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In God We Trust Presented by Chris Reeves * Southside church of Christ * Gospel Meeting * April 29, 2012

Sermon in Coins • Jesus used the inscription on a coin as a sermon (Mt. 22: 15 -22) • Is there a sermon in our currency? − A few religious references are found on our currency: the “eye” on the back of the $1 − “In God We Trust” was first suggested during the Civil War; it appeared for the first time on the 1864 two-cent coin; it appeared on the one-dollar silver certificate in 1957

Secretary Chase instructed James Pollock, Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, in a letter dated November 20, 1861: Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition. http: //www. treas. gov/education/factsheets/currency/in-god-we-trust. shtml

Does America Trust in God? • Consider our school shootings… − Pearl, MS (Oct. 1997) - 2 − Paducah, KY (Dec. 01, 1997) - 3 − Jonesboro, AR (March 24, 1998) - 5 − Littleton, CO (April 20, 1998) - 13 − Tuscon, AZ (Oct. 28, 2002) - 4 − Red Lake, MI (March 21, 2005) - 8 − Virginia Tech (April 16, 2007) - 32 − Chardon, OH (Feb. 27, 2012) - 3

Does America Trust in God? • 2000– 2001 (19 Deaths resulting from school shootings in the U. S. ) • 2001– 2002 (4 Deaths resulting from school shootings in the U. S. ) • 2002– 2003 (14 Deaths resulting from school shootings in the U. S. ) • 2003– 2004 (29 Deaths resulting from school shootings in the U. S. ) • 2004– 2005 (20 Deaths resulting from school shootings in the U. S. ) • 2005– 2006 (5 Deaths resulting from school shootings in the U. S. ) • 2006– 2007 (38 Deaths resulting from school shootings in the U. S. ) • 2007– 2008 (3 Deaths resulting from school shootings in the U. S. ) • 2008– 2009 (10 Deaths resulting from school shootings in the U. S. ) • 2009– 2010 (5 Deaths resulting from school shootings in the U. S. ) • 2010 -2011 (12 Deaths resulting from school shootings in the U. S. ) • 2011 -2012 (11 Deaths resulting from school shootings in the U. S. ) http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/School_shooting

Does America Trust in God? • Consider our laws… − Abortion (approx. 4, 400 a day) − “Same-sex” marriage in several states − Gays & lesbians in denominations − Birth-control distributed in some schools − Prayer & Bible removed from some schools − Ten commandments removed in places − Pornography rights upheld on the Internet − Profanity “rights” upheld on the airwaves − Murderers let off easy for “insanity” − Anti-discrimination encourages unbelief

Does America Trust in God? • Consider our families… − High rate of births to unwed mothers − High rate of divorce − High rate of juvenile delinquency − High rate of “non-traditional” (read sinful) families (DOMA repealed? ) • Consider our schools… − Atheistic evolution is taught − Humanistic values are taught − Founding principles are untaught

Does America Trust in God? • Consider our tolerance… − More Islamic mosques being built − More states accepting same-sex marriage • Consider our liberalism… − Liberal media reports − Liberal Hollywood influence

“In God We Trust” • Where should these words appear? − God wants them on our mind, not on our money (Mt. 22: 37 -38) − God wants them on our heart (Mt. 15: 8) − God wants them in our obedience 6: 46) (Lk.

“In God We Trust” • Have these become meaningless words of a by-gone religious era? “God bless the United States of America…”, “One nation under God…” • “In God we trust…” has become “In US we trust…” or better, “In GODS we trust…”

“In God We Trust” • What do these words really mean? − We trust God is (Heb. 11: 6) − We trust God’s words are true (Jn. 17: 17) − We trust God’s ways are best (Prov. 3: 5; Isa. 55: 8 -9)

“In God We Trust” • What do these words really mean? − We trust God’s well-being (Psa. 56: 4, 11) − We trust God’s will (Phil. 2: 24) − We trust God’s justice (Rev. 6: 10) − We trust God’s rule (Dan. 4: 30 -32; 19: 10 -11) Jn.

“In God We Trust” • What is a Christian to do? − Remember your dual citizenship (Mt. 22: 21; Phil. 3: 20; 1 Pet. 2: 17) − Obey God over man (Acts 5: 29) − Support righteous government through obedience and taxes (Mt. 17: 24 -27; Rom. 13: 1 -7; 1 Pet. 2: 17; Tit. 3: 1) − Refuse the immoral advances of the state (Rev. 14: 9 -13; 15: 2)

“In God We Trust” • What is a Christian to do? − Pray for our leaders (Prov. 21: 1; 1 Tim. 2: 1 -3) − Get involved through service (Rom. 16: 23) or voting (Prov. 29: 2) − Don’t allow your moral senses to be dulled (Jer. 3: 3; 6: 15; 8: 12) − Continue to preach to your nation (Isa. 58: 1) − Continue to raise your children right (1 Sam. 1: 11; Prov. 22: 6; Eph. 6: 4)

“In God We Trust” • What is a Christian to do? − Continue to preach the one, true way to God (Jn. 14: 6; Acts 4: 11) − Continue to remain faithful in your local church (Heb. 10: 25)

In God We Trust “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…” Psalm 33: 12 “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people” Proverbs 13: 34

In God We Trust Deuteronomy 4: 5 -8 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as Jehovah my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the midst of the land whither ye go in to possess it. 5 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, that shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 6 For what great nation is there, that hath a god so nigh unto them, as Jehovah our God is whensoever we call upon him? 7 And what great nation is there, that hath statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? 8