Good Words from “The Gipper”

Although he was not a Christian (in the strict, biblical sense of the word as it is defined in scripture), Ronald Reagan was a man of faith and principle who brought an impressive moral clarity and conviction to the highest office of the land. His framing of the cold war and our opposition to the threat of communist expansionism in biblical terms of good and evil earned him the respect of good men (and the hostility of the liberal, mainstream media). Much could be said about the good he did for America, which he famously described in that lofty, unashamedly patriotic, and biblical expression as “the shining city on the hill.”  With his passing the nation is considering anew the tremendous legacy of this true leader of men—perhaps the greatest president in our lifetimes and one of the greatest in our nation’s history. We offer a couple of quotes from the “Great Communicator” on the subject of religion and the state, which had already become a major controversy in his time. His observations are as relevant now as they were then:

Our coins bear the words ‘In God We Trust’.  We take the oath of office asking His help in keeping that oath. And we proclaim that we are a nation under God when we pledge allegiance to the flag. But we can’t mention His name in a public school or even sing religious hymns that are nondenominational. Christmas can be celebrated in the school room with pine trees, tinsel and reindeers, but there must be no mention of the man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a teacher would answer if a student asked why it was called Christmas.

It would seem that not only is religion lacking in the schools—so is common sense. I wonder what a teacher is supposed to say if a kid asks about those four words on a dime—‘In God We Trust.’ Or maybe that’s why they aren’t being taught how to read these days.

May God help us, as his people, to be salt and light, to show the love and truth of Christ that we might help make America more of a nation “under God.” And may we as the Lord’s church be the shining city on the hill that the Lord might preserve and protect our country, and that we might save many souls for his glory.

—Tyler Young