America's Christian Foundation

Sunday, May 16, 2010

How often have you heard or read media reports that tried to convince you that the foundation of our country was not based on religious principles? Did you know that beginning in the 1960s historians began emphasizing the “economic view of American history” instead of the broad or all-encompassing perspective of our country’s founding which had been recognized for three centuries? It is likely that if you were an American high school student in the last few decades, you were never really exposed to the full view of America’s moral, religious, and constitutional foundation.

Historian Dr. David Barton is trying to change that understanding through WallBuilders, an organization designed to provide a positive influence in government, education, and families through educating the nation about the Godly foundation of our country. As a former American Studies teacher, I sat with rapt attention last week at the Chattanooga Leadership Breakfast where Dr. Barton was the guest speaker. Barton took the 1,800 Christian leaders on an historical journey of America’s early roots. His information is based on extensive research from thousands of first-edition works by our Founding Fathers. From these documents he shared with us a rich moral history of our foundation.

Below you will find excerpts from Barton’s speech and other historical facts I found on his website at http://www.wallbuilders.com/.

In the portrait of the signing of the Declaration of Independence posted on this page, how many forefathers can you identify? Benjamin Franklin? Thomas Jefferson? Any others? Most of us do not recognize the names much less the religious backgrounds of these signers. Unfortunately, these two men have the most questionable faith of all signers. Did you know that 29 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence had degrees from seminary or Bible schools? Did you know that most of these men wrote extensively about their Christian faith and belief in God’s divine work in our country’s founding?

From the personal writings of the signers of the Declaration of Independence…
Charles Thomson
"I am a Christian. I believe only in the Scriptures, and in Jesus Christ my Savior."

Samuel Adams
"I . . . [rely] upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins."

Robert Treat Paine
"I believe the Bible to be the written word of God and to contain in it the whole rule of faith and manners."

John Witherspoon
"[T]here is no salvation in any other than in Jesus Christ of Nazareth."

Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence and ratifier of the U.S. Constitution started the Sunday School program in America. He wrote,
“If we can live by scriptures, we can solve all our social problems.”

In a letter to Benjamin Rush, John Adams said,
"The Holy Ghost carries on the whole Christian system in this Earth. …There can be no legitimate government but what is administered by this Holy Ghost."

The documents of the founding fathers show that one of the most commonly quoted scriptures was Psalm 33:12
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord"

James Madison declared that he saw the finished Constitution as a product of
“the finger of that Almighty Hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the Revolution,”

In 1774 the first act of America’s first Congress was to ask a minister to open with prayer and to lead Congress in the reading of four chapters on the Bible.

In 1781 Robert Aitken presented a petition to Congress offering to print
"a neat Edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of schools."

In 1782 Aitken’s Bible became the first known English-language Bible to be printed in American and the only one to receive Congressional approval.

On religion and government, George Washington wrote in his “Farewell Address,”
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. … reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."

By 1815 various state governments had issued at least 1,400 official prayer proclamations.

How fitting in this season of political unrest and conflicts abroad that Barton closed his speech with a call to patriotism and Christianity. He reminded us of Washington’s speech to his beleaguered soldiers at Valley Forge in 1778,
“To the distinguished character of patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian”
An open promoter of Christianity, Washington saw the value of proclaiming his Christianity. How far we have come from a nation that once extolled Christianity and one whose leaders proudly acknowledged their faith to one that denies the rich Christian heritage of our country!

If we, as Christians, do not stand up for our faith and reclaim the truth of our historical and biblical foundations, then who will? The words of President James A. Garfield ring as true today as they did in 1877…
"Now, more than ever, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. . . . [I]f the next centennial does not find us a great nation. . . . it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces."

It’s time to learn the truth about our past in order to effect a positive future.

In order to learn more about WallBuilders and David Barton, go to http://www.wallbuilders.com/.