Why Does the American Government Trust in God When Most Americans Are Sinners and Godless?
The premise of your question is flawed. Most Americans are not godless. You might be godless, but the majority of the rest of us are not. We know from a proven track record that adherence to the principles of Judeo-Christianity has guided our nation's laws and cultural norms from the birth of our nation. For the last 1000 years or more, all Western nations have adhered reasonably close to what the Christian Gospels define as virtuous or sinful. And the West is by far the most successful region on this planet economically, socially, militarily, etc.
This is no coincidence. When nations walk away from God and His commandments, those nations fail. You can see this happening in the United States right now. The more we push God out of our classrooms and public life, the worse the country becomes. There is no disputing this. If you mean a country that is poor, more violent, and more ignorant, then pushing God out is the best way to accomplish it, but that is not what people would consider success.
The American Government's Perspective on God
It is a mistaken belief that the American government trusts in God. The government's leaders often think of themselves as God. Yes, it started out on the Word, but how far it has strayed. The government itself is not the object of trust. The only law to follow is God's law. People can still be followers of God's law and live in this country. One does not negate the other.
Correcting Historical Misconceptions
The phrase "In God we trust" on money or "under God" in the flag salute was a mistake. I hope that these changes will be reversed in the future. Misconceptions about the Founders being Deists or atheists are common in modern history books. However, if you read the original sources, you will find that most of them were Christians or Jews.
What Does It Mean to Be a Sinner?
To quote virtually every minister of Word and sacrament, a church is a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints. The biggest difference between those who attend church and those who don’t is that the attendees realize they are sinners and try to do something about it. Those who do not simply accept their status quo and give up trying to change.
The Role of God in American Society
All human beings are sinners except for Jesus Christ. However, not all of us are godless. The American government trusts in God because our Founders believed in God, and many Americans still do. The principles of Judeo-Christianity have deeply influenced the formation of American laws and cultural norms.
In conclusion, while the term 'godless' may be a misnomer for many Americans, the principles of God and His commandments continue to shape American society. It is essential to recognize and respect these historical and cultural foundations to understand the current state of American politics and society.