Allegiances – A Christ the King Montage

[These opening words combine the U.S. Oath of Citizenship alongside the Baptismal Covenant... interesting things happen when read side by side... hear it in the context of the rest of the service here.]

ONE: There are many things that compete for our allegiance, which ask exclusively for us to ally ourselves with pledge, with oath, with promise…

TWO: In the waters of baptism we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. And through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.

THREE: If your application is approved, you will be scheduled for a public oath ceremony at which time you will be required to take the oath of allegiance immediately prior to becoming a naturalized citizen.

ONE: During marriage ceremonies, couples pledge to “forsake all others” and “remain faithful till death parts” them.  …an intimate allegiance.  Therapist and Author Dan Allander says that “all human faithfulness is built on the back of betrayal”, meaning, on some level, the pledge ‘yes’ to someone necessarily means pledging ‘no’ to others.

TWO:  Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son, we bring into his fellowship those who come to him in faith, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

THREE:  By signing, you acknowledge your willingness and ability to take this oath:

ONE: Even if it didn’t mean geographically moving out of the parental residence, ancient Hebrews took seriously the departure of loyalty described in the book of Genesis, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

TWO: Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?

THREE: Will you hereby declare, on oath, that you absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which you have heretofore been a subject or citizen;

ONE: So what does it mean for Christ to be King?

TWO: Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

THREE:  Will you support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic?

ONE: In a time when only Caesar was Lord, the first Christian confession was simply, “Jesus is Lord”.  For many then, and still many today, this allegiance to Christ means death.

TWO: Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?

THREE: Will you bear true faith and allegiance to the same?

ONE:  In a world where pledging allegiance to Christ the King is an illegal activity and corporately punishable, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

TWO: Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

THREE:  Will you bear arms on behalf of the United states when required by law?

ONE:  What charges and what proof would the court bring against you?

TWO: Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

THREE:  Will you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, so help you God?

---

Spread the Love: , and about this.