Pledges, Oaths, and Service to the Nations of This World?

In the Hebrew Torah, pledges and oaths, along with the service which flows from them, are regarded as sacred responsibilities to God and/or the people to whom they apply. Indeed, this concept is nowhere more apparent than in the Jewish Shema (a daily declaration of faith). In their article on The Shema, Chabad.org informs us that "Shema Yisrael (שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל) ('Hear, O Israel') are the first two words of a section of the Torah that is the centerpiece of the morning and evening prayer services, encapsulating the monotheistic essence of Judaism: 'Hear, O Israel: G‑d is our L‑rd, G‑d is one.'" They go on to tell us that "the Shema consists of three paragraphs: Deuteronomy 6:4–9, Deuteronomy 11:13–21 and Numbers 15:37–41."

The really critical passage is as follows: "You shall love the L-rd your G‑d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart. You shall teach them thoroughly to your children, and you shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates." In other words, The Shema was intended to be a reminder to the Jews that their primary allegiance was to the God of Israel and "his" standards. In the New Living Translation, that critical verse is translated: "Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders."

In short, Israel was expected to be devoted to God. This, of course, would make them very different from the nations which surrounded them, and the peoples who had previously inhabited the land which had been promised to them. In Deuteronomy, we read: "When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods." (Deuteronomy 12: 29-31, ESV) A little later, in the same book, we read: "When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations." (Deuteronomy 18:9, ESV) Clearly, the other nations did NOT serve the God of Israel - they served other gods.

Later, it is important to note that Israel grew tired of being different and wanted to be more like the nations which surrounded them (I Samuel 8:4-5). Continuing in this account, we read that Samuel was displeased with this request, but God told him to "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them." (I Samuel 8:6-7, ESV). Clearly, God expected "his" people to be different from the other nations of the earth, and their failure to do so would have far reaching consequences for them, and the covenant which God had made with them. Indeed, throughout the major and minor prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures, Israel's bad behavior is contrasted with that of the nations which surrounded them (and Israel often did not fare well in the comparison).

Even so, the greatest examples of how NOT to act as a nation, are found in the book of Daniel, and the nation which would become the epitome of human governance and service to false gods was BABYLON! In that book, we see the king of Babylon subjugating the people of Israel (as well as many other peoples in that part of the world). Indeed, that king's relentless pursuit of wealth, power, and glory became legendary! Nevertheless, throughout this narrative, the human king at its center (whichever of the four kingdoms he represented: Babylon, Persia, Greece, or Rome) demanded the absolute allegiance of his subjects. And, like Nebuchadnezzar before them, they pursued military might and used it to conquer the peoples of other lands. Moreover, they viewed both the human and natural resources of the earth as being at their disposal - as theirs to exploit and use to garner even more wealth and power. In fact, the way that human governance is portrayed in this book would become the symbolic standard for the apocalyptic writings of the New Testament book of Revelation.

In the thirteenth chapter of that book, we read about a human kingdom referred to as "the beast." John wrote: "And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority...the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?'" (Revelation 13:2-4, ESV) Notice that, like the kingdoms and the beasts which represented them in the book of Daniel, that this beast exercises great authority and influence throughout the earth. We are informed that it is WORSHIPED (as a false god), and it is boasted that no one can stand against its military might! A little later, we are informed that this beast "opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it..." (Revelation 13:6-8, ESV)

Now, in light of what we have already discussed, it is of particular interest to us that a second beast is mentioned in this chapter which we are told "exercises all the authority of the first beast." (Revelation 13:11-12, ESV) Moreover, it is revealed that this beast deceives the whole world into worshiping the first beast and has the power to kill anyone who doesn't do that! (Revelation 13:13-15) Finally, this beast also "causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name." (Revelation 13:16-17, ESV) Notice, that just like the symbol which reminded the Israelites that their primary allegiance was owed to God, this "Mark of the Beast" is worn on the right hand or the forehead! Hence, this mark is a symbol of the people's allegiance to the beast! Indeed, we are told that one cannot even participate in its commerce without it!

Interestingly, for Christians, Jesus identified Two Commandments as comprehending the entirety of the Law. According to him, the greatest commandment was "You shall love the L-rd your G‑d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." The second greatest was to love your neighbor as yourself (See Matthew 22:34-40). Moreover, he said that after just having been asked about paying taxes to Rome. His reply? "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God." In other words, Christians were to be good citizens of the empire - subject to it, but NOT serving or worshiping it (that was reserved for God)! In that same account, Christ was reported to have said: "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." (Matthew 6:24, ESV) And, although Christ contrasted service to God with service to money in this instance, the context makes clear that we could substitute ANY other thing for money!

Jesus also made it very clear that he did not want his followers to exercise authority in the same way that the leadership of the world exercised the authority that had been given to it. He said: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28, ESV) Clearly, Christ did NOT want his disciples to follow human notions about authority. Indeed, Christ demanded that his followers walk a fine line - they were to be subject to human authorities, but NOT be like them!

Christ's perspective on this was underscored in his own prayer to God shortly before he was put to death by the Roman Governor of Judea. He prayed: "I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." (John 17:14-18, ESV) Clearly, Christ believed that following God's instructions would distinguish his people from those who were part of the world around them. And, once again, he said: "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, ESV)

Finally, Christ's attitude toward human authority was underscored by what he said to the Roman governor just before he was to be beaten and crucified. He said: "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." (John 18:36, ESV) Later, we read of this exchange between Jesus and the governor: "So Pilate said to him, 'You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?' Jesus answered him, 'You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.'" (John 19:10-11, ESV) Notice that Christ acknowledged his authority (and later submitted to it), but he clearly understood who had the ultimate authority - the final word!

This is also consistent with what the Apostle Paul wrote to the disciples at Rome. He said: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore, one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:1-8, ESV) Peter said the same thing in fewer words: "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." (I Peter 2:17, ESV)

Clearly, Christians in the First Century understood that there was an invisible but very real boundary between their responsibilities as citizens, and their actual participation in the human system which reigned over them. They understood that people of faith must be strangers and exiles on this earth (Hebrews 11:13-16, ESV). In short, Christians must seek a better country - the one that has been prepared for them by God! We must understand that our primary citizenship is in God's Kingdom (Philippians 3:20). Indeed, in the verses which preceded the one quoted above from Peter's epistle, we have a very articulate summary of the boundaries between the two systems. He wrote: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God." (I Peter 2:9-16, ESV)

Hence, when we return to the book of Revelation, the text of that book begins to make even more sense in terms of participating in the "beast's" system. Indeed, whatever your views on the proper interpretation of that book (past, present, or future), we can see that the text is clearly about man's system being fundamentally at odds with a Christian's participation in it! The text of that book refers to a "Great Prostitute" who rides the "beast," "And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: 'Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.' And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." (Revelation 17:1-6, ESV) Of course, eventually, this unholy alliance will fall apart (Revelation 17:7-14). Continuing in this text, however, we learn: "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages...And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth." (Revelation 17:15-18, ESV) Whatever you and I think about this passage, it is clear that folks in the First Century would have recognized that "great city" as Rome! Notice too, that the woman is symbolically referred to as "Babylon" - clearly suggesting the same kind of human authority dealt with in the book of Daniel.

The story continues into the next chapter, and we find out there that the city falls (Revelation 18:1-3). Continuing, we read: "Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back as she herself has paid back others and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow and mourning I shall never see.’ For this reason, her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her." (Revelation 18:4-8, ESV) The very clear implication is that God doesn't want "his" people participating in Babylon! Indeed, the chapter ends with this observation about the woman: "in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth." (Revelation 18:24, ESV)

Let's take a moment and review. From a Scriptural perspective, Christians are expected to remember at all times that their PRIMARY allegiance is owed to God and "his" kingdom - that we are, first and foremost, citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. Second, we are expected to be good citizens of the nation/kingdom/empire where we live, and that means obeying the laws, paying our taxes, and praying for the leaders. Third, we are NOT supposed to become a part of its political system. So, where do we draw the line? Each of us must ultimately answer to the dictates of our own consciences and Almighty God. For me, it seems very clear that holding office or serving in the military would constitute participating in the human system of a nation. Now, I understand the reasoning of some folks who would add voting and serving on juries to those things. Personally, I believe that those two areas are seen by some folks as one of the duties of citizenship, but I think that the answer must depend on to what degree one feels comfortable in participating in the human system. I did serve in the United States Army once upon a time and felt that it was compatible with my conscience at the time. Would I make the same decision today? Obviously, I would NOT!

"But a democracy is different!" some will insist. Is it? Does the United States demand the allegiance of its citizens? Does the United States glory in its military might? Do the President, Congress, and the Courts exercise their authority over the folks they are supposed to be serving? Does partisanship in American society lead to compassion, mercy, forgiveness, honesty, patience, peace, kindness, joy, etc.? Do the institutions of the United States require oaths and/or pledges of allegiance to them? Does America employ it power in the areas of trade and economic dominance over other nations? Has the United States ever employed military might to advance its agenda? Has the United States government ever exploited its own citizens or resources? I ask again: Is the United States really that different from the Babylonian model?

I think that there is another question that is even more important in determining our degree of participation in a human system: What does the Government of the United States expect from its citizens who participate in its governance? Of course, most of us who live in the U.S. have recited "The Pledge of Allegiance" from time to time: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." In this connection, we should also note that it is proper protocol to stand facing the flag with your right hand over your heart when reciting the pledge. I remember when I took the "Oath of Enlistment" in the Army, I was required to say: "I, Lonnie Hendrix, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." Likewise, the President and other officers of our government are required to swear allegiance to the United States Constitution. Hence, we should all be asking ourselves as citizens of THE KINGDOM, what does it mean to swear or affirm allegiance to a nation of this earth?

Could that be why Jesus had something very specific to say about oaths during his earthly ministry? In his famous "Sermon on the Mount," he said: "you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil (or the evil one)." (Matthew 5:33-37, ESV) Hence, for those of us who profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ, I would say that we all need to ask ourselves: "To what extent should I participate in the Babylonian governments of this world?" OR "How close can I get to this flame without being burned by it?" OR "Do I want God's mark on my forehead and hand, or the Beast's mark there?" One last question: Is that old profession of "God and country" really consistent with having no other gods besides (or next to) THE GOD? What do you think?