Which God Do We Trust?

In Our Money, On Our Minds

It’s on our currency. It’s in the halls of Congress and on Florida license plates.

In God We Trust.

One of two national mottos. The other being “E Pluribus Unum”, which is Latin for “Out of Many, One.

This motto really gained prominence around the time of the Civil War. Reverend Mark Watkinson, a minister from Pennsylvania, spearheaded the initiative. Watkinson advocated for the motto to be placed on coins to help the Union cause. He believed that it would, in his words, “relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism” and “place us under the divine protection”.

In 1864, representatives from the National Reform Association pushed for an amendment to the Constitution’s preamble. The addition would state, in so many words, that “We The People” would acknowledge Jesus Christ as the ruler among nations. His revealed will would be the supreme law of the land, constituting a Christian government, etc.

This movement, although backed by many Methodist and Presbyterian churches and leaders and garnering considerable popular support, was unsuccessful in changing our Constitution.

The next wave came about in the 1950s. During the height of the Cold War, the motto “In God We Trust” served as a means to emphasize national faith in the wake of the atheistic Soviet communist ideology. And rising social welfare and expanding government during the Great Depression and afterwards.

Faith By Reaction, Or Conviction?

It brings about an interesting question. Americans seem to have a habit of suddenly turning to God when there’s a national crisis.

On Sundays, church attendance skyrockets. Prayer meetings and vigils spark up. Even those who may not profess to be Christian cling to the national faith narrative.

In my recent memory, this happened after 9/11, school shootings, national disasters, wars, and, most recently, the Charlie Kirk assassination.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Nor is it exclusive to America. The UK has a Christian faith tradition, as do many other European, North American, and South American nations, as well as some African countries.

It’s human nature. Kids immediately run to their mom or dad when they get hurt or scared.

Here’s the problem: most faiths at their core call for exclusivity. There is no vague god to worship. These gods have names, and they demand worship.

The Chapel and the Question

I recall visiting the chapel at a hospital. I went in with a relative to pray for a family member. There were chairs, a bible, and some other vaguely religious things that leaned Christian. On the back wall was a large graphic of bolts of lightning going in all directions.

I figured that was the hospital’s attempt to be inclusive of different faiths. Perhaps the idea was to examine that image and attribute it to “whatever God you worship”. I found it somewhat unusual but not surprising.

While the word “Chapel” has many different meanings, its original and first usage was to describe a small yet decidedly Christian place of worship.

Not Of This World

I’ve heard arguments on both sides that our founding fathers were Christian; others say they were deists. Others say that the Bible and Christian faith have had a profound influence on them.

Anyway, at some point, we as a nation need to ask ourselves, “Which God do we trust?”

Many people would say, “Well, Jesus, of course!”

I would agree, but I’d also ask this: “Does Jesus care about national worship more than personal worship?”

Let’s look at what Jesus actually says about kingdoms and allegiance.

Consider this passage from John 18:

Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews? “

Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about Me? “

“I’m not a Jew, am I? “Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done? “

“My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My Kingdom does not have its origin here.”

“You are a king then? “Pilate asked.

“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”

“What is truth? “ said Pilate.

John 18:33-38 HCSB

Jesus sat in the midst of a nation that was torn between following Roman culture, tradition, and religion (enforced by Pilate) and Israel’s religious order.

Jesus rejected BOTH.

His kingdom is spiritual first, not national first. The Jews were expecting their Messiah to set up a physical kingdom immediately upon his arrival. Destroying Roman rule and reestablishing a theocratic government centered around Israel that would eventually rule the world.

Some religions do call for nations to be physically conquered in the name of that religion.

Christianity is not that.

The word “Christian” literally means “follower of Christ.” Christ calls for more than just followers; He calls for people to be reborn, regenerated, and renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit. He calls for people to recognize their own personal sin and the need for a Savior in Him.

That’s exclusivity and spiritual first.

A Motto, Or a Mission?

Without that transformation, even if an entire nation claimed to follow Christ, it would fall short. Jesus Himself said that it is not enough to simply profess His name without truly knowing Him.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord! ‘ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?  Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!

Matthew 7:22-23 HCSB

So what does” In God We Trust” really mean?

Does it truly represent a national conviction or one that is reactionary?

At some point, that will inevitably roll back to a question that we must ask ourselves on a personal level.

We’re all overwhelmed by the constant barrage of political and media narratives that are constantly in our faces.

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