AMERICA’S GODLY HERTIAGE
by Steve Fair

Is America a Christian nation? While that may seem to be an undisputed fact to evangelicals, it’s not a fact shared by all Americans. The Freedom from Religion Foundation flatly states America is not a Christian nation. They boldly say, “the U.S. Constitution is a secular document which begins, "We the people," and contains no mention of "God" or "Christianity." FRF claims the only references to religion are exclusionary, such as, "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust" (Art. VI), and "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" (First Amendment). While they prop up their secularist view quite well by taking selected passages of the Constitution out of context, their not recogning the Christian roots of our country is to be intellectually dishonest.

Twelve of the thirteen original state constitutions contained explicit acknowledgments of God and Christianity. At least forty-two of the state constitutions contain some acknowledgment of God in their preambles. Every kid in school used to learn about the writings and early documents executed by those who built our great nation. To refresh your memory, you may recall that in 1620, the Pilgrims wrote the Mayflower Compact before they got off the Mayflower.

The Compact said "In the presence of God, Amen. We ... do by these presents solemnly and mutually in ye presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves into a civil body politic." The compact was the first governing document of the Plymouth Colony. Knowing that earlier settlements in the New World had failed due to a lack of government, the Mayflower Compact was written and adopted. It was in essence a social contract in which the settlers consented to follow the compact's rules and regulations for the sake of survival. The government that the compact formed, in return, would derive its power from the consent of the governed. Fourty one male members of the colony signed the document. The compact is often referred to as the foundation of the Constitution of the United States.

The evidence of our Christian heritage can also be found in the writing and speeches of our founding fathers. Massachusetts Governor Samuel Adams said, "The rights of the colonists as Christians may be best understood by reading and carefully studying the institutes of the great Law Giver which are to be found clearly written and promulgated in the New Testament."

George Washington said regarding the Constitution: "Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the event is in the hand of God."

Thomas Jefferson, who along with Franklin are often cited as being the less religious members of the founding fathers, has these words on his memorial: "God who gave us life, gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that the liberties are the gift of God?"

And it was Franklin at the Constitutional Convention who rose and said, "I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can arise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this." Franklin then moved the convention resort to prayer.

Virginia Governor Patrick Henry said, "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions but on the gospel of Jesus Christ."

John Jay, first chief justice of the United States said, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest, of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

America’s roots are Christian. While our nation has certainly strayed from those roots, there is no denying that Christians founded America on Christian principles. The politically correct crowd has done great damage to our country’s reputation by attempting to revise our rich history.

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On Saturday evening January 19th, Rick Green with Wallbuilders will return to Duncan for the fourth consecutive year. Rick is a former Texas state legislator whose constituents included the current President, George W. Bush. Rick is an excellent speaker whose high-energy style rivets an audience as he presents America’s forgotten history. The event will be held at the Stephens County Fairgrounds and tickets are free. The event will begin at 6pm. The public is invited. Even though the Stephens County Republican Party is sponsoring this event, we will not discuss politics- only our country’s Christian heritage. Every American Christian should see this presentation. It’s worth the drive to Duncan.