Honoring God

President Reagan once said, "If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." And the Bible warns in Psalm 9:17 that “The wicked shall be turned into hell and all nations that forget God.”

Is America on the path to forgetting God? I see it happening more and more in our country with people trying to minimize — and even demonize — Christianity. We saw the latest example last week. The Air Force Academy decided to make the phrase “so help me God” optional in its honor code in what it called an effort to “build a culture of dignity and respect.”

The decision by the Academy’s Honor Review Committee came in response to a civil rights complaint —a single complaint filed by Mikey Weinstein and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. Weinstein has been an outspoken and frequent critic of Christianity in the armed forces.

The current version of the Academy’s oath reads: “We will not lie, steal or cheat nor tolerate among us anyone who does. Furthermore, I resolve to do my duty and live honorably, so help me God.”

“In the spirit of respect, cadets may or may not choose to finish the Honor Oath with ‘So help me God,’” said Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson, superintendent of the Academy.

The oath was created in 1984. Cadets take the oath at the end of their basic training. The phrase “so help me God” was added later after an alleged cheating scandal at the academy.

The decision to now make the phrase optional is yet another attack on our Christian faith. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council and a Marine Corps veteran, told Fox News it’s not about accommodating those who don’t believe in God. “That already exists,” he said. “No one is forced to say this. This is about imposing an atheistic view on everyone so there can be no recognition of God.”

Who’s running our nation’s military? Perkins asked.

In Amos, it says, "Seek God and live." We need to seek God while He can still be found. It will be a terrible day when God removes His hand of blessing from the nations that reject Him. God won't abandon us if we seek Him with all our hearts. That's the only hope we have. We must return to God and be a nation that honors Him.