One Nation Under God

 America is relatively unique in the fact that its citizens regularly recite a pledge of allegiance.  Only two nations currently observe this practice, the United States and the Philippines. 

The Pledge of Allegiance originated after the end of the Civil War as an effort to inculcate a sense of patriotism and unity around the visible symbol of our Republic, the American Flag.  The basic form of our Pledge of Allegiance was created in 1892 by Francis Bellamy.  Through the years the form of the Pledge was expanded little by little until it obtained its current form.  The Pledge of Allegiance currently reads as follows:

“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.”

It is the expansion of the phrase “one nation” to “one Nation under God”, officially added in 1954, which has proven to be the most controversial addition to the Pledge of Allegiance since it came into broad public use.  Some argue that its inclusion originated with cynical political motives to distinguish the United States from its Cold War rivals.  Some would argue that its inclusion constitutes an impermissible establishment of religion. 

Whatever the arguments against its usage, I would argue that the phrase “one Nation under God” is the most crucial element, without the inclusion of which, the entire Pledge of Allegiance becomes worthless. 

Implicit in the phrase “one Nation under God” is the idea that the Republic in which we live is under the providence and rule of God Almighty.  This Republic is subject to the all-seeing gaze of the Creator and Judge of us all, and therefore accountable to Him.  Why is this such an important confession?

One of the Psalms from the Bible helps to illustrate why this idea is crucial. 

Psalm 82

God has taken his place in the divine council;

In the midst of the gods he holds judgment:

“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked?

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;

Maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. 

Rescue the weak and the needy;

Deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

They have neither knowledge nor understanding,

They walk about in darkness;

All the foundations of the earth are shaken.

I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;

nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.”

Arise, O God, judge the earth;

For you shall inherit all the nations!

 

In this short psalm, God is seen taking his seat of judgment within an assembly of earthly princes, to whom the author gives the title gods (small g) as an honorific for their exalted place as rulers.  In this assembly, God rebukes the earthly rulers for their failure to implement justice for those whom they govern.  This is particularly true for the weak, the poor, and the defenseless.  At the end of the Psalm is a not-so-subtle reminder to the unjust princes, that they too shall be subject to God’s judgment and that they will be held accountable for denying justice to those they have been appointed to govern. 

It is this belief alone, that we not only can be called to account, but that we will be called to account that moderates our behavior.  It is only the belief that there is a Judge more powerful than the highest prince, president, governor, or representative that moderates the excesses of those in power and encourages them to rule justly and wisely. 

Without this foundation, we would not have the grounds to pledge even a limited allegiance to the Republic for which our flag stands.  We have seen throughout recent history the truth of this idea.  It is under men such as Hitler, Stalin, and Mao, who viewed themselves as the wellspring of all authority where the worst atrocities and excesses have been committed.  These are men who saw themselves as accountable to no one.  And yet, they too shall stand in the divine council to be judged by the God of the Universe. 

It is important that we continue to cultivate and remind one another of this reality.  It could even be considered our civic duty to do so.  Without the acknowledgement that we are “one Nation under God” there is no possibility of an oath of allegiance to a Republic that has no limits.  We should either retain the phrase, or lose the whole of the Pledge.