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WASHINGTON - Earlier this week, U.S. Congressman Rick W. Allen (R-Ga-12) participated in a Special Order on the House floor in recognition of National Bible Week. In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt first declared National Bible Week during the week of Thanksgiving to encourage individuals to read and study the Bible. The special order, organized by Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05), included thirteen members of Congress as they reflected on what the Bible has contributed to their individual lives. Congressman Allen’s speech can be found below.

Thank you, Mr. Lamborn, and it is indeed a pleasure to rise here tonight with my friends and colleagues in recognition of National Bible Week, which we celebrated last week during the Thanksgiving holiday.

It is my privilege to stand in this chamber tonight – God led me to be here – to tell you what the Bible means to me and the impact it has had on the history of this nation. Throughout our country, we are seeing a distinct level of division that is evident in this very body and all across our land.

In Exodus, God created the law, the 10 commandments, and instituted a government to carry out the law, saying, “Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly…Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Right now, I am looking at the face of Moses over the entry to this House chamber. Government was instituted by God for one purpose: to restrain evil and promote good. We must ensure that this body, and throughout our government, that we are always working toward this purpose.

Mark 3:24 says, “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” During trying times and always, we must turn to the word of our God and trust that he will lead us on a path to righteousness – as the truth can always be found in our faith in Him. And my fellow Americans, the truth shall set you free.

One of the first scriptures I memorized was Joshua 1:8. It says, "This book of the law, the bible, shall not depart from your lips, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do what it says and what is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

I have prayed over this scripture and believe all who pray and follow the word of the Lord will be granted all the wonderful promises God has made through His word, like he has done with me and as he did with Abraham in Genesis 15:6. “Abraham believed the Lord and he credited it to Him as righteousness.”

As I’ve traveled Georgia’s 12th district, I remind folks that we are all just stewards of what God has given us, and we must be obedient to God’s word to keep it. Psalms 24:1 tells us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Everything belongs to God.

We must ask for God’s blessing and protection- it says that in the Bible- and as we enter the Christmas season, we must all remember the importance of this day as we celebrate the birth of the savior of the world. Earlier this year, the late Billy Graham laid in honor in our Capitol. I have read his inaugural prayer as a reminder every week for the past sixteen years. I would like to share it with you now:

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 “one 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 hast given us our prosperity, our freedom and our power. This faith in God is our heritage and our foundation. Thou hast 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 the 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 a whirlwind of crime, division, and rebellion.

And now with the wages of our sins staring us in the face, we remember Thy words, “If my people who are called by my Name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

My fellow Americans, this prayer was offered on the inauguration 49 years ago. As I talk to you at this time, our nation- and many have told me- that we are at a crossroads. My prayer is this: God has given us his word and as far as me and my household, we shall worship the Lord.

Thank you and God bless you!

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