Why do people get mad when people don't stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance?

Question

I don't believe in standing up for the pledge because I believe that it means I'm worshiping it. In the Ten Commandments it say "Thou shalt have no other gods before me, thou shalt not make unto the any graven image, or any likeness that is in the Heaven above or that is in the Earth beneath or the is in the water under the Earth. Thou shalt not by down thyself to them nor serve them for I am the lord thy God." I am not Jehovah but this is what I believe and everyday my teacher gives me grief about not standing, saying that "it's not against my religion so I have to stand" Everyday I refuse I don't mean any disrespect it's just I don't understand why get upset about.

Answer 1

Around the globe, true Christians (such as Jehovah's Witnesses) respect the governments and flags under which they live. However, many true Christians understand that the flag salute is an act of worship, and that a "pledge of allegiance" can only made to God. Ceremonies involving national anthems can also approximate "worship" and non-neutrality.


Jehovah's Witnesses understand the bible to teach that Almighty God requires exclusive devotion; that is, he requires that worship and unrestricted allegiance belong to Him alone.

(Exodus 20:5) I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion

(Matthew 4:10) Then Jesus said... ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’


Of course, Jehovah's Witnesses are well-known as law-abiding persons. The Scriptures also teach that obedience is owed to secular governments, which the bible calls "the superior authorities". Of course, such subjection is RELATIVE to the unrestricted allegiance which is owed to God.

(Romans 13:1) Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God

(Acts 5:29) We must obey God as ruler rather than men

It may be helpful for non-Witnesses to read all of Daniel chapter 3, and note the connections between the ceremony described there and modern pledge of allegiance.
http://watchtower.org/bible/da/chapter_003.htm

Learn more:
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_10.htm
http://www.jw-media.org/edu_videos/vcfi_e.htm
http://www.jw-media.org/edu_videos/vcut_e.htm
http://www.jw-media.org/vnr/5263723221/22812301.htm

Answer 2

They probably think that you're disrespecting the USA by not participating in the Pledge.

Have you tried to explain your feelings to your teacher? If he/she is TRULY harrassing you, then you should let the administration at your school know about it. By giving you a hard time about not participating, they're real close to infringing on your right to worship God.

{FYI: As a JW I don't do the Pledge for the same reason you don't. Each morning when the Pledge is said I refrain from reciting it but I do it in a respectful way. I do stand but I don't put my hand on my heart. I also only stand when there are others standing; if there's no one else doing it then there's no point in me respectfully refraining from doing it. So far, no one's given me grief for it. But if standing in your case = doing the Pledge, I wouldn't do it. }

Answer 3

There is a biblical principle set for by Jesus that I live by: "Pay back, then, Caesar's things to Caesar, but God's things to God."

I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses and therefore I do not stand on the pledge of allegiance because if you look in the Encyclopaedia Brittanica, you will see that the flag salute is comparable to an act of worship. Worship is a "thing" I only give the Almighty.
I respect my country and flag, would never desecrate it by burning it , spitting on it, wearing it or bad mouthing the leaders of my country. Neither do I talk, snicker, answer my cell phone, or roll my eyes when others stand to say the Pledge or sing the National Anthem, as do some children who claim to reverence their country and Flag. I sit quietly and respectfully. I give "Caesar" his "things." There was a case back in the 70s that actually made it illegal to force a student to say the Pledge, so if your teacher is "giving you grief," that instructor is acting unprofessionally and disregarding American law. If you respect said instructor's patriotic beliefs, said instructor should respect your conscience.

There is a separation of Church and State, at least on paper, in this country. Read the account of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and Azariah in the Bible.

Answer 4

You tell your teacher the next time she says this to you, that you are an American citizen, and that we have a Constitution for a reason.

It's been many years since I was in high school, but I refused to hold my hand over my heart. I did stand for the pledge, but that was it--I just stood there, arms at side, not saying anything. I am a good citizen and I love my country and all the freedoms we have, but I refuse to "worship" a flag. I think it's more appropriate to thank God for things--not "pray" to a flag. Then again, religion has been taken out of public schools, so that's a moot point.

Answer 5

I think some see it as an attack on them or disrespect against them.

Some people seem to forget that supposedly the flag is supposed to mean "freedom". By that very principle not offering allegiance should not bother them since it is our choice.

I often wonder if these same people would resent those in other countries for not pledging themselves to their respective country.

Answer 6

People get mad because you are not following the crowd. They feel safer when they are doing what everyone else is doing. To see one person going another way makes them question themselves and they have been raised not to do that.

You are correct in your reasons. I assume you also obey all the other laws. (Don't speed. Drive on the proper side of the road. Pay due taxes. Don't litter. Have not robbed anybody. That kind of thing.) That is also the Bible's view.

The US was founded by people who did not want to act like everyone else. They established a country with just such laws protecting people like them, to do as each person heart directed. If they had lost, they would have been executed by the British.

Answer 7

I agree, it gets kind of redundant after the one thousandth time, I remember in elementary school my friend was a Jehovah's Witness and he never had to stand for the pledge, we always considered him the lucky guy. I like America to but I really do not like flag worship because I do not think people in other countries are any different but our leaders want us to be patriotic just in case they want to send us somewhere to kick everyones a s s.

Answer 8

Why is standing up just to show respect equate to worshipping? Clearly that is not putting a God before God. If you wave at a friend is that worshipping? If a man stands to great a person that he is being introduced to that is not worshipping.

Standing for this countries Pledge of Allegiance or National Anthym is not worship. It is simply showing respect.

I have been in many foreign countries and stood when their national anthym was played. I was not putting their country ahead of mine. Just showing respect as a visitor.

Answer 9

I agree with teamjesus. Standing up for the pledge would make sense if the pledge was made once or twice a year. But not EVERY DAY!!! I love my homeland (it's not the US) as much as the other guy, but if my homeland expected me to express my love for it every day, I wouldn't call it respect. I would call it brainwashing. It promotes herd mentality, which is one of the greatest dangers for a democracy.

Answer 10

People are like sheep Mila.

Anything they dont understand or is different from their "herd" makes them uncomfortable.

Don't sweat it, half the people who recite the pledge don't even know what it means.

I would reccomend you make a PLEDGE to yourself.
Pledge Life & Happiness.

Forced patriotism & superstition (religion) is ********.