IN GOD WE TRUST
Psalms 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;
On every coin or bill printed or minted in the United States is the phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST”.
Where and how did this phrase get on our currency? It is a relatively new addition to the currency, added largely because of increased religious sentiment during the civil war. Secretary of the treasury Salmon P. Chase received many appeals from devout person throughout the country, urging the United States recognize God on US coins. From Treasury Department records, it appears the first such appeal came in letter dated November 13, 1861. It was written to Secretary Chase by Rev. M. R. Watkinson, Minister of the Gospel from Ridleyville, PA. Three years later, after several acts of congress, In God We Trust was minted on the 1864 two cent coin. Another act of congress on March 3, 1865 allowed the motto place on all gold and silver coins. On July 30, 1956 the President approved a Joint Resolution of the 84th congress, declaring IN GOD WE TRUST the national motto of the US. It first appeared on paper money on October 1, 1957. By August 18, 1966 the motto was on all of our currency.
Although the motto did not come into existence until just recently, the principle of IN GOD WE TRUST is what our nation was founded and built on. Our founding fathers had a deep commitment to the things of God and to His Divine Providence in leading them. Over the next 200 plus years, however, we have slowly but surely taken God and removed Him from public life. We have taken God out of our classrooms, courtrooms, boardrooms, out of every walk of life. We have become a nation as in the days of Noah where men live and die with no thought of God, “Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
By reading the letters, papers, and records of our founding fathers, it is plain to see their trust in God. Here are a very few quotes of some of our founding fathers concerning their trust in God.
John Adams- SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; JUDGE; DIPLOMAT; ONE OF TWO SIGNERS OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS; SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.
The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity.
Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. . . . What a Eutopia – what a Paradise would this region be!
I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world.
Samuel Adams- SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; “FATHER OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION”; RATIFIER OF THE U. S. CONSTITUTION; GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS
The name of the Lord (says the Scripture) is a strong tower; thither the righteous flee and are safe [Proverbs 18:10]. Let us secure His favor and He will lead us through the journey of this life and at length receive us to a better.
I conceive we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world . . . that the confusions that are and have been among the nations may be overruled by the promoting and speedily bringing in the holy and happy period when the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and the people willingly bow to the scepter of Him who is the Prince of Peace.
Elias Boudinot- PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS; SIGNED THE PEACE TREATY TO END THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION; FIRST ATTORNEY ADMITTED TO THE U. S. SUPREME COURT BAR; FRAMER OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS; DIRECTOR OF THE U. S. MINT
Let us enter on this important business under the idea that we are Christians on whom the eyes of the world are now turned… [L]et us earnestly call and beseech Him, for Christ’s sake, to preside in our councils. . . . We can only depend on the all powerful influence of the Spirit of God, Whose Divine aid and assistance it becomes us as a Christian people most devoutly to implore. Therefore I move that some minister of the Gospel be requested to attend this Congress every morning . . . in order to open the meeting with prayer.
John Hancock- SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS; REVOLUTIONARY GENERAL; GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS
Sensible of the importance of Christian piety and virtue to the order and happiness of a state, I cannot but earnestly commend to you every measure for their support and encouragement.
Gouverneur Morris- REVOLUTIONARY OFFICER; MEMBER OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS; SIGNER OF THE CONSTITUTION; “PENMAN OF THE CONSTITUTION”; DIPLOMAT; U. S. SENATOR
There must be religion. When that ligament is torn, society is disjointed and its members perish… [T]he most important of all lessons is the denunciation of ruin to every state that rejects the precepts of religion.
Randolph of Roanoke- CONGRESSMAN UNDER PRESIDENTS JOHN ADAMS, THOMAS JEFFERSON, JAMES MADISON, JAMES MONROE, JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, ANDREW JACKSON; U. S. SENATOR; DIPLOMAT
I have thrown myself, reeking with sin, on the mercy of God, through Jesus Christ His blessed Son and our (yes, my friend, our) precious Redeemer; and I have assurances as strong as that I now owe nothing to your rank that the debt is paid and now I love God – and with reason. I once hated him – and with reason, too, for I knew not Christ. The only cause why I should love God is His goodness and mercy to me through Christ.
Regardless of what any revisionist may write or say, our founding fathers understood that without God’s providential hand of guidance, there would be no America. Our greatest hope is that America will again see our need to put our Trust in God! In God We Trust needs to become more than just a motto!
