Christian Flag: Pros and Cons of Saying the Pledge

The Christian flag pledge closely follows the wording of the Pledge of Allegiance. The pledge is as follows, "I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag and to the Savior for whose kingdom it stands. One brotherhood, uniting all mankind, in service and love."

According to Auburn University, Methodist pastor Lynn Harold Hough first drafted the pledge. Hough was inspired at a rally, where he heard Ralph Diffendorfer's impassioned endorsement of the flag. Hough longed to write a pledge that captured such passion and love for Christianity.

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Since 1908, controversy has raised multiple times concerning when and where it is appropriate to say the Christian flag pledge. Here are some pros and cons of saying the Pledge:

Pros for Saying the Pledge

1. Increases solidarity by uniting all who recite it together.

2. Establishes a baseline standard to which every Christian who recites the pledge believes.

3. Educates listeners to what Christians strive to do.

4. Saying the pledge represents the reciter's faith, just like wearing a cross necklace does. It is a public affirmation of their religious beliefs.

5. Its familiar tune makes it easy to remember.

6. It spreads a positive message of love and unity.

7. Private Christian schools can recite it as part of their morning activities.

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Cons for Saying the Pledge

1. Reciting the pledge publicly may offend people of other religions.

2. The resemblance of the Christian flag pledge to the Pledge of Allegiance for the American flag makes an alarming connection between Christianity and patriotism. America's government is secular, and deliberately divides the matters of church and state.

3. A citizen may feel conflicted between the two pledges if they are religious but also firmly for the separation of church and state.

4. Makes patriotism an issue of faith, and faith an issue of patriotism. No separation of church and state.

5. Allegiance is defined in Black's Law Dictionary as an "Obligation of fidelity and obedience which the individual owes to the government under which he lives, or to his sovereign in return for the protection he receives."

When a person pledges allegiance to both Christianity and America, it places Christianity and America in tension with each other. It is ambiguous as to what pledge the citizen swears greater fealty to.

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