One Nation Under . . . Man?

What, a picture of Charles Darwin on a $10 U.S. bill—along with the words, “In Man we Trust”? Surely, that wouldn’t happen in the United States?

Well, it’s already happened to some extent in the United Kingdom. British society, including most of its churches, has enthusiastically embraced Darwin’s ideas and in essence is trusting in man rather than God. Since 2000, Darwin’s image has appeared on England’s £10 pound note!

Now, here in America, doesn’t the Pledge of Allegiance say “one nation under God”? Yes, but does that statement still largely hold true for this country? Let’s look.

America, as you know, was built on the foundation of God’s Word—the Bible. Verses like Psalm 40:4 (“Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust”) and Psalm 56:11 (“In God I have put my trust”) led to the phrase “In God We Trust” being placed on U.S. currency.

I also discovered a couple of years ago (when standing in the U.S. Capitol’s chamber of the House of Representatives) that a relief sculpture of Moses faces the Speaker of the House (and thus also faces the president when he gives his annual State of the Union address).

These are reminders of how important God’s law was in determining the foundational principles for this nation.

But America has changed its foundation.

1. The public schools changed foundation.

   They have now gone full circle and all but thrown out the God of the Bible, the Bible itself, prayer, and creation. The Bible and the Christian God are no longer the foundation of the public education system; they have been replaced with the religion of naturalism (atheism). Students are now taught that all of reality (the universe, life, etc.) is explained by natural processes. So the foundation today? Man’s opinions, not God’s truth.

2. The court system changed foundation.

   In many cases, the Ten Commandments have been banned from being displayed in courts and other public settings. Despite multiple depictions of the Ten Commandments in America’s Supreme Court building, more and more judges are now deciding cases based on contemporary cultural values.

3. The culture as a whole has changed foundation.

   Nativity scenes, crosses, the Ten Commandments—anything that is connected to Christianity has by and large been eliminated from public places—whether by law or by pressure tactics. There is even a continuing battle by some to remove “Christ” from Christmas in both public and private settings. Again, the culture as a whole has changed foundation from trusting in God to trusting in man.

4. Much of the church has changed foundation.

   Most church leaders (and most people in the church) have accepted the idea that the earth is millions of years old and the associated evolutionary ideas; they have reinterpreted God’s Word in Genesis. These churchgoers have made man the authority instead of God. Generations of people in the church have grown up believing they should trust man first. Also, about 90% of young people have attended public schools where they are taught to trust in man, not God.

No. America is no longer “one nation under God.” It is now “one nation under man.”

This change was clearly illustrated in the recent national elections, where it was obvious that most voters were looking to fallible, sinful man to solve their problems, instead of God and His Word. Oh, how we should be shouting from the rooftops to remind this nation that “the fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe” (Psalm 29:25).

Next month is the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth, and this coming October is the 150th anniversary anniversary of the publication of his book that has changed the world, On the Origin of Species. There are numerous celebrations planned across America, and Darwin will be exalted as never before. Even hundreds of churches have signed up to praise Darwin (not God!) next month on what is called “Evolution Weekend.”

Many Americans are celebrating something else: a change from “under God” to “under man.” I believe that—spiritually speaking—where the United Kingdom is today, America will be tomorrow . . . if we allow this trend to continue.

But God has a message for us:

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8).

“Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?” (Isaiah 2:22).

Have you begun to place too much trust in man and less trust in God? Now is the time to turn back to God, and to lead your loved ones to do the same! Invite them to join you at one of our national conferences next month.