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If you watch the news on television, read editorials in newspapers, or listen to most politicians today you'll come away with several points. I wanted to share those points with you and what I found with my research:
1. That this country is a melting pot of ideas, people and religions. True, but just like with the ideas and the people, not all religions are good … just protected.
2. That our founding fathers believed in the separation of church and state. True, but not for the reason you may think.
3. That the founding fathers were not Christians at all, but Deists who did not believe the bible was true. False and allow me to present just a few of the more popular founders and their statements as evidence.
John Adams
On April 18, 1775, a British soldier ordered him, John Hancock, and others to disperse in the name of George the Sovereign King of England. Adams responded to him: We recognize no sovereign but God, and no king but Jesus! In a letter to Thomas Jefferson dated June 28, 1813, he said: The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity
Samuel Adams
He was also a steadfast Christian. In The Rights of the Colonists, which he wrote in 1772, he said: The right to freedom being the gift of the Almighty...The rights of the colonists as Christians...may be best understood by reading and carefully studying the institutions of The Great Law Giver and Head of the Christian Church, which are to be found clearly written and promulgated in the New Testament.
After signing the Declaration of Independence, he proclaimed: We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come.
In his February, 1795 Proclamation for a Day of Public Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, then Governor Adams said: That with true repentance and contrition of Heart, we may unitedly implore the forgiveness of our Sins, through the merits of Jesus Christ, and humbly supplicate our Heavenly Father, to grant us the aids of his Grace, for the amendment of our Hearts and Lives, and vouchsafe his smiles upon our temporal concerns.
And finally, these are the words in his Last Will and Testament: Principally, and first of all, I resign my soul to the Almighty Being who gave it, and my body I commit to the dust, relying on the merits of Jesus Christ for the pardon of my sins.
Alexander Hamilton
I have carefully examined the evidences of the Christian religion, and if I was sitting as a juror upon its authenticity I would unhesitatingly give my verdict in its favor. I can prove its truth as clearly as any proposition ever submitted to the mind of man.
John Hancock
He said, On April 15, 1775, four days before the Shot Heard 'Round the World, In circumstances dark as these, it becomes us, as Men and Christians, to reflect that, whilst every prudent Measure should be taken to ward off the impending Judgements.
All confidence must be withheld from the Means we use; and reposed only on that GOD who rules in the Armies of Heaven, and without whose Blessing the best human Counsels are but Foolishness--and all created Power Vanity.
Patrick Henry
He quotes both Jeremiah and Matthew in this paragraph: It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
Toward the end of his life, he reportedly read his Bible for hours at a time. He once said to a neighbor: This book is worth all the books that ever were printed, and it has been my misfortune that I never found time to read it with the proper attention and feeling till lately. I trust in the mercy of heaven that it is not too late.
Thomas Jefferson
Written in the front of his personal Bible, he wrote: I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our creator.
James Madison
He wrote on November 9, 1772 in a letter to William Bradford: A watchful eye must be kept on ourselves lest while we are building ideal monuments of Renown and Bliss here we neglect to have our names enrolled in the Annals of Heaven.
In September of 1773, in a letter to William Bradford, he wrote: I have sometimes thought there could be no stronger testimony in favor of Religion or against temporal Enjoyments even the most rational and manly than for men who occupy the most honorable and gainful departments and are rising in reputation and wealth, publicly to declare their unsatisfactoriness by becoming fervent Advocates in the cause of Christ, & I wish you may give in your Evidence in this way. Such instances have seldom occurred, therefore they would be more striking and would be instead of a "Cloud of Witnesses.
In 1785, in Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments, Madison wrote: It is the duty of every man to render to the Creator such homage. Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe. We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self government; upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.
Although he did speak of a "wall of separation," it is evident that the purpose of said wall was to prevent Congress from passing a national law to establish a national religion.
In an 1803 letter objecting to the use of government land for churches, he wrote: The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe in blood for centuries.
George Mason
In his will, George Mason wrote: My soul I resign into the hands of my Almighty Creator, whose tender mercies are all over His works, who hateth nothing that He hath made, and to the justice and wisdom of whose dispensations I willingly and cheerfully submit, humbly hoping from His unbounded mercy and benevolence, through the merits of my blessed Savior, a remission of my sins.
George Washington
In his first general order to his own troops, General Washington said he called on: Every officer and man...to live, and act, as becomes a Christian Soldier defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country.
In a letter to all state governors in June, 1783, he wrote: I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government--to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their Brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love Mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, Humility, and Pacific temper of mind which were the Characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a Happy Nation.
In 1787, he warned the Constitutional Convention delegates: If to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterward defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair; the event is in the Hand of God!"
When he proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving, he said: Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor
Noah Webster
As evidenced in his textbook, History of the United States, published in 1832, he believed that Christianity and government could not and should not be separated: The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His apostles, which enjoins humility, piety, and benevolence; which acknowledges in every person, a brother or a sister, and a citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free constitutions of government.
He is also quoted as saying: Every civil government is based upon some religion or philosophy of life. Education in a nation will propagate the religion of that nation. In America, the foundational religion was Christianity. And it was sown in the hearts of Americans through the home and private and public schools for centuries. Our liberty, growth, and prosperity was the result of a Biblical philosophy of life. Our continued freedom and success is dependent on our educating the youth of America in the principles of Christianity
I appreciate you allowing me the time to share this. If you like it, please share it with a friend. I just did.
