“One Nation Under God”
And why it is a good thing for all Americans
Pastor’s Perspective Column, Stevens County Times
June 2026
By Pastor Tim White
Something truly significant happened in our nation’s capital on Sunday, May 17, 2026. For nearly eight hours, tens of thousands of Americans gathered on the National Mall for “Rededicate 250,” while many times that number watched online across our nation.
This rededication of America as “One Nation Under God” was organized at the direction of President Trump and carried out by a wide array of Christian leaders, including the Speaker of the House, Rep. Mike Johnson, who offered up an 11-minute prayer rededicating America as “one nation under God.”
Two hundred and fifty years ago to the day, on May 17, 1776, the Second Continental Congress called upon the 13 colonies to join in a day of “prayer, fasting, and humiliation” (humbling themselves) as they faced an “imminent battle and almost certain death”1 in their conflict with King George’s world-dominant military force that had oppressed the colonies for years.
Forty-eight days later, these same colonies, led by 56 courageous men, would declare their independence from their original homeland and the King of England. As they signed their names (most did so in the weeks after July 4th), they understood they were committing treason. History records the sacred silence and somberness that permeated the room as each member signed their name, realizing the gravity of their choice and the likely price they would pay.
The Declaration of Independence, which laid the foundation for a nation that would become the freest, most prosperous, and powerful force for freedom in world history, references God four times. But that was just the beginning. Throughout the War for Independence (Revolutionary War), the Congress of the United States issued “sixteen spiritual proclamations calling for a combination of elements, such as humiliation, fasting, prayer, and thanksgiving to God.”2
The Christian Church’s influence on the formation of the “State” is also evident by the fact that the Bible was the most quoted source by our founders as they crafted the U.S. Constitution in the hot, humid summer of 1787.3 And, of course, how can we forget our nation’s motto, which hangs above the Speaker of the House’s platform, “In God We Trust” (as well as being printed on all currency).
Why are the national motto and the phrase “under God” in our pledge good for all Americans, whether Christian or not? Because these point our nation and lawmakers to the teachings of the Bible in shaping legislation and acceptable conduct in society for the better — such as, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39); “forgive others as God has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32); “do not show favoritism” (James 2:1 and 2:9); and many commands in Deuteronomy about “justice” for all whether rich or poor, native or foreigner.
In addition, nationally, we acknowledge that all will be held accountable to the Creator of humankind for how they lived and governed. This awareness produces a culture with a stronger morality, deeper faith, and more equal justice.
Although our founders were overwhelmingly Christian in practice or principles, our Constitution does not grant Christians special favor. Atheists, humanists, leftists, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, etc., are to receive the same protection and freedoms under the law as Americans who follow the same Christian faith of our founding fathers. In fact, there is “no religious test” for running for political office.
What prevented our founders from creating a nation favoring Christianity over other religions? When our founding fathers took note that Jesus never practiced, nor did the early Church teach, compelled conversions, they followed suit and did not create a “State-Approved Church” that compelled faith in Christ.
How different is our nation from many other non-Christian religion-founded nations? It appears to me that in most religion-driven nations, the adherents of that nation’s official religion enjoy special favors or status that “unbelievers” are denied. This is most prominently witnessed in Muslim-majority nations. Similarly, those nations founded under atheism (such as Marxists, Communists, Socialists, or Fascists) deny equal rights to religious people, who have fewer freedoms and are more likely to be oppressed, or worse, persecuted.
Yes, in America, we have our shameful past where we failed to equally protect all, yet even then, our Constitution provided the tools to address those inequities. We are not perfect, but we’ve come a long way.
Would it surprise you to know that the person responsible for our initial Pledge of Allegiance was a Christian? In September of 1892, Baptist minister Francis Bellamy published the first version of the Pledge in a children’s magazine to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ voyage to America. It read: “I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”4
Then, in 1954, another pastor, Rev. George M. Docherty of New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., preached a message with then-President Dwight D. Eisenhauer sitting in the same pew that Abraham Lincoln had occupied almost a century before.
Rev. Docherty preached that the pledge was “missing the characteristics and definitive factor in the American way of life.” The next day, a Joint Resolution (H. J. Res 371) was proposed by U. S. Rep. Charles Oakman from Michigan to add the words “Under God” into the pledge. He stated: “Mr. Speaker, I think Mr. Docherty hit the nail squarely on the head. One of the most fundamental differences between us and the Communists is our belief in God.”5 A similar bill was introduced in the Senate.
Then, on June 14, 1954 (Flag Day), President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill into law, officially adding the words “under God” into the Pledge of Allegiance, telling the nation:
“From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural schoolhouse, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty. To anyone who truly loves America, nothing could be more inspiring than to contemplate this rededication of our youth, on each school morning, to our country’s true meaning. . . . In this way, we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future…”6 (Please read those words one more time)
Just as President Eisenhauer led the way in reaffirming our national dedication “to the Almighty,” President Trump (this year, on our nation’s 250th anniversary) directed our leaders to rededicate our nation as “one nation under God.” Be they followers of Christ or not, all citizens uniquely benefit from the biblical principles that formed such an amazing nation we know as the “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.”
For this rededication to carry weight in the coming years, we who are people of faith must likewise rededicate ourselves to the Lord and to pray and work for the “peace and prosperity of the land” in which we are living, because “if it prospers, you will too” (Jeremiah 29:7). And for those who push back on religious expression, maybe you can pause and appreciate what freedoms you have, thanks to America’s religious heritage of “one nation under God.”
Notes
- 1. Speaker Mike Johnson’s Prayer, May 17, 2026, on the National Mall at the Rededicate 250 Event.
- 2. https://christianheritagefellowship.com/post-series/when-congress-asked-america-to-fast-pray-and-give-thanks-to-god/
- 3. https://americanheritage.org/the-influence-of-the-bible-on-americas-founding-era-the-most-cited-source/
- 4. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/09/04/5-facts-about-the-pledge-of-allegiance/
- 5. Both comments in this paragraph from: https://wallbuilders.com/resource/president-eisenhowers-one-nation-under-god/
- 6. Ibid