It was July of 1941, months before the Japanese attack upon Pearl Harbor and
the entrance of the United States into the Second World War. Conflict was
raging across Europe and Asia, and competing messages of nationalism flooded
the airwaves and the consciousness of Americans.
How should Assemblies of God young people in the United States view their
nation in relation to both their faith and other countries?
National Youth Director Wesley Steelberg, speaking at the National Young People's
Conference on July 4, 1941, addressed this pressing issue. In a message titled "The
Stars and Stripes of Calvary," Steelberg encouraged young people to place
their primary allegiance in Christ. He said, "First of all we belong to
the Lord. We are citizens of heaven."
Should Christians pledge allegiance to their nation and its symbols? According
to Steelberg, adoption of national symbols is "a custom probably almost as
old as humanity." He acknowledged that Americans are proud of their flag. "We
salute it, and we pledge allegiance to it. We raise it as an ensign of liberty,
and we rejoice in what it represents." In the face of the march of
totalitarianism, Steelberg stated, "we hold more precious and valuable our
liberty and freedom."
However, he warned, "we have a responsibility to be more than Americans.
We are called to be Christian Americans." As Christian Americans,
Steelberg encouraged every Assemblies of God young person to wave his or her
own flag - an ensign that reflects allegiance to the heavenly King. According
to Steelberg, every Christian should declare, "Christ is my standard, my
banner of love!"
Read Wesley Steelberg's sermon, "The Stars and Stripes of Calvary,"
which was published on pages 1, 4 and 5 in the July 4, 1942, issue of the Pentecostal
Evangel.
Also featured in this issue:
* "A Shelter in Tribulation Days," by Stanley H. Frodsham
* "Revival in Norway," by Mrs. A. R. Gesswein
And many more!
Click here to read this issue now.
Pentecostal Evangel archived editions courtesy of the Flower Pentecostal
Heritage Center.
For current editions of the Evangel, click here.
