History gives evidence of our nation's Christian foundation

How can we confidently say that America was founded as a Christian nation? First, let’s examine the spiritual beliefs of the men who were responsible for framing the United States Constitution. They were hardly neutral toward religion. Fifty-one of the fifty-five men who attended the Constitutional Convention were Christians.

In fact, two are our founders. Elias Boudinot and John Jay went on to lead the American Bible Society. They believed the message of the Bible could transform lives and set the nation on a proper moral course.

It is true that of our founders, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, were deists, not Christians. Yet even these deists did not deny the spiritual foundation of our country. For example, the two men proposed seals for the new nation that depicted Moses and the pillar of fire. They believed God’s presence guiding the Israelites should be the symbol of our country.

In addition, Benjamin Franklin suggested that the Constitutional Convention should seek God’s blessing in an opening prayer at every session. During the meeting on June 28, 1787, Franklin said, “I have lived … a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured … in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.’”

For further proof of the founders’ beliefs, we can look at state constitutions from the early years of our country. The majority of states had a religious requirement in order to hold any sort of political office. For example, here’s what every elected or appointed official in Delaware had to subscribe to, according to article 22 of the state constitution: “I, A B, do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, and the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed forevermore; and I do acknowledge the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration.” Today, many seminaries don’t require their professors to subscribe to these beliefs! Yet such a confession was required to hold office in several states.

Some years ago, researchers Donald S. Lutz and Charles S. Hyneman from Indiana University did a study to determine which philosophers and schools of thought were cited most often in early American political writings. After 10 years of poring over books, pamphlets, newspapers, and other publications, they found that the Bible was cited just as often as classical sources or English common law. Lutz wrote, “It is relevant … to note the prominence of biblical sources for American political thought, since it was highly influential in our political tradition.”

Even the secular media recognizes the centrality of the Bible in our nation’s founding. In a piece titled “How the Bible Made America,” Newsweek magazine (on 12/27/82) reported, “Historians are discovering that the Bible, perhaps even more than the Constitution, is our founding document.” The historical evidence points to the Bible as our country’s founding document.

Editor’s note: This article is reprinted by permission. It is Chapter 1 in Dr. Robert Jeffress’ latest book America is a Christian Nation. The book is available for a donation at ptv.org.

His radio program, Pathway to Victory, airs on American Family Radio (weekdays at 6-6:30 a.m. CT). Stream Dr. Jeffress’ DVD address, The Political and Cultural Engagement of the Believer (produced by American Family Studios) at streaming.afa.net.

EARLY PRESIDENTS SPEAK

GEORGE WASHINGTON

In his first inaugural address, President George Washington said, “It would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official Act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the Universe. … No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States.”

JOHN ADAMS

The second president once wrote, “The general Principles, on which the Fathers Achieved Independence, were … the general Principle of Christianity, in which all those Sects were United: And the general Principles of English and American Liberty … I will avow, that I then believed, and now believe, that those general Principles of Christianity, are as eternal and immutable, as the Existence and Attributes of God: and that those Principles of Liberty, are as unalterable as human Nature.”

DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS' INTRO TO

America is a Christian Nation

Many concerning changes have taken place in our nation and around the world in recent years, including legalized same-sex marriages, altered views of gender, and a dramatic escalation of persecution of Christians. It’s increasingly clear that America has strayed far from its biblical foundation.

However, if you listen long enough to organizations like the Freedom from Religion Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union, you will come to believe that America was founded by men with a wide diversity of religious beliefs who were united by one dream: a secular nation devoid of any religious – especially Christian – influence. The founders’ goal, we often hear, was to build an unscalable wall that would protect this country from any religious influence seeping into public life. That version of American history belongs in the same category as the story of George Washington chopping down a cherry tree – it is a complete myth. In reality, the United States was founded predominantly by Christians who wanted to build a Christian nation on the foundation of God’s will.

Furthermore, these men believed that the future success of our country depended upon our fidelity to Christian beliefs. That’s why we can say without hesitation or apology that America is a Christian nation, and our future success depends upon our country returning to our biblical foundation and being faithful to the eternal truths of God’s Word.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robert Jeffress

Senior Pastor

First Baptist Church

Dallas, Texas