Across the Pastor’s Desk by Kenneth Jensen

When I was in eighth grade, we began each day reciting, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America …one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

“Under God?” I questioned.  What happened?  That wasn’t what I had previously learned.  Later, I discovered it was inserted into the Pledge of Allegiance under President Dwight Eisenhower.

What does it mean to affirm we are “one nation under God”?  The question inspired me to read again the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

The Declaration stated an unalienable human right is “the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.”  The Constitution begins, “We the people… in order to form a more perfect union.”

George Will, renown conservative columnist, observed that Conservatives interpret these documents in terms of individualism while Progressives see them in terms of collectivism.

Both are commendable values.  Impeding individualism can suppress original thought, creativity, and innovation while constraining collectivism can mute issues of social justice pitting “us” against “them” and “haves” against “have nots.”

Jesus expressed the significance of what it means to live “under God” in Mark 12:33-34.  He succinctly reduced the Ten Commandments to two:  Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and, love your neighbor as yourself.

A recent headline in the Minneapolis Star Tribune caught my eye: “Toxic Culture Can Kill a Company.”  As we look to the Fourth of July on Tuesday, I fear a toxic culture can also destroy a nation.  As American Christians, it behooves us to remind our politicians, and those who vote for them, that we still pledge our allegiance to “one nation under God.”

The Apostle James reminds us: “Wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full or mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:17-18 NIV).

Kenneth Jensen is a retired ELCA pastor living in Albert Lea.