Those words can be found in small print on the backside of the American paper currency.  And yet, the more we move away from paper currency and use plastic credit and debit cards, I wonder, are we moving away from the notion that “we trust in God?”

I decided to do a little research into the meaning of “In God we trust,”and discovered some interesting facts.  “The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiments existing during the Civil War.”  It was during this time that Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury received many appeals “from devout persons throughout the country urging that the United States recognize the Deity on United States coins.”  

Mr. Chase received a letter from the Reverend M.R. Watkinson, Minister of the Gospel from Rideyville, Pennsylvania on November 13, 1861.  The letter stated, “one fact touching our currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked.  I mean the recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins”  He further writes, “What if our Republic were not shattered beyond reconstruction? Would not the antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason from our past that we were a heathen nation?”  Wow, powerful these words are from the past, could it be that there was a foreshadow of things to come?

He further proposed a design on the coins that would include the words, God, Liberty, and Law.  He felt that his design would be something in which, “ no possible citizen could object.  This would place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed.  From my hearth I have felt our national shame in disowning God as not the least of our present national disasters.”  Wow, again, those words sting!

A National Motto to Live By

On November 20, 1861 Secretary Chase sent a letter to James Pollock, Director of the Mint in Philadelphia to prepare a national motto.  

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.  

In a letter dated, December 9, 1863 Secretary Chase directed the Mint Director to change the motto on the coins to read, IN GOD WE TRUST.

This motto first appeared on paper money on October 1,  1957.  

*U.S. Department of the Treasury website, treasury.gov

Now of course I read further documents regarding the phrase, “IN GOD WE TRUST”.  There are those that would prefer that we separate church and state, and yes I will leave that for another time.  However, I can’t help but wonder why the founding fathers and those there after have kept the phrase, IN GOD WE TRUST on our current currency?  

Without getting into a historical debate, I just wanted to make an observation about the current state of our nation and does the fact that we tend to use other forms of financial transactions cause us to not think about the phrase on our paper currency, In God we Trust?  Something to ponder…..

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.  Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

 Psalms 62:5-8