“One Nation Under God?"
Pastor Jim Kilby • September 21, 2026
There's been a lot of drama associated with recent court rulings that have eliminated the Pledge of Allegiance in some American schools because of the words "One nation under God." I'll probably anger some of my Christian friends with my take on this one, but I honestly don't think the Pledge of Allegiance has much to do with God anyway. What's more, the United States that we are pledging our allegiance to has long forgotten much about its Christian heritage anyway. And, whether the world acknowledges it or not, we still are "one nation under God!" I guess that while I never like to see such a blatant run against anything religious, I must admit the excitement it builds in me about our Lord's eminent return overwhelms my sadness. As Christians, let's continue to pray for our leaders, our government and even our nation, but when it comes to pledging allegiance, I'll just pledge mine to Jesus and leave it there!
"What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?" Deuteronomy 4:7
Pastor Jim Kilby
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I saw a pretty girl walking through a group of Christian teens the other day. She had on a nice blouse that probably could have been a little more conservative, but she wasn't in the church building or even on the property and she probably didn't even know the Lord. I was surprised by the instantaneous gossip and flat-out judgmental attitude by those who claim to know Jesus personally. Nary a thought seemed to go toward trying to be salt and light in her life. It was as if they were numb to any consideration of the hell she would be in eternally without Jesus. Instead, "Did you see that shirt she was wearing?" and other comments I probably can't put into a G-rated devotional. I think that what bothers me most is that I, too, have judgmental attitudes toward people. And when I do that, as my young friends did, I am standing in a place of judgment that even Jesus wouldn't stand in while on this earth. "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it." Jesus of Nazareth (John 12:47) Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
When it comes to witnessing for Jesus, most will tell you that don't do it because they are simply afraid or they don't know how. Others will tell you that they witness for Him, but not by actually laying out the Gospel to anyone, but rather by just living Christian lives in front of them. That is no doubt very important, but how will the people ever see and believe if we don't tell them? Can we really call ourselves friends and neighbors if we don't share the love we've received with them? The truth is that most problems with witnessing don't come from any of the above problems. Rather, they are caused by a lack of faith (or belief). The lack of faith comes from not being immersed in God's Word on a regular basis. The result is that only one in ten who calls him or herself a Christian will ever lead another soul to Christ. "It is written: 'I believed; therefore I have spoken.' With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak" 2 Corinthians 4:13 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
If you are a follower of Christ, it's your job to both love the Lord and others. These are far more difficult than they may appear on the surface. Loving God means to obey ALL of His Commands. We all know that can be tough! What's probably harder, though, is to love others. Not the people you like mind you, but those who hate you. That immediately includes those who think your faith is ridiculous and even those who make fun of you for it. Hey, if it were easy anyone could do it! You can take courage on the toughest of days though, because even the most educated and successful Christians faced the same sort of persecution. "Paul entered the synagtogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way." Acts 19:8 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
We live in a world where individual rights are held in highest regard. Even young people quickly become aware of their rights, and many begin to demand them in total disregard for anyone or anything around them. When "rights" are #1 and "responsibilities" fall somewhere between homework and Saturday school on a list of things people are interested in completing, trouble is always the result. And so that's where our society finds itself today; in big trouble! Jesus is the only real and lasting answer to this type of problem, but often I see Christian teens just as demanding as their non-Christian counterparts. Working with teens for many years, I can safely tell you that some of the rudest and unloving things I've ever heard have come out of the mouths of those who claim to know the Lord. And... most of that venom was aimed at parents, teachers and other authority figures. How could the world possibly see that Jesus is the answer when those who claim to know Him are part of the problem. Think about it. Are you more interested in furthering God's agenda or your own? Are you more interested in helping your family or helping yourself? Are your thoughts more focused on what you want, or what those around you need? If you're feeling a little selfish when answering any of these questions, this verse might be a good place to start the healing. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother'--which is the first commandment with a promise--'that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth.'" Ephesians 6:1-3 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
I'm a guy who knows how to do a lot of things. I've had a couple of different careers, got some education and even a few titles. I know how I like things, too. I like things done the way I think they should be done. I don't usually yell and scream at people when things aren't done my way, but I still silently take note. The truth is that I can sometimes see others as flawed, and the way they go about things as less than optimum. All of these things about me make me less useable by the Lord. God doesn't need perfectionists--He is already perfect all by Himself. He doesn't need people who know lots of things--He needs people who know Him! And so His love for me causes Him to work on me relentlessly. Because of Him, I've changed a lot through the years. Today, I'm changing ever more. The more we realize that He loves and cares for us, the less we feel like what we truly are--flawed to the core! Being flawed does not give us the right to treat others like second hand merchandise. In fact, just the opposite! "How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?" Matthew 7:4 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Not a really happy thought, but when I think of the antichrist, I think of someone who is like the total opposite of Jesus, but who claims to be God. The Bible would back up my beliefs, but there are actually lots of other "antichrists" mentioned in the Bible. Can there really be lots of them? When I investigated it, I found the word "antichrist" can actually mean two different things. It can be someone who stands up as a rival to Christ (obviously the one I was thinking of), but it can also be translated as someone who tries to usurp (water down, taint or undue) the Word. In that meaning, there are literally antichrists on every corner of the globe, some in just about every church congregation, and probably some right in your own home. And if that's not bad enough, if you've ever tried to blow past a Biblical teaching that convicted you, you might also be termed an antichrist. We simply cannot pick and choose what parts of God's Word we like and don't like. Doing so "usurps" the Word of God and works against the Holy Spirit. You would literally be an anti-Christ! "Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour." 1 John 2:18 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Have you ever been absolutely convinced that you wanted something (or wanted to do something) when many others in your life were convinced you were wrong? That's the thing about close friends or relatives. If they truly love you, they'll risk you being upset with them to tell you the truth. That's what Jesus did for us, and that's one reason why reading the Bible has such a great effect on us. It allows us to hear the Truth, and to realize that much of what we want may seem good for us, but probably isn't. What's more, even wanting something for ourselves that costs something of those around us is not of God. Realizing that much alone will go a long way toward helping us keep our eyes off of ourselves. "Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." 1 Corinthians 10:24 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
I always get a kick out of the account of how Jesus met and called Matthew. Matthew was the scum of the Jewish society. He took a job working for the Roman government (something no self respecting Jew would ever do). Once he had this job, he did what every other tax collector did in those day--he overcharged people and kept the extra money for himself. Jews hated tax collectors. But..., Jesus loved them! In fact, Matthew wasn't the only tax collector Jesus hung out with. He hung out with lots of them! This really underlines why Jesus was here in the first place. Often, we think He came to make holy people "holier". The truth is that none of us are or will ever be holy without Him. Who of us is forgivable under our own merits? But what's great is that no matter what we've done, not one of us has done something unforgivable unless we continue to deny Jesus' Lordship over us until death. Sure, Matthew was a scumbag, but so are we! And when Jesus gets finished with us we'll be just as useable for the kingdom of God as Matthew became. As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:9-13 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2, NIV) Dear Friends, Recently I overheard a conversation that has stayed with me. A Christian parent was explaining to a group of people that they had encouraged their grown child to move in with their significant other for a few years before getting married. Their reasoning was that couples should "make sure it works" before making a lifelong commitment. What struck me wasn't that someone in the world would give that advice - it was that someone who faithfully attends church and professes to believe the Bible had concluded that God's design for marriage no longer makes sense in today's culture. It reminded me how easy it is for all of us to accept the parts of Scripture we like while quietly setting aside the parts that challenge us. We don't usually reject God's Word outright' we simply allow the culture around us to redefine what we think is reasonable. At Harvest Youth Ministries, this is one of the greatest spiritual battles facing this generation. Every day, young people are told that truth is relative, feelings determine what is right, and God's standards are outdated. They need more than motivational messages - they need adults who are willing to lovingly and courageously point them to the unchanging truth of God's Word. Out mission has never been to make the Bible fit our culture, but to help people discover that God's ways are always right, even when they aren't popular. Thank you for making that possible through your prayers, encouragement, and faithful financial support. Together, we are helping young people build their lives on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ rather than the shifting opinions of the world. As you pray for Harvest Youth Ministries this month, please pray that we will never compromise God's truth for the sake of cultural acceptance. Pray that the young people we serve will have the courage to stand firm in their faith, and that each of us will be known not for following the latest trends, but for faithfully following Christ Jesus. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby
