National Bible Week

Floor Speech

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Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Lamborn for arranging this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, when President Roosevelt convened the inaugural celebration of National Bible Week, as was mentioned, it was 1941. America was still recovering from an economic collapse, and across the sea, war raged in Europe.

It seemed the whole world was shrouded in darkness. But Roosevelt believed that the Bible is an eternal source of hope.

We know that the Bible is life-changing. As mentioned about the news of the attack and as mentioned before, NBC was broadcasting the reading of the Bible; they made a monumental decision during that process. As they were broadcasting the news, during breaks, they would continue to read the Bible. They recognized one simple truth: There is no greater spiritual armor than the Word of God.

So where are we some 81 years later? The pollsters say that 7 in 10 Americans believe that our Nation is in crisis and at the risk of collapse. There continues to be wars and rumors of wars. But I believe, as President Roosevelt believed, in the awesome life-changing power of God's Word.

Ephesians 6 says:

Put on the full armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

As we look around our Chamber here, fellow Members, we are without excuse. As mentioned earlier, we have ``In God We Trust'' here. We have lawmakers all around us and, obviously, the full face of Moses, who gave us the first four chapters of the Bible.

Some 40 years later, after National Bible Week was declared, Billy Graham gave this prayer, and I will read part of it. He said: ``Our Father and our God, Thou hast said, `Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord.' We recognize on this historic occasion that we are `a nation under God.' We thank Thee for this torch of faith handed to us by our forefathers. May we never let it be extinguished. Thou alone has given us our prosperity, our freedom and our power. This faith in God is our heritage and our foundation.

``Thou has warned us in the Scriptures, `If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?'

``As George Washington reminded us in his farewell address, morality and faith are the pillars of our society. We confess these pillars are being eroded in an increasingly materialistic and permissive society. The whole world is watching to see if the faith of our fathers will stand the trials and tests of this hour. Too long we have neglected Thy word and ignored Thy laws. Too long we have tried to solve our problems without reference to Thee. Too long we have tried to live by bread alone. We have sown to the wind and are now reaping the whirlwind of crime, division, and rebellion.''

That prayer was given in 1969, and here we are today. So just as we turned to the Bible then, I pray that we will turn to it now.

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