[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 203 (Monday, December 11, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H6804-H6808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL BIBLE WEEK
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 9, 2023, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) is
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
General Leave
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous materials on the topic of my Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, for over 80 years, our country has
recognized the week of Thanksgiving to be National Bible Week. This
week was first established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941
to create an annual event where Christians could celebrate the Bible.
The very first Psalm of David expresses the importance of the Bible:
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor
stands in the path of sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful, but
his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law, he mediates day
and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that
brings forth its fruit in its season whose leave also shall not wither
and whatever he does shall prosper.
King David found that his greatest counsel was not found in human
philosophy but rather in the words of God.
America is a Nation that from its beginning has respected the Bible.
The evidence is all around us here in Washington, D.C. Numerous
memorials that quote the Bible, the buildings that house our executive,
judicial, and legislative branches have Bible verses etched in stone.
More importantly, the values and principles that have made us a secure,
free, and prosperous Nation come from the holy Word of God.
In this hour, we will hear from Members of Congress from various
faith traditions and denominations speak about what the Bible means to
them. We are here in keeping with that 80-year tradition to recognize
National Bible Week.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I have had the privilege to speak in each
of those years talking about the Bible and its importance in my life.
The Psalmist in Psalm 119:105, the longest Psalm in the Bible, the
longest chapter in the Bible, is written entirely about the Word of God
and the impact on the Psalmist's life. He says: Your Word is a lamp to
my feet and a light to my path.
That has been my experience. Over the years, my friend and colleague,
as he has led that, he has heard me talk about my experience from the
Word of God.
Tonight, I will let the Bible, God's Word, speak for itself. We know
in Genesis 1:1, it says: In the beginning, God.
In John 1:1, it says: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. That speaks to the foundational truth
that
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God makes up the word, the truth. The revealed Word is His Son, Jesus
Christ. As a Christian, I accept that, but the Bible, the written Word
of God, is powerful.
Every Word of God is tested. We have a lot of books that are out
there today, self-help books, but not all is tested. Every Word of God
is tested, according to Proverbs 30. He is a shield to those who take
refuge in Him.
It talks about the impact of the Word of God in our challenges of
life. In Ephesians 6:17, the Apostle Paul says: Take the helmet of
salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
In Luke, the writer says: On the contrary, blessed are those who hear
the Word of God and observe it.
Oftentimes, when we speak about the Bible, we speak about the
principles, but it doesn't work until we use it and we observe it and
the impact of scripture that goes through the entire life of an
individual.
Paul, writing to his son in the faith, Timothy, says: And that from
childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you
the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness so that the
man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
The power of the Bible continues. It doesn't go away. It says in
Isaiah the prophet: The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word
of God stands forever.
What else can we say that lasts forever?
Peter said in I Peter 1:25: But the Word of the Lord endures forever,
and this is the Word which was preached to you.
Finally, for our impact in our daily life that can go on, in II Peter
1:20-21 it says: But know this first of all, that no prophecy of
Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was
ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit
spoke from God.
That is the power of the Bible. It is God's truth revealed to us to
be used in our lives.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
Allen).
Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to stand here in this Chamber
and commemorate National Bible Week along with my colleagues here
tonight.
Tonight, I want to talk about what the Bible has meant to me and its
impact on our Nation's history, the divisions we see across our
country, including in this Chamber, and highlight the challenges we are
facing.
I am currently reading the Bible, with a prayer group here in
Congress, in its entirety for the third time. I am constantly reminded
of the answers this book provides to the current issues we are facing
in our Nation.
Unfortunately and regrettably, we are a Bible-illiterate society.
Just above our flag here in this Chamber is ``In God we Trust.'' How do
you put your faith and trust in God if you don't know Him and
understand His Word?
I was baptized in a small, rural church at the age of 9 in Georgia,
and, of course, I began to go my own way in high school and college.
After marrying my wife, we found another church home. For some 30
years, that meant so much to our family, raising our children in that
church, but it became more of a ritual and somewhat meaningless to me.
I had my priorities out of order.
A friend asked me to join him in a Bible study. Some 6 months later,
I realized that God didn't want my rituals; He wanted my heart. I have
had this urge to know God since then and study His Word intently and
try my best to understand His will for me. What I have learned is that
God created the church through Jesus Christ to evangelize, and God
created government to moralize and restrain evil.
Today, both the church and the government are divided on these
issues. We have Moses, his full face looking down on the entire
Chamber, who gave us the first five books of the Bible, the moral law.
It should be pretty plain to us what God expects.
As I said earlier, ``In God We Trust'' is above the flag, and it is
on our money, yet in this body we are without excuse.
Joshua 1:8 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.
God's Word is full of great promises.
So where are we today?
My fellow Americans, Billy Graham offered a prayer on inauguration in
1969, and I would like to read it.
{time} 1945
I will read just part of it: 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.''
As the prayer goes on, Reverend Graham describes the current
situation in 1969. Today, we are struggling with the same issues.
Emotional health has become an epidemic because so many do not have
hope and understanding.
Mr. Speaker, I ask you to seek God's Word, pray, and meet with others
and your colleagues and seek understanding.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Allen for sharing from his
personal story.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the great State of
Washington (Mrs. Rodgers), who is the chair of the Energy and Commerce
Committee.
Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Lamborn for
bringing us all together tonight.
The Bible is a book that has endured for generations. Around the
world, it is the number one bestseller. For 6,000 years of history, it
is the Bible that has shaped who we are, how we govern, and our laws,
morality, education, and family values.
The Bible has influenced the greatest philosophers, scholars,
artists, musicians, and scientific work and discoveries.
The Bible answers questions like: Who am I? What makes me human? What
is the purpose of life?
At a time when we are divided, angry, and fearful--the Surgeon
General says we have a public health crisis of loneliness and isolation
driving record suicides, deaths of despair, divorce, substance abuse,
depression, and anxiety--perhaps more of us should read the Bible.
In 1863, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed: ``We have forgotten God. We have
forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied
and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the
deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by
some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.''
In 2023, have we forgotten God? How about doing something new in
2024? How about reading the Bible, all 435 Members of the House of
Representatives? With our family and friends, it is only 15 minutes a
day. We can read through the old book together for wisdom, like in
Proverbs to ``trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on
your own understanding.''
God is with us in everything that we do. May we discover the truth
and freedom of His ways as revealed in the sacred Scripture.
Together, with His abundant grace, we can bring hope and healing to
our land.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great
State of Alabama (Mr. Aderholt).
Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National
Bible Week. I thank Mr. Lamborn, who is not only a colleague but a good
friend and someone that I look up to in so many ways, for organizing
this important Special Order.
As we come to the end of our first session of this Congress, to say
that it has not been a tumultuous year would not be putting it clearly.
Right now, we are at the beginning of our Advent season, and there is
no time better to pause and reflect on the Founding Fathers'
intentions. That is simply to protect Americans' right to worship and
practice their faith freely.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that the Holy Bible is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
To be honest, when I came to Washington, I was actually shocked to
learn how much the Founding Fathers
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looked to Scripture for guidance as they drafted our founding
documents. Unfortunately, today, in schools, they don't really explain
this. They really hardly even mention it.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues and every American
citizen to simply look at what the Founding Fathers had to say about
the Holy Bible and just how much the Founding Fathers relied on it on a
day-by-day basis, especially as they put together the documents that
founded this very Nation that we live in.
During the days following the inception of this Nation, most people
would be surprised to learn that this body, the U.S. Congress,
authorized the publication of Bibles.
The Holy Bible is a firm foundation on which we can build our lives,
filter decisions through, be encouraged by, and seek guidance from.
Let me say, from my personal standpoint, as an individual who is
imperfect but who made a decision to trust Christ Jesus at a young age,
and as someone who tries to look at Scripture on a daily basis, we need
to continue to lean into God's Word as we seek to do the good work for
the American people, grow in our faith, and contribute to a culture of
renewed light in this Nation.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman from California comes
forward, I am going to give my own story. My own story shows a life
that was changed by the Bible.
When I went to college, I thought I knew what the Bible was all
about. In reality, I never read any of it for myself. When I was urged
to do so, I realized that it was different than what I had assumed.
I read the Gospel of John, and I realized I was separated from God
and that the way for me to find Him was through Jesus, who said He is
the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father
but through Him.
When I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior, my life changed
dramatically. I can attest to the reality of the Bible.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).
Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Colorado with
almost the same name as me. I appreciate him leading this important
time for us here tonight, especially as we encroach upon Christmas,
which a lot of times can be made into something else besides the
celebration of our Savior.
The Bible serves as a compass, guiding us through life's journey,
illuminating the path of its teachings, parables, and wisdom. It is
indeed more than a collection of words. It is a living testament to the
grace, power, and unwavering love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Its narratives reveal the depth of God's faithfulness, His miraculous
interventions, and His promise of salvation--if we would just ask for
it.
The Bible has played, of course, an integral role in shaping the
values, principles, and visions of the early pioneers who sought
freedom in this country, who did not want to be dictated by a monarch
as to what religion they would follow.
We have that freedom in this country. We don't have a state-sponsored
religion. We don't have a preferred one, even though many based the
founding of this country on Christian and Biblical values, the Judeo-
Christian ideal. They don't force it on anyone in this country.
We hear a lot of fuss about the separation of church and state. That
is really a misnomer. It is not in the Constitution, and it is not what
everybody is about. No one has to prescribe to any particular type, but
we encourage it because there is salvation in it.
As we celebrate the week of the Bible here, it is the inerrant Word
of God, inspired. The teachings in it are positive values for anybody.
They stand the test of time. They stand above the whims of Congress, of
people, or of governing. If we embrace that, it is indeed better for
all of us and for all of our families.
The Pilgrims sought that religious freedom 300-plus years ago, and
many have been seeking it since. As we see more and more persecution of
people's religious beliefs, we have to put a stop to that and, indeed,
honor what is so formative in this country and its basic freedoms.
As we honor National Bible Week, we do recognize the impact extends
far beyond individual faith practices. It is indeed part of our
Nation's story. It serves as an anchor, offering solace, hope, and
guidance in the world--indeed, inspired by God, given to mankind.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this time and opportunity to put the
spotlight on this because it is a very selfless thing. We hope you will
take time to read it. It will inspire.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, Representative Aderholt made passing
reference to an early action of our Congress in authorizing publication
of a Bible in the 1700s. I am going to amplify on that just a little
bit here.
Many of the early American settlers who came to the New World wanted
to live out their faith in God and His Word, according to the
convictions of their own consciences. It is true that one of Congress'
first acts in the infancy of our Nation was the authorization of an
American-published Bible. The Revolutionary War with the British had
cut off all shipments of Bibles from England. Our Founding Fathers
understood how important it was for the American people to have access
to Bibles.
Robert Aitken, a private citizen, brought this need to the attention
of Congress. He said, in a letter, ``This work is an object worthy of
the attention of the Congress of the United States of America, who will
not negligent spiritual security, while they are virtuously contending
for temporal blessings.''
In 1782, Congress reviewed, approved, and authorized the first known
English language Bible to be printed in America, and the congressional
resolution for that read:
``Resolved: That the United States in Congress assembled highly
approve the pious and laudable undertaking of Mr. Aitken, as
subservient to the interest of religion as well as an instance of
progress of arts in this country, and being satisfied from the above
report of his care and accuracy in the execution of the work, they
recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United
States, and hereby authorize him to publish this recommendation in the
manner he shall think proper.''
Mr. Speaker, can you imagine doing that today, authorizing a Bible
and recommending it to the people of the United States?
Our country has changed over the years and not always for the better,
I am afraid.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Rose).
Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado for
yielding and for claiming the time this evening to acknowledge and
honor our Nation's 82nd National Bible Week.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to join those Members here tonight on the House
floor to share the Lord's Word, its meaning, and the lessons I have
learned from reading and studying it throughout my life.
There are many lessons we learn throughout our lives, whether in
school or our careers, as parents, or throughout the countless
challenges life provides. However, there are no better lessons than
those revealed in God's Word in the Bible.
For example, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we learn about the
importance of gratitude when the Apostle Paul writes: ``Rejoice always,
pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's
will for you in Jesus Christ.''
Mr. Speaker, I know many of us tend to voice our displeasure with
many of the world's current affairs on the House floor, but thankfully
there is so much for which to be thankful.
We also learn about forgiveness when Jesus dies for our sins on the
cross. Ephesians 4:32 says: ``Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.'' There is
nothing more powerful than the message of forgiveness.
Each and every lesson found in the Bible of forgiveness, compassion,
gratitude, generosity, faith, humility, wisdom, perseverance, patience,
and respect, among many others, are powerful lessons on their own.
Each lesson has had a tremendous impact on my life and the lives of
those around me. I couldn't be more grateful to have them impact me the
way they have so that I can go forth and spread them in my community
and in my family, including with my two sons, Guy and Sam.
[[Page H6807]]
{time} 2000
Of course, as Christmas quickly approaches, there is no Biblical
story more significant than that of the miracle of the birth of Jesus
Christ. As always, it is important to remind ourselves what we are
celebrating this time of year: the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Of course, there are no better reminders than those that exist in the
Bible, which is why we are here today to honor the Bible during our
country's 82nd National Bible Week.
So, Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Mr. Lamborn, for taking the time
today to recognize the importance of the Bible in our Nation and its
history. As a Christian, I am proud to recognize National Bible Week,
and I pray that by doing so I will be able to encourage more souls to
know the teachings of the Lord through His written word, the Bible.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin
(Mr. Grothman).
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.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments. It
is that time of year when we as Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus
Christ. Of course, His story is found in the Bible that we are talking
about tonight. So it all ties together very well at this time of year
especially.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Georgia
(Mr. Carter).
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding and hosting this Special Order tonight.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Bible Week. As the
Christmas season approaches and with all the conflict going on in our
world right now, I can't think of a better time to discuss the good
news that is our Bible.
For many Americans, the Christmas season is a time of giving, a time
of joy, and a time for family. For many Christians across the world,
this season looks a lot different, conflict rages in Eastern Europe and
Israel. Many lives have been lost. Here at home fentanyl plagues our
country with Americans being poisoned daily.
Sometimes it is easy for us to get lost in the bad, and we forget who
is really in control. I am certainly guilty of this, and I am sure you
are too, Mr. Speaker. Fortunately, we can turn to the Word of the Lord
for comfort in these troubling times.
The Book of Romans 8:38-39 remind me that no matter what we go
through as individuals or as a nation or as a planet, it cannot
separate us from Christ's love.
The verse says, For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels
nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This Christmas season, pray for our world, pray for our country, pray
for our leaders, and pray for our military. Remember that God loved us
all so much He sent His one and only Son to die for our sins so that we
may be forgiven. It is for that reason that we celebrate this Christmas
season.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Colorado for inviting me to
speak today and for hosting this.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman so much for his
comments.
Mr. Speaker, I will mention something about archaeology. There are
many archeological discoveries which have validated biblical accounts
giving trustworthiness to the Bible that we are acknowledging now
during the recent National Bible Week.
Archeology has, time and time again, shown that the Biblical
personalities, locations, and events actually existed in time and
space. Claims by critics that a Biblical statement was simply made up
have been later debunked by archeological discoveries more times than
we can say.
For instance, the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the late
forties and fifties proved the credibility and authority of Scripture.
The discovery of these scrolls shined light on the oldest records of
the worldwide flood and the longstanding authority and accuracy of the
Bible.
Jewish archaeologist Nelson Glueck has stated: It may be stated
categorically that no archeological discovery has ever controverted or
contradicted a Biblical reference.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Texas
(Mr. Weber).
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the reason we study the Bible is
because it is the history of God's creation of Earth starting in the
Book of Genesis and in the creation of man and his fall in Genesis
chapter 3.
Mr. Speaker, if you study the Bible, you will note that in Genesis
3:15, God promises to Adam and Eve that He will send someone to atone
for their sin. You might further note that God promises that the one
whom He will send will be wounded in the heel but that the atonement or
what I call the ``at one ment,'' which is to be one with God which is
Jesus, will crush the serpent or Satan's head.
Also note, Mr. Speaker, that He promises that the woman, or Eve's,
seed, will crush the head of Satan. This is the only time I know of in
God's Holy Word that the woman's offspring is referred to as the seed
because the term is usually for the offspring of men and not for women.
Understand the virgin birth: there was no man's seed involved with
the woman's pregnancy. It was the Holy Spirit of the living God. In
this way God was stating way back in the first book of the Bible that
Jesus was coming to atone for our sin.
Thousands of years later, Jesus shows up as prophesied by Isaiah in
Isaiah chapter 7 where under the influence of the Holy Spirit Isaiah
writes: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, a
virgin will conceive and bear a son and shall call His name Immanuel,
which is being interpreted as God with us.
This is the one in the New Testament whom John the Baptist pointed to
and said: Yes, this is the one.
[[Page H6808]]
Jesus did live a sinless life, and He did go to the cross to pay for
our sins. For me, he saved me on July 2, 1973, at 5:30 in the afternoon
in Pearland, Texas.
Jesus is the Holy One of Israel and the anointed one whom God uses to
save people from their sins.
That is why we study the Bible, Mr. Speaker. We pray for the peace of
Jerusalem. It is important to study the Bible. Merry Christmas.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his words.
It has been an honor and a pleasure to commemorate National Bible
Week this evening. I am grateful to my colleagues who joined me to
honor the Word of God.
Mr. Speaker, I simply restate my gratitude for the Words of Jesus
about the Bible:
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine and does
them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on
the rock. The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds
blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall for it was
founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of
mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who
built his house on the sand. The rain descended, the floods
came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it
fell, and great was its fall.
So I am thankful for the Word of God that we have to live by. I thank
God for the stability and foundation the Bible has given in my life,
for the lives of those who have spoken here today, and for the life of
our great Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
____________________