97:10, “You who love the Lord, hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.” As we continue to live our lives for Christ, seeking to administer liberty and justice for all, God assures us that no matter what circumstances we may face, He will always protect us. This is the assurance for those who are His faithful ones; to those who continually live their lives under God’s grace. With this, we, as God’s children, aren’t bound by the law of sin and death but by the law of God’s grace and mercy. So, we should continually live our life to the fullest by making God the priority of our lives and being there for all people just like Jesus did.

 

Conclusion:

As we left Brookings, South Dakota, seeing my brother waving in the rearview mirror, we said, “It is going to be a different Fourth of July without him being home.” There was great sadness in our heart and heaviness in our words, as we drove away. But there was happiness knowing that he was starting a new life!

On the way home, we discussed our options for seeing fireworks. We ended up settling on a new location across the Mississippi River. When the first firework was launched into the starless night sky, we could hear the faint words of “The Star Spangled Banner” flowing over the trees as we sat in the parking lot of a local bank. Then following “The Star Spangled Banner,” the voice of a child was heard reciting “The Pledge of Allegiance”: “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.”

As soon as I heard those words, I remembered Red Skelton’s 1969 version of “The Pledge of Allegiance”: its sacredness, wholeness, and devotion. Within “The Pledge of Allegiance” we are set free from sin and death, we are free to choose our path, we are free to proclaim the Gospel message, and we are free to enjoy a life in Christ. “The Pledge of Allegiance” is more than something we recite out of habit or memory: it is something that we live out in our daily lives as we have been called to experience freedom through Christ.

As we celebrate freedom this coming Fourth of July, let us always remember the true freedom that is found in Jesus Christ. For Christ freed us from sin, from the bondages, from death, and from all evil things. With this, Christ deserves to be praised and honored during this day. This coming fourth of July, let the name of the Lord Jesus Christ be spread amongst all the nations: for true freedom is found in Christ, and Christ is freedom Himself. Let freedom ring through the land of the free and the home of the brave. And before you go to bed on the Fourth of July, I encourage you to recite “The Pledge of Allegiance” and really think about what you are saying, and at the end repeat the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., “Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, I am free at last.”

Let it be so…

 

Transition to  Holy Communion:

 

Closing Prayer:

            Let Us Pray…Dear Gracious God of freedom, help us today and every day to pledge our life to you so that we may find ways to be set free from sin and death, to proclaim the good news, to choose a path that leads to you, and to live a life in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. O God, we want to be set free. We want to be forever under your protection. We want to experience liberty and justice for all. O God, allow us to reflect on what it means to be set free in your love and care, and may we share this freedom with all nations. All honor and glory is yours, now and forever, Amen.

 

Benediction:

For our benediction, may we recite together those famous 31-words that remind us of our freedom in Christ Jesus our Lord: “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.” In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, go out into the world knowing that you have been set free. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.