America's Christian
Foundation
There are many, many evidences that
America was founded on Christian principles, organized around them as a newborn
country, and developed ever since, based on the precepts of the Bible and the
principles of government and human relations found within it. For example:
Mayflower
Compact:
As that ship approached Cape Cod on
Nov. 11, 1620, the English Christians on board, intent on separating from
England in order to live under their own civil government largely because of a
lack of religious freedom, wrote what's now considered the world's first
covenant-based social contract. It starts off: "In the name of God Amen." The
first paragraph also contains the phrase: "by the grace of God." The next
paragraph states: "Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancements of
the Christian faith and honor of our king & country, a voyage to plant the
first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia. . . ."
Isaiah
33:22:
Clearly, the three estates of
American government - the judicial, the legislative and the executive - are
modeled after the Christian trinity and model of government in this Bible
verse.
For the Lord is our judge, the Lord
is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.
- Isaiah
33:22
Other Biblical principles in our founding
documents (source: Christianity and the
Constitution: The Faith of Our Founding Fathers, by John Eidsmoe):
The
providence of God
The law of
God (higher than any laws of man; Romans 2:14-15)
The law of
nations
The equality
of man (Acts 10:34, Galatians 3:28)
God-given
human rights
Governments
secure rights, but God gives them
Government
is by consent of the governed (God ordains government through people, Romans
13, Daniel 2, 1 Peter 3)
The sinful
nature of man (Romans 3:23)
Limited,
delegated powers to prevent struggles between rulers and the ruled (Deuteronomy
17:14-20, 1 Kings 12:6-19)
Rights of
criminal defendants, with orderly court systems, high ethics for judges (Exodus
23:1-8), two witnesses required for conviction (Deut. 17:6), and severe penalty
for perjury (Deut. 19:16-21), because each person was created in the image of
God, and human life and dignity are greatly valued
Property
rights (Exodus 20:15,17)
The
sanctity of contract (Psalm 15:1,4)
No punishment
for families of those convicted (Deut. 24:16, in contrast to the way pagans put
to death a convicted criminal and his entire family, Daniel 6:24)
Sundays
excepted (Art. I, Sec. 7, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution regarding the
President's veto power, excludes Sundays from the 10-day period, honoring the
Sabbath as commanded in Exodus 20:8-10)
Separation
of church and state (both derive their powers from God, but He made it clear he
wants them separate; see 1 Samuel 13, 2 Chronicles 26:16-21, and Luke 20:25)
Declaration of Independence:
Excerpts:
". . . to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them. . ." ". .
. all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness. . . ." ". . . appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world. . . ."
and "with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence. . . ."
Quotes from founders:
You will do well to wish to learn
our ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make
you a greater and happier people than you are . . . Religion and Morality are
the essential pillars of civil society.
George Washington, 1732-1799, first
president of the United States
And may that Infinite Power which
rules the destinies of the universe lead our councils to what is best, and give
them a favorable issue for your peace and prosperity.
Thomas Jefferson,
1743-1826, third president of the United States, first inaugural address
The highest glory of the American
Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of
civil government with the principles of Christianity.
John Quincy Adams, 1767-1848, sixth
president of the United States
Observations of de Tocqueville:
French
historian and social scientist Alexis de Tocqueville wrote the 1835 book, Democracy in America, which set down for
all time exactly what the character and style of the early United States was
all about. Among many other direct observations of the Christian foundation of
the country, he wrote, "In America religion is the road to knowledge, and the
observance of the divine laws leads man to civil freedom."
Washington
Monument:
On the very top are these Latin
words, "Laus Deo." Meaning: "Praise be to our God." Several engravings of
prayers line the steps. If you've ever doubted that America's first President
was anything but a Godly man and a Christian, consider his prayer: "Almighty God; We
make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy
protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a
spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and
entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow
citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt 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 a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never
hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we
beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
For more about the American
founders' beliefs in the Judeo-Christian ethic, order the book, "What They
Believed," on www.truthsthattransform.org
Also see:
http://wallbuilders.com/resources/search/detail.php?ResourceID=140
www.reclaimamerica.org/PAGES/fastfacts/AmericasChristianHeritage.pdf
www.providenceforum.org
www.americanchristianhistory.com