Today, we as Americans are celebrating the two hundred thirty fourth birthday of our country, the United States of America . On this date in 1776 the Declaration of Independence from England was ratified by the Continental Congress. At the time of its inception this country was founded on Christian principles upon which the founders of this great country established the laws of the land. They understood that only through the blessings of God would they succeed in the establishment of this country. They also understood that only by following Christian principles would this country remain free and strong. Let's look at what some of those great men wrote.
John Jay, 1st Chief Justice of Supreme Court: One of the three men most responsible for the Constitution.
George Washington from his Farewell Address to the Nation.
The first amendment of the U.S. Constitution states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
In 1802 Thomas Jefferson had this to say about the first amendment and the government of this country.
“The First Amendment has erected a wall of separation between church and state, but that wall is a one directional wall; it keeps the government from running the church, but it makes sure that Christian principles will always stay in government.” January 1, 1802 , during an address to the Danbury Baptists.
What have the Courts said in the past about Christian principles, the First Amendment and the separation of church and state?
By our form of government, the Christian religion is the established religion and all sects and denominations of Christians are placed upon the same equal footing.
Whatever strikes at the root of Christianity tends manifestly to the dissolution of civil government.
People v. Ruggles, 1811: 2 decades after the 1st Amendment.
Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind...It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in the sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian.
Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States , 1892. The Court cited 87 precedents.
In 1854 the U.S. House Judiciary Committee had this to say: Had the people, during the Revolution, had any suspicion of any attempt to war against Christianity, that Revolution would have been strangled in its cradle...At the time of the adoption of the constitution and the amendments, the universal sentiment was that Christianity should be encouraged, not any one sect...in this age there can be no substitute for Christianity...That was the religion of the founders of the republic and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendents...the great vital and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and divine truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
House Judiciary Committee Report, March 27, 1854 after a one year study brought about by a suit to force the separation of church and state.
In the case of Church of Holy Trinity v. United States the Court cited 87 precedents. The House Judiciary Committee studied this matter for a year and both came to the conclusion that this Country was founded on the pure doctrines and divine truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Why then in 1962 would the Court of this land separate religious principles from public schools without citing any precedents? It is probably because there are no precedents for it. There is no legal basis for their decision. They were simply opposed to it. Every court decision up to this time supported the Constitution of the United States and what its writers had to say about the matter.
The previous information is presented to you simply as something to reflect upon. How you react to it depends upon how you view it and how you determine to use it. Below are a few more statements some of our prominent ancestors had to say about the matter.
James Madison, the chief architect of the Constitution.
Abraham Lincoln, when asked if he thought God was on our side.
• "I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests--and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning--and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution--and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!"
French writer Alexis de Tocqueville after he visited America in 1831.
Our Constitution was made for moral and religious people and is not adequate to rule any other type of people.
It is often said that the morals of this Country have declined because of the restrictions placed upon teachers and others in leadership to teach about God, to offer prayers and give religious instruction to our youth. While that is probably true to some decree, maybe the reason these restrictions have occurred is because we Americans as a whole have separated ourselves from God and allowed these things to occur. Immorality flourishes around us. Immoral people elect immoral people into political offices and they make immoral decisions.
So, what can we, as Christians, do about it?
• We can pray to God and ask Him to guide our leaders' hearts to make the right decisions.
• We can pray to God asking that we may continue to have the religious freedoms we currently enjoy.
• We can work diligently to spread the Gospel of Christ in our personal fight against immorality.
• We, by our example and teaching can bring up our children and grandchildren to be Christians.
• No matter how hard we try we will never be able to bring all men to Christ.
• We may not be able to turn around the morale decline in our country.
• We are only responsible for our own actions and in-actions in living godly lives.
• A day is coming when this world will end.
• When that happens it won't matter if you were living in the United States or any other country on this planet for if you are living in God's kingdom today, then you will be living in heaven with Him on that day.
Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
Let us pray these United States of America will return to the Lord before it is too late.