National Bible Week

Floor Speech

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Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, today we celebrate National Bible Week, and it is right that we do so. Our forefathers felt very strongly that America was fit for a moral and religious people and totally unfit for anyone else, and our forefathers frequently quoted the Bible and made reference to the Bible. I think if we are going to continue with our oaths of office to uphold our Constitution, inevitably that means familiarizing ourselves with the Bible and guiding ourselves in this institution by the Bible.

George Washington, the father of our Nation, said that it is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.

I just mentioned John Adams. I should mention Benjamin Rush who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a Representative of Pennsylvania at the beginning of our Nation.

The Bible contains more truth than any other book in the world. John Jay was our first Supreme Court Justice. For some who think there is a separation of church and state, John Jay, our first Supreme Court Justice said: ``Let us therefore persevere steadfastly in distributing the Scriptures far and near, and without note or comment. We are assured that they are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.''

John Quincy Adams, the son of John Adams, said: ``The Bible is of all books in the world that which contributes most to make men good, wise, and happy.''

Of all the books in the Old Testament other than, of course, Psalms, which is a very long book, the book quoted most by our forefathers was Deuteronomy. It is kind of interesting because normally, Mr. Speaker, when you hear somebody quote something in the Bible, you never hear Deuteronomy. Nevertheless, what I take it to mean is that Deuteronomy was kind of the book laying out the type of government that our Lord expected the Jewish people to have when they left Egypt and established their land even before they had a king.

Therefore, if you look at it that way, Mr. Speaker, it is not surprising at all. In any event, I do think it is time for the American public--there are some churches that do it more than others--to read some of the Bible, to try to live by its precepts, and insofar as we raise our younger people in this country, familiarize them with the Bible and have them live by its precepts.

I thank Congressman Lamborn for yielding to me to talk about the Bible. I hope Members of Congress, when they return after this week to their districts, make a special point of reading parts of the Bible.

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