It’s been awhile. My last blog post was way too long ago. I could make excuses – seminary, new job, moving, trying to find a new rhythm – but really, it is just that I haven’t made time to blog. And that’s too bad, because I process life through talking – and writing. So, I’m making time. It may only be once a week for now, but I’m making time to write, and you, my readers, get to be inside my head again.
I have found myself thinking a lot about the idea of allegiance over the last few years. The definition of allegiance is:
loyalty or commitment of a subordinate to a superior or of an individual to a group or cause.
As children we were taught the Pledge of Allegiance – a pledge that we said every morning in grade school.
In this pledge we pledge our loyalty to both the flag of the United States, and to the republic that is these United States.
A book have been reading, Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer, who is part of Citizen Potawatomi Nation, includes a chapter called, “Allegiance to Gratitude.” In this chapter, Kimmerer relates a story about her daughter, who made a choice in sixth grade to no longer stand and recite the pledge each morning. For her daughter, reciting this pledge, which references “liberty and justice for all,” didn’t ring true. She told her mom, “…it’s not exactly liberty if they force you to say it, is it?”
As a Christian, and as a pastor, I think often of this idea of allegiance in terms of our allegiance to God, allegiance that God expects from us, allegiance that throughout the bible we see God’s people forsaking and offering to other gods, and as such, bringing with it consequences like exile.
As an American, I have been noticing that some who identify as Christians have allowed their allegiance to shift from God to country, or even from God to another human, and this troubles me. God made it clear from the first that humanity was to put nothing, and no one, ahead of God. Christ also made it clear that humanity cannot serve two masters because one will always rise to the top.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my country and I am glad to be a part of it, even though it is most definitely flawed and in need of some reform in order to make it true that all humanity are worthy of and experience liberty and justice. But, I am disappointed in the way that so many have put love of country above loyalty to God.
I truly believe that our allegiance must first be to God, and that means that we take seriously the commands to love God and love others. If our allegiance to our country leads us to words or actions that are not loving, then we have allowed it to take the first position in our hearts, and our priorities need to be reevaluated.
For me, I strive to pledge my allegiance to God FIRST, and that means living in such a way that God’s love is evident in everything that I say and do. I may fall short, which we all do, but I pray that God will always be first in line for my allegiance.
Before I bring my need
I will bring my heart
Before I lift my cares
I will lift my arms
I wanna know You
I wanna find You
In every season
In every moment
Before I bring my need
I will bring my heart
And seek You
First
I wanna seek You
I wanna seek You
First
I wanna keep You
I wanna keep You
First
More than anything I want, I want You
First
Before I speak a word
Let me hear Your voice
And in the midst of pain
Let me feel Your joy
Ooh, I wanna know You
I wanna find You
In every season
In every moment
Before I speak a word
I will bring my heart
And seek You
You are my treasure and my reward
Let nothing ever come before
You are my treasure and my reward
Let nothing ever come before
I seek You