In God we trust?

Imprinted on American coinage and dollar bills is the motto of the United States of America: In God we trust.

The tragic irony of this motto in light of last week’s dreadful shootings is truly terrible. 

It seems that a majority of Americans do not trust in God anymore, if they ever did. Now they trust in their weaponry. 

I am an American, though I live in Scotland. I know very few people in the States who own weapons, apart from those who use them for sport. But I do know some.  And they own them because they fear all the others who own them.

A culture of fear breeds fear. The more guns proliferate, the deeper the fear grows and the more ordinary citizens feel constrained to arm themselves.

The gun-wielding majority, or at least those who have a powerful lobby on Capitol Hill and influence politicians’ decisions on legislation, do not trust in God. They trust in power, in bullets, in an individual’s freedom to be armed and ready for anything. 

Well, that’s one kind of freedom I guess. But it cancels out the rights of children to go to school without having to pass through metal detectors. It cancels out the rights of children and parents who want safe schools where kids can learn in peace of mind without having an ear tuned to the sound of approaching gunshots.

Tragedies like the one in Connecticut last week are only possible because individuals, fearful for their safety in the home in such a culture, create mini-fortresses stockpiled with guns and ammunition. 

Obviously the perpetrator of the crime was mentally ill. But mental illness and easy access to heavy weapons do not make good partners.

When people ask the questions they always do in the face of tragedy, questions like, ‘Where was God?’, and ‘How could God let this happen?’, we need to be ready to answer. God is there weeping as people only look to him, and then in anger, when an atrocity occurs. 

It takes courage and faith to lay down weapons, but unless people start doing that, the future is grim.

Trusting in God brings perfect freedom. And requires steadfast faith. 

But he is faithful.

In God we trust? It’s time we did.