“So Help Me God!”

At his request, President Barack Obama ended his inaugural oath with the words: "So help me God." Interestingly, those four words are not legally or constitutionally required.

According to the Congressional Record, the words, "So help me God," are not a part of the obligation assumed upon taking the oath. They constitute rather an assertion of sincerity to undertake the duties of service in good faith and with the aid of the highest power recognized by the enlistee. It is directed solely to his or her personal conception of the Almighty, whatever that may be or whatever it may not be. There is no effort to impose on the enlistee any established religious conception, or even to require his acknowledgement of any religious conception.” In other words, the decision to add the words was the decision of the President.

The President’s only obligation was to recite the oath laid our in the US Constitution: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Then, why would the President choose to add words that are not required? Historians have wrangled over whether George Washington established precedence by adding the phrase on his own during his first inaugural acceptance; but the Library of Congress website states he did. Abraham Lincoln was reported to have said it spontaneously in 1861 and other presidents over the years have followed suit.

President Lincoln openly addressed the concept of divine guidance in the Gettysburg address: "This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom." When the pledge of allegiance added the phrase "under God" in 1953, President Dwight Eisenhower commented, "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."

American history is replete with examples of public appeals to a higher being for guidance and protection. For instance, The Declaration of Independence includes an appeal "to the Supreme Judge of the world."

When used, the term “So help me God” implies an appeal for mercy because of the retribution that will come if vows are not faithfully kept. The appeal for mercy affirms the sovereign hand of God in human affairs. The term acknowledges God’s right to control and judge the life of the person swearing. In essence, no higher authority exists.

What a contrast when compared with the oath of office in the former Soviet Union: "If I break this solemn vow, may I be severely punished by the Soviet people, universally hated, and despised by the working people." Although that is quite a condemnation, in actuality it is less severe than the potential consequences for someone who has a strong moral or religious foundation.

According to one reference work, an oath is "a solemn appeal to God to witness the truth of a statement or the sincerity of a promise, coupled with an imprecation of divine judgment in the event of falsehood or breach of obligation."

This definition is captured in the Hippocratic Oath, one of the world's oldest and most famous: "I swear... according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath with purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my art... While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, respected by all men, in all times! But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot!”

Four years ago, a California atheist, Dr. Michael Newdow, objected and went to federal court to prevent Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts from prompting the president-elect to repeat the "so help me God phrase." Newdow, along with several non-religious groups, argued that the words violate the constitutional ban on government "endorsement" of religion. The high court ultimately rejected the lawsuit two years ago. Interestingly, no such legal challenges showed up this time.

In light of the President’s decision to ask God’s mercy, should he fail to uphold the Constitution, it is now our responsibility to pray for him. Firstly, we need to thank God for the President’s willingness to acknowledge an authority higher than the Office of the President and even the US Constitution. We also need to pray that God would grant to him wisdom to preside over this great nation. Pray for his health, his family and the ability to balance the kaleidoscopic variety of activities in his life.