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#4 In This Issue:Articles Quote America is not and has never been a Christian nation. Why then are Evangelicals and those on the religious right so committed to "pushing" their radical beliefs on America if it has never been so? The answer is this: we were not a Christian Nation in the sense that Spain was a Catholic Kingdom, or even as England was a Protestant Kingdom. But we were a nation founded on Christian values and principals. Unfortunately the First Amendment has been used to systematically remove any flavor of Christianity from public life and places, and it generally assumed that early leaders like Thomas Jefferson would applaud that. I don't think so. I like his advice; "Time indeed changes manners and notions, and so far we must expect institutions to bend to them. But time also produced corruption of principals, and against this is the duty of good citizens to be ever on the watch." (T. Jefferson, 1821) Strengthen your faith by remembering history is His Story! We would love to hear any questions, comments, or ideas for future articles, just email us at info@faithofourfathers.org Chris
Van Buskirk Article - Christianity And Our Nation's Founders Virtually all of
the founders of this nation grew up in a Christian environment, supported
Christian churches and assumed a Christian value system. Therefore they
seldom saw the need to publicly make statements concerning their Christian
beliefs.Speakers and writers have never prefaced their remarks by declaring,
"As a life-long resident of planet earth…" Why? Because
the fact that they have been a life-long resident of planet earth is
assumed. So our early leaders seldom felt the need to state the obvious,
that they were committed Christians or at least saw the value of being
a committed Christian. It was not necessary to start letters with, "As
a Christian…"Having said that the Founding Fathers did not
need to state the obvious, there exists a mountain of evidence that
in the early days, at least, our nation was a Christian environment."The
encouragement of the arts and sciences, and all good literature, tends
to the honor of God, the advantage of the Christian religion, and the
great benefit of this and the other United States of America."
So reads the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 as drafted by John Adams.Comments
and writings like these were the norm in the foundation of the United
States, and it is because of this mindset that God so richly blessed
America. Not every American in 1776 was a Christian, but there was a
common view understanding of the connection between God and His people.
James Madison expressed this when he said, "The sacred obligation
of religion flow from the due exercise of opinion, in the solemn discharge
of which man is accountable to God alone." I don't know if this is a true story or not, but a book written in the 1950's called, "500 Little Known Stories from American History" presents it as such. It's a good argument against evolution.George Washington's father, in order to impress on him the certainty of a creator planted seeds in such a way that the boy's name would be spelled when they came up. One morning the boy came running to his father greatly excited."Oh, Pa! Come here! Come here!" "What's the matter, my son, what's the matter?" "Oh, come here, I'll tell you, Pa; come here, and I'll show you such a sight that you never saw in all your lifetime." The boy then led him out to the garden where the new plants spelled out "George Washington." "There, Pa!" said George, quite in ecstasy of astonishment. "Did you ever see such a sight in all your lifetime?" "Why it seems like a curious affair, sure enough, George." "But, Pa, who did make it there? Who did make it there?" "It grew there by chance, I suppose, my son." "By chance, Pa! Oh, no, no, it never did grow there by chance, Pa! Indeed, it never did." "High," his father replied. "Why not, my son?" "Why, Pa, did you ever see anybody's name in a plant bed before?" Mr. Washington thought for a moment, "Well, but George, such a thing might happen, though you never saw it before." "Yes, Pa, but I never did see the little plants grow up so as to make one single letter of my name before. Now how could they grow up to make all the letters? And then, standing one after another, to spell my name so exactly, and all so neat and even, too, at top and bottom? Oh, Pa, you must not say that chance did all this. Indeed, somebody did it, and I dare say, now Pa, you did it just to scare me, because I am your little boy." His father smiled
and said, "Well George, you have guessed it. I indeed did it, but
not to scare you, my son; but to learn you a great thing which I wish
you to understand… As my son could not believe that chance had
made and put together so exactly the letters of his name, then how can
he believe that chance made and put together all these millions and
millions of things that are now so exactly fitted for his good? That
my son may look at everything around him, see what fine eyes he has
got! And a little pug nose to smell the sweet flowers, and pretty ears
to hear sweet sounds, and a lovely mouth to eat bread and butter, and
oh, the little ivory teeth to cut it for him, and the dear little tongue
to prattle for his father! And precious little hands and finger to hold
his playthings, and beautiful little feet to run upon… Now these
and all the ten thousand other things… could chance ever have done
all them for my son?" "May the God
of Wisdom, Strength, and Power, the Lord of the Armies of Israel, inspire
us with prudence in this time of danger; take away from us all the seeds
of contention and division, and unite the hearts and counsels of all
of us, of whatever sect or nation, in one bond of peace, brotherly love,
and generous public spirit. May He give us strength and resolution to
amend our lives, and remove from among us everything that is displeasing
to Him; afford us His most gracious protection, confound the designs
of our enemies, and give peace to all our borders." Benjamin Franklin,
November 14, 1747 ABOUT Faith Of Our Fathers Faith Of Our Fathers is dedicated to spreading revival in America by teaching Americans the true and inspiring story of their godly heritage. For more information, visit our website at faithofourfathers.org
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