tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22862995.post1634142577493733287..comments2009-07-05T10:43:30.020-07:00Comments on Gold Coast Bereans: Patriotism, Pledges and Partisan fervorRobbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01135346623653843796noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22862995.post-83003847755683827262007-03-19T11:48:00.000-07:002007-03-19T11:48:00.000-07:00I brought this question up for discussion because ...I brought this question up for discussion because I am reading a history of early Christianity by FF Bruce (a well respected theologian, now gone to be with the Lord) in which this specific question is raised in passing, but not addressed. <BR/> <BR/>I see oaths a little differently from fervor over team, country, or ethnic group; however my sense of point you are making is that oaths and pledges, for the Christian, are to be actively resisted only if they are intended as direct challenges to God’s sovereignty or meant to violate primary allegiance to Him. <BR/> <BR/>This appears to me to be a reasonable test. Daniel/friends and the early Christians appeared to apply this standard when they were commanded under threat of torture/death to swear allegiance to earthly rulers or to man-made gods rather than to God. In these cases, a pledge of duty or loyalty to a person, thing or idea that was set up in competition to God would have directly violated the command to love God above all others and to have no other gods before Him.<BR/> <BR/>I guess, then, that pledges of allegiance are okay, provided they are not worded in a way that exalts nation or team or fraternity above God. It will be interesting to hear what the others think. - Gaius Columbus Radicalis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com