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The Pledge of Allegiance
written in 1892

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Did you know that the Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 so that school children across the nation could recite it as the American flag was raised in honor of the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America? Now that the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery has come and gone, some Americans condemn both the man and the holiday. They seek to depict Columbus as a murderous pirate who brought death and slavery to the New World, killing Native Americans by ill treatment and disease, but Columbus depicted himself as a servant of God.

The Pledge of Allegiance has also come under attack today, particularly because of the phrase "under God" which was added by Congress in 1954 to "further acknowledge the dependence of our people and our Government upon the moral directions of the Creator." As President Eisenhower said at the time of signing the law: "These words will . . . help us to keep constantly in our minds and hearts the spiritual and moral principles which alone give dignity to man, and upon which our way of life is founded.

It becomes clear as we look at the attacks on both Columbus and the Pledge of Allegiance that the actual target is Western civilization and, in some cases, Christianity itself. Until very recently, both honoring Christopher Columbus and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, with hand over heart, was associated with patriotism and love of God and country. 

Columbus Day was established to honor Christopher Columbus for his discovery of America on October 12, 1492. In describing this discovery to King Ferdinand of Spain, Columbus portrayed himself as a devout and sincere Christian rejoicing in the souls that would be saved in this new land. He wrote:

". . . Therefore let the king and queen, the princes and their most fortunate kingdoms, and all other countries of Christendom give thanks to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who has bestowed upon us so great a victory and gift. Let religious processions be solemnized; let sacred festivals be given; let the churches be covered with festive garlands. Let Christ rejoice on earth, as he rejoices in heaven, when he foresees coming to salvation so many souls of people hitherto lost."

We don’t know how Columbus‘ news was actually celebrated in the 15th Century, but we do know that thousands of European Christians followed Columbus to America to plant colonies and lead souls to Christ.

Christian Colonies on Soul-Saving Missions

Plymouth, Massachusetts was established as the first Christian colony in America in 1620. When forty-one Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact on November 21, 1620, they declared their intention to establish their colony in God’s name and for His glory, and to advance the Christian faith. 

In the next decade, thousands of Puritans under the leadership of John Winthrop followed the Pilgrims to the New World. It was their desire to: 

• Carry the Gospel and bring the fullness of the Gentiles into the Kingdom of God.

• Enjoy the liberties of the Gospel in purity with peace.

• Obey the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19, 20 to share the Gospel with the American Indians and with the thousands of souls in transit across the ocean who needed to hear about Jesus. 

• Help establish and support an infant church.

• Be a city on a hill, a city of God, a holy city in America.

In June 1636, Roger Williams dedicated Providence, Rhode Island as "a shelter for persons distressed for conscience." The Rhode Island Charter of 1663 expressed an evangelistic spirit toward Native Americans: 

". . .whereby our said people and inhabitants, in the said Plantations, may be so religiously, peaceably and civilly governed, as that, by their good life and orderly conversations, they may win and invite the native Indians of the country to the knowledge and obedience of the only true God, and Savior of mankind;

Queen Christina of Sweden granted a colonial charter to encourage trade, settlement and the spreading of the Gospel in Delaware in 1637. She gave instructions regarding Christian living in the colony in 1642:

"Above all things, shall the Governor consider and see to it that a true and due worship, becoming honor, laud, and praise be paid to the Most High God in all things, and to that end all proper care shall be taken that divine service be zealously performed . . .; and all persons, but especially the young, shall be duly instructed in the articles of their Christian faith; and all good church discipline shall in like manner be duly exercised and received."

"The wild nations, bordering upon all other sides, the Governor shall . . . at every opportunity, exert himself, that the same wild people may gradually be instructed in the truths and worship of the Christian religion, . . .."

In 1639, the Colony of Connecticut adopted a set of Fundamental Orders in which they agreed to govern themselves according to God in order to maintain and preserve the liberty and purity of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that they professed. In 1677, the Quaker Trustees of West Jersey established a government whose framework provided for the people’s liberty as men and as Christians. Most importantly, the Charter provided for freedom of worship. 

In 1681, William Penn provided a haven in Pennsylvania for Quakers and for all those professing Jesus as the Christ and Savior. He established a community based on both political and religious freedom that would be an example to the nations. Viewing the plan as a "Holy Experiment," Penn wanted to establish a society that was both godly and virtuous and to bring the "savage Natives by gentle and just manners to the love of civil society and Christian religion."

One of the corporate goals of the Georgia Trustees under James Oglethorpe in 1733 was to provide for the conversion of the Indians through the colony’s good discipline and example of just, moral, and religious behavior. Oglethorpe’s first official act as a Trustee in Savannah was to kneel with his company to offer thanksgiving and prayer to God.

Whatever the 15th Century celebration of Columbus’ discovery was, his dream that Christian colonies be planted and many souls saved came to fruition. In 1792, 300 years after Columbus called for rejoicing in heaven and earth, Italian Americans began to celebrate the anniversary of his discovery. But it was not until the 400th anniversary, under a proclamation from President Benjamin Harrison, that all Americans celebrated Columbus Day. 

A federal holiday was declared in 1968 to celebrate Columbus Day on the second Monday in October. On that day, the flag of the United States is displayed on all public buildings in honor of Christopher Columbus, and Americans are officially called upon to observe appropriate ceremonies and activities. 

Culture Clash

Today the anniversary of Columbus’ discovery highlights the culture clash between those Americans who still honor God and country and those who find no cause for celebration, but champion a new holiday to celebrate ethnic diversity and America’s indigenous peoples. Columbus is vilified by some as the symbolic gateway into the New World for the "sins" against Native Americans perpetrated by those who followed him.

Some protestors choose Columbus Day to demonstrate the beauty of the culture that existed in America before Columbus’ discovery. But this message also carries the clear overtone that the Christians who followed Columbus had no right to spread the Gospel among Native Americans. In the same way, critics of the Pledge of Allegiance, first written to honor Columbus, have no desire to acknowledge their dependence on the Creator. They reject the spiritual and moral principles on which our country was founded. 

Although the First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the right of citizens to refuse to recite the Pledge, some critics are not satisfied with nonparticipation. While a few advocate only for the removal of the words "under God," others press for the Pledge to be recited on fewer and fewer occasions.

At one time the Pledge of Allegiance routinely started each school day, but now only about 20 states have laws requiring school students to recite the Pledge. And even in those states where its recitation is mandated, many schools don’t observe the law at all, or only follow it in part. For example, in Washington state, where daily recitation is required, schools may choose to say the Pledge every day, once a week, once a month, only before assemblies or sports events or never. Therefore, it is hardly surprising to learn that many young people today do not even know the words. 

Call to Celebration

Regardless of whether you live in a state were Columbus Day is observed or where the Pledge of Allegiance is recited on a regular basis, we at the Christian Law Association ask you to join with us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance on Columbus Day. Let us join Columbus and give "thanks to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who has bestowed upon us so great a victory and gift."  May we take the opportunity of this holiday to celebrate the salvation of countless souls throughout the centuries in America. And may we never forget America‘s dependence on God.