“In God We Trust”
Which God? Trust how? For what?
Right after the historic January 6 insurrection on Capitol Hill, the striking picture you see above appeared nationally in news reports.
It tells us something important. Some (maybe many) in the crowd that day felt that their heavy-handed siege to stop the peaceful transfer of power was a demonstration of the claim on their sign: What they sought to achieve was justified by how they saw their connection with God and his endorsement of them.
It reminds me of words from Lincoln’s famous second inaugural address.
In April of 1865, in the final days of the Civil War, he observed:
Both sides read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against each other . . . The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes.
Lincoln’s words got me thinking about the phrase that Congress made our national motto in 1956 during the Eisenhower presidency, which was to be included on all forms of US currency.
Maybe my questions about its meaning reflect your questions. In light of the bitter divides that threaten our nation-and our churches-we might well ask:
- Who has “the right” to claim the motto for their cause?
- Who is this “God” we say we trust? Do we all trust the same God?
- Exactly what does “trusting” really mean? Is that what we’re doing as a nation?
- Precisely what are we supposed to trust God for? What qualifies? What does not?
In this recent 30-minute episode of The CHRIST TODAY Podcast, David Bryant explore all of this with you. Discover the best way to get at the best answers to these vital questions dealing with our national motto in the light of the supremacy of Christ.
Sound too simple? Take a listen!
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