One Nation Under God Not long ago the Supreme Court considered the question of whether or not the words "one nation under God," should be included in the pledge of allegience recited by children in the schools of America. The question really is are we a nation under God? The answer to this question does not hinge on the opinion of great legal minds, but rather on the facts of God's sovereignty in the universe of His creation. To this truth the Psalmist speaks in Psalms 113: "The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens" Job adds this thought in chapter 12: "He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again." We understand from these inspired statements that whatever the courts might decide, the fundamental and important truth is not altered that this nation together with every other nation of the world is indeed "under God." George Washington understood it to be so when he said in 1789 that "it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor." A statement that seems far removed from the "separation of church and state" cry of protest so often heard in our lamentable times. Its interesting to consider the words chosen in the formulation of the Declaration of Independence by men like Jefferson and Adams as the nation was in the birthing process. Acknowledging the "laws of nature and of natures God," they spoke of men being "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights," while "appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of " their intentions. With such guiding principals they proceeded, "with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence," for the ultimate success of their dream for a free nation "under God." George Washington before and after the adoption of the Bill of Rights felt no hesitency to openly acknowledge in public capactity that the fledgling nation was in every consideration, "under God." In his first inaugural address he expresses his conviction that, "it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official Act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the Universe, who presides in the Councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States." In his farewell address written 5 years after the passage of the 1st ammendment that today is so often misused in attempts to eliminate God from the institutions of government: "let us with caution indulge the suppostion, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." In this historical context it is impossible to imagine that the men who formulated the documents on which the government of our nation is ordered had in mind anything like what the 1st Amendment is made to say in these "perilous times." In fact, a close examination of the actual wording of the "separation clause," as it is often referred to, reveals clearly that their only objective was to prevent the formation of an official church of the United States . They had put up with enough of that in England and too much of it had already begun to take root in the colonies. The 1st Amendment would ensure not that God would be banned from the mind of government, but that all men might worship God according to the dictates of conscience and not by force of government edict. The 1st Amendment reads: "Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Notice that it says importantly "no laws respecting an establishment of religion." Most often you hear it "no laws respecting the establishment of religion, as if "establishment" were a verb conveying the idea that religion shall not be in any way encouraged or legitimized by the government. Given the open sentiments of this nations most revered founders it is clear that this could not be so. Their careful choice of words are in perfect harmony with their convictions that God is indeed "high above the nations." In the phrase, "an establishment of religion," establishment is a noun and in this context it has a very specific meaning: "a church recognized by law as the official church of a nation and supported by civil authority. Now knowing what the 1st Amendment really says and how the founders openly relied on God...his power...his providence....his justice...his laws....and his grace....let's pose a simple question to determine the constitutionality of "one nation under God" in the pledge of allegiance: Does the inclusion of this phrase in the remotest way establish a particular church as the official church of the United States? NO it does not! Is it therefore unconstitutional?....resoundingly the answer is an absolute & emphatic "NO!" What then does the phrase, "one nation under God," do? It simply acknowledges and reminds every school age child in America of an important truth, to use Jefferson's phrase, about "the laws of nature and of natures God." This is a good thing...for it is the fool that says in his heart, "there is no God." Beyond that, it is the "wicked (that) shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." "Put them in fear, O Lord," the Psalmist prays, "that they may know themselves to be but men."