“A challenge? Who would dare?
That dastardly Jesus Only crowd?
Not to worry. This is not my first rodeo.
Have you forgotten my ongoing work with the Sabbath?
With my orchestration of changes to the Pledge over the years, this is but a small matter, a small insertion will do.
…there, this will fly.”
Of course, there was the edict by Constantine, declaring the first day of the week a day of rest.
But this was not my victory: the Sabbath is for rest, and the first day is for laying in store as He has prospered. There is no conflict here.
My victory is in their confusion. As with Eve, I have them questioning His words against His meaning.
From http://www.gotquestions.org/Constantine-Sabbath.html
In the year 321 A.D., Constantine decreed, “On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed” (Codex Justinianus lib. 3, tit. 12, 3; trans. in Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 3, p. 380, note 1). Constantine seems to have made this change himself and not through the papacy since the papacy had not really come into being at that time. The papacy grew gradually out of the office of the Bishop, and for many years this was centered in Rome. In any case, it should be noted that in doing this, Constantine was not changing the Sabbath; he was merely making Sunday the official day of rest for the Roman Empire. His motivation was probably not born out of hatred for the Jews (it’s hard to say for sure why Constantine or any historical figure did what they did) but out of a desire to adopt what the Christians had practiced for nearly two and a half centuries.
The Pledge of Allegiance*
The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an oath of loyalty to the national flag and the republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892. The Pledge has been modified four times since then, with the most recent change adding the words “under God” in 1954. The Pledge was predominantly sworn by children in public schools in response to state laws requiring the Pledge to be offered. Congressional sessions open with the swearing of the Pledge, as do government meetings at local levels, meetings held by the Knights of Columbus, Royal Rangers, Boy Scouts of America, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Freemasons, Toastmasters International, and their concordant bodies, other organizations, and many sporting events.
1892 – I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
1892 to 1923 – I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
1923 to 1924 – I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
1924 to 1954 – I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands; one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
1954 to Present – I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
*From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance