In Which God Do We Trust?

The government hates competition, which I suppose is the reason some in government have a natural antipathy toward the things of God. The national motto may be “In God We Trust”, but one must wonder what god is trusted when the words of God are verboten in many venues.

The wisdom of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause is evident when viewed in the context of history, where the union of church and state leads to the corruption of both. But this is not to argue, as some do, that the church does not belong in the public square. Religion is one of the pillars of society, and it is one that should never be corrupted by the world of politics. It should be the moral force of our culture and not relegated to the sidelines as a purely personal matter, for without God there is no objective basis for determining right from wrong.
Government wants to take over that function, and not just that function. When one candidate for office claims that if his party were in charge, people will get out of their wheelchairs and walk (he really said this!), then it raises the question of which god they are asking us to trust.

“Give us this day our daily bread” is a prayer to God, but we demand our daily bread and more from our government. We pray “Thy kingdom come”, but we fight for our candidate’s administration to come, that that administration’s will be done.

We want the government to forgive our debts, and depend on them to deliver us from evil, for theirs is the power and glory, and they want it forever and ever, amen.

This is not to say that government is a bad thing. It is a necessary thing. “There is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” (Romans 13:1). “He removes kings and raises up kings.” (Dan 2:21 NKJV) Government goes wrong – and we the people let it go wrong – when government takes over the functions of God. “The government is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Too many in those positions of authority want us to look to them for our sustenance and support, for our protection, and to them for every good gift. This is idolatry of an egregious kind, and one assured to disappoint.

Far better to remember the words of the Psalmist: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” (Psalm 118:9)

Lenny Cacchio

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