In God We Trust | Robert Wayne Atkins, P.E.

The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America contains the following statement that was agreed upon and signed by our nation's founding forefathers on July 4, 1776: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The U.S. Declaration of Independence is a historic political legal document and it reveals the unanimous beliefs of a group of very important and influential men who lived more than 240 years ago. These men believed in God and they believed that God created mankind. They were 56 very intelligent men who were willing to put their reputations, their wealth, and their lives at risk based on their beliefs.

Patrick Henry included the following statement in his last public speech in March 1799: "Let us trust God, and our better judgment to set us right hereafter. United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs." (Note: The phrase "united we stand, divided we fall" is more than 2500 years old, and it was valid 2500 years ago, and it was valid in 1799, and it is still valid today.)

In 1814 Francis Scott Key wrote the "Star Spangled Banner" and he included the following phrase in the last verse of his original hymn:
"...And this be our motto: In God is our trust. And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave, O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Flag and Coin

On November 20, 1861 Salmon P. Chase, the Secretary of the United States Treasury, wrote the following statement: "No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins." Three years later in 1864 the words "In God We Trust" were stamped on U.S. coins.

On July 30, 1956 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a law that made "In God We Trust" the official national motto of the United States of America. It should be mentioned that President Eisenhower was baptized as a Presbyterian in 1953 during his first year in office as President of the United States.

"In God We Trust" is also the official motto of the state of Florida.

"In God We Trust" appears on the license plates attached to the back of vehicles in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

"In God We Trust" is more than just a motto. It is the most important foundation on which the United States of America was originally established and it is the most important guarantee of our nation's continued freedom and liberty for all people of all races, religions, and national origins. In the United States of America there are many groups and people who would like to divide us and make us hate one another. But perhaps we should remember what Patrick Henry said: "United we stand, divided we fall." Anyone who wishes to promote hatred among us is trying to divide us so that we will lose our national identity and fall apart and crumble as a nation.

In the year 2016 in the United States of America all religions, except Christianity and Judaism, are openly tolerated in public and in our schools, and these other religions (including Satanism) may publicly proclaim the name of their gods (or their demons). But Christians and Jews are persecuted and they are forbidden to mention the name of their God and they are forbidden to mention the name of Jesus Christ because it might offend someone. What kind of nation have we become where we allow other religions to openly pray in public anytime and anywhere they wish but we deny that same right to a Christian and to a Jew?

Perhaps now is the time to insist that the United States of America once again grant religious freedom to all people, including Christians and Jews, and to insist that Christians and Jews not be denied the same religious rights that are extended to the people who practice all other religions.

Perhaps now is the time for the people of the United States of America to put their trust in God where it rightly belongs.

Footnote
Unity is not a new concept.

For example, in the recent Walt Disney movie "The Jungle Book" the wolf pack recites the following phrase: "The strength of the wolf is the pack. The strength of the pack is the wolf."

The Holy Bible says the following (New King James Version):

Mark 3:24 - "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand."

Psalm 118:8 - "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."

Proverbs 29:25 - "The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe."

The United States of America has not been very successful in recent years by ignoring God (except in lip service) and instead putting its confidence in a set of laws passed by men. We now encourage the distribution of condoms in our elementary schools but we forbid the free distribution of Bibles in those same schools. Do you believe our nation's founding forefathers would be pleased with what we have become in the year 2016?

Perhaps now is the time that we return to the principles that originally made our nation strong -- principles such as honor, integrity, decency, chivalry, and faith in God.

Perhaps now is the time for Christians and Jews to stand firm in their faith and to be proud of their God and to start wearing religious icons, such as the Star of David or a cross, and to wear these religious icons on their clothing (or as jewelry) everywhere they go and to not be intimidated if their religious icon offends another person but to politely respond: "I have a right to my religious beliefs just like all the other people in the United States of America."

The choice is yours. I pray you choose wisely.

Respectfully,
Grandpappy.

Grandpappy's e-mail address is: RobertWayneAtkins@hotmail.com