Pledge of Allegiance is Unconstitutional

By Jimmy Gribble
    A federal judge has ruled that the pledge of allegiance is unconstitutional because of the phrase "under God." I don't look for the Government to sanction Christianity - one can look in the New Testament and see the problems that cause for the early Christians. But, I think we, as a Country, are hypocritical! One the one hand, we can't say the pledge because the mention of God is in, yet we can confirm and appoint and seat a chief justice on the Supreme Court with the mention of God in the appointment.
    We can't say the pledge because the mention of God is in, yet the "law makers" beginning their sessions with the mention of God. We can't say the pledge because the mention of God is in, yet when one is to testify in a court, usually the Bible is used, so is the mention of God. Many other examples could also support this hypocrisy.
    The Jews, some of them, were also hypocritical. Jesus spoke about some of their hypocrisy in Matthew 23. Some of what Jesus said follows, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous," (Matthew 23:25-29).
    A country can be hypocritical; religious people can be hypocritical. While it is okay to look outwardly, we must also, more so, look inwardly! We need to preach the truth, but we also need to live the truth. Notice what Luke wrote of our Lord, "The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach," (Acts 1:1).               
    Let us do and teach, following the example of our Lord. Beloved, listen to all of God's word, God will do thee good!

- Jimmie Z. Gribble, Thought For Today, 09/29/05, Portsmouth, VA; via the Belvedere Beacon, the weekly bulletin of the Belvedere church of Christ, Belvedere, SC.  Ken Chumbley preaches for this congregation, and he may be contacted at their website: http://www.belvederechurchofchrist.org