By Ding Guevarra on February 6th, 2007
The 2002 decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that the phrase “under God” is unconstitutional represents a fundamental assault to American Christian heritage. I believe that questioning the existence of God or “Creator”, is now a fair game,given the present climate of widespread unbelief among many. Easily ,you can hear those unbelieving voices from the ranks of national leadership, courts, military, schools and every possible sector of society. It’s a growing chorus.
Sadly, but true !
Putting our full attention to the phrase “under God”, the Supreme Court of the United State,incredibly, five to four majority in 2004 ,declaring “under God” unconstitutional. The highly regarded Sandra Day O’Connor opined the phrase “under God” in the Pledge thus:
Even if taken literally,the phrase is merely DESCRIPTIVE (emphasis mine); it purports only to identify the United States as a nation subject to divine authority. That CANNOT be seen as a SERIOUS INVOCATION of God or an expression of individual submission to divine authority, any religious freight the words may have been meant to carry has long since BEEN LOST.
My faith in God is not seriously challenged by this decision ,but unease with the knowledge that a great many will now find support and highly encouraged in their attempt of erasing God on every conceivable fabric of society , loosening further the nation’s grip of God . The idea is, “after all it is merely ceremonial, not serious and has no essence today ,”
How ironic that the Court itself begins each day with the proclamation,”God save the United States and this honorable court”. This phrase has been used for almost two hundred years.It was not adopted as a ceremonial phrase of no meaning. Newt Gingrich said that “it was adopted because justices in the 1820’s actually wanted to call on God to save the United states and the Court.”
So, where is God in America? We know God is the Creator ,the All-Knowing, All-Presence, All-Powerful God, He fills the entire created order of His presence. But in our humble attempt,can we find God’s presence even in the historical documents of sinful men?
Arise ,O Lord, Do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged in your sight. Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men (Ps 9:19-20)
I covet your interest on learning this as we continue…
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