In God We Trust…REALLY???

This evening, the U.S. House of Representatives is voting on a resolution reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the motto of the United States.  I’m sure the purpose of such a resolution, which changes nothing and has no force of law, is mainly to get an election-year vote on the books reaffirming the difference between “God’s Own Party” and the godless Democrats.  But with full apologies to Seth, Amy, and all the good folks at SNL, I just have to say: REALLY???

These Congressmen are the guys who go on about our duty to build up a strong defense.  The bill’s author J. Randy Forbes (R-VA) is committed Baptist who is also the author of the “Strong Defense, Strong America” initiative, in which he argues against any further cuts to the U.S. Military because “a strong defense means a strong America.”  REALLY?  Maybe Randy and his colleagues haven’t read Isaiah 31:1, where the God they say we trust said “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!”  REALLY!  Of course, we know you can’t trust in horses and chariots; that’s why we have F-14 fighters and M1A1 tanks and carriers and nukes and cruise missiles!  REALLY!!!

The resolution to be voted today states that “in times of national challenge or tragedy, the people of the United States have turned to God as their source for sustenance, protection, wisdom, strength, and direction.”  REALLY???  That must be why we sent our armies to kick the crap out of Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein…because we were turning to God for protection.  REALLY!  And that must be why we spent billions of dollars bailing out banks that were “too big to fail,” because we were turning to God for our sustenance!  REALLY!!

In the resolution, Congress “supports and encourages the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions.”  REALLY?  I’m sure that must include displaying it at the Department of the Treasury, because nothing says “lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth” like a big bold copy of “In God We Trust” on the Treasury walls!  REALLY!!!

And of course let’s not gloss over that part about supporting “public display.”  Because that guy who these congressmen believe is the son of the God they trust, can’t possibly have meant it when he said “when you pray, don’t be like those guys who stand on the street corners where they can be seen by men.”  No, REALLY!

REALLY, these guys need to have a little review lesson on what the God they trust said.  ‘Cause I suspect the closest he ever came to describing them is Mark 7:6…”These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”  REALLY!!!