Hi Friend,

Opinions are often arrived at without much depth of thought or knowledge of history. There was a time when Job, complained so much that even the patience of God was exhausted. He replied with the memorable phrase,

"Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" (Job 38:2) If God responded that way to a righteous man, what would He say about opinions so frequently expressed by the pseudo intellectuals today? A case in point is the belief that America is not a nation founded in Christian teachings. One wonders how much evidence must exist to convince even a blind skeptic. Or maybe some people just don't bother to look. I thought of that when I pulled a dollar out of my wallet recently and saw the statement, "In God We Trust". How many countries print that on their currency? A few come close but none with the same force and meaning as what is printed on U.S. money.

Those words were inscribed on U.S. currency at the influence of Benjamin Franklin, a friend of Adam Smith, father of the free market economic system. Smith described an "unseen hand" that controlled the flow of the American economy. That "unseen hand" was generally understood to be God. Ours is not a government-controlled economy-we trust God. No other nation on earth has an economy based on such a concept.

If you've ever served on a jury, or been required to testify at a trial, you know the court requires an oath. In other words, the foundation of our judicial system is not man; we look UP to God as the source of justice. Even the President and most elected officials must place their hand on a Bible to take their oath of office.

Did you know that God is mentioned in all 50 state constitutions? More than that, the Declaration of Independence, considered to be the founding document of this nation, mentions God four times?

The Supreme Court opens each session verbally declaring, "God save the United States of America." It is the God of the Holy Bible that is being referenced in these statements. In fact, there is a frieze of Moses holding the Ten Commandments above the East entrance to the Supreme Court building. Why is that?

Well, six of the Ten Commandments specifically define civil law. The western concept of murder, manslaughter, theft, assault, marriage, birth, and other civil and criminal matters are defined and ascribed punishment by Mosaic Law.

In fact, the very structure of our government was taken from the Bible. The Founding Fathers were inspired by Isaiah's statement, "For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king" (Isaiah 33:22). Isaiah's words formed the basis for the judicial, legislative and executive branches of government.

All schools in America used to begin, and some still do, with the Pledge of Allegiance, which contains the phrase "under God". So every young person in the country began the day recognizing that God is above the nation. It is the foundation for the nation's commitment to freedom. The Founding Fathers read Paul's statement that "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1 NIV).

They understood that our existence as a free nation required that citizens see their rights as coming from a source beyond man. It was this concept that caused them to reject the rule of the English King. They saw God as the ultimate source of justice and therefore He superseded any rule by man.

Christianity has influenced the western world more than any other faith or religion. May it always be.

Until next time,

Jim O'Brien

Pastor, Church of God Cincinnati