Did America Have a Christian Founding?
It can be argued that America did not have a Christian founding. America was founded by an offshoot of the Enlightenment—a movement rooted in the schism formed away from the original orthodox church. Many critical scholars believe that the Founding Fathers were freemasons, charging that “nearly all the Founding Fathers were involved with Freemasonry;” or, more specifically “[n]inety-eight percent of the Founding Fathers of the United States were Masons,” (Barton, D., p. 17). Christianity was not the only tradition imported from Europe, “American Freemasonry has a colorful — and checkered — past, tracing its roots to Europe,” (Barton, D., p. 9). America’s Founders are claimed to have instead been driven by secular worldly desires; “[t]he Revolutionary War and the nation’s government were structured by the tenets of Freemasonry, not God’s Word. It was an unholy alliance at best,” (Barton, D., p. 20). Further, that the nation’s founding documents and centralized government were motivated by economic advantages; rather than a divine pursuit to create a just, moral nation. Charles Beard wrote that “[t]he members of the Philadelphia Convention which drafted the Constitution were, with a few exceptions, immediately, directly, and personally interested in, and derived economic advantages from, the establishment of the new system,” (Beard, C., p. 324). Similarly, “authors such as David Holmes argue that Washington referred to God with ‘Deistic terms’” rather than directly naming Him as Jesus Christ, (Hall, M., p. 8).
It can further be argued that America was not founded in a Biblical manner; but rather, by primitive brute force, as “we gained our independence from the British at the cost of 50,000 lives,” (Vallotton, K., p. 126). Aside from collective mass genocide, the Founding Fathers’ personal actions are often charged with violating the Christian doctrine; bringing question to the overall objectives of the Framers at the Pennsylvania Convention of 1787. Thomas Jefferson is depicted as immoral; a fierce critic of Christianity; “an advocate of human bondage;” and as “[e]stablishment historians” depict, “Jefferson [w]as a hypocritical racist, perhaps even a rapist and a pedophile, which even the foundation devoted to his memory supports,” (Jefferies, D., p. 8). Jefferson was responsible for the Declaration of Independence, therefore reinforcing the argument that America was founded as a secular nation. Scholars and popular authors regularly assert that America’s founders were deists,” (Hall, M., p. 3). Similarly, Donald Jeffries Benjamin “Franklin, like some other Founding Fathers, was a Deist, or someone who believed that God created the universe and the basically abandoned it,” (Jeffries, D., p. 13). Therefore, it is unlikely that these acclaimed secular opportunists were divinely inspired during the formation of the American nation. Alan Dershowitz contends that “[t]he omission of any reference to Jesus Christ, or to the specific God of Christianity or of the Bible is far more significant than the inclusion of generic words that were consistent with non-Christian beliefs,” (Dershowitz, A., Loc. 227). Dershowitz adds, “the Declaration [of Independence] was not based on the Bible, and its drafters were most definitely not ‘men of the Bible.’ On the contrary, Thomas Jefferson, its primary drafter, believed that the New Testament was written largely by ‘very inferior minds” (Dershowitz, A., Loc. 231). Worse, Jefferson believed the New Testament was filled with “so much absurdity, so much untruth, charlatanism, and imposture that it could aptly be characterized as ‘dung.’ He thought even less of the Old Testament, whose vengeful God he deplored and whose draconian law he rejected,” (Dershowitz, A., Loc. 231). But many, like Dershowitz, agree that contemporary Christians have venerated the Founding Fathers; striving to claim—based on false interpretation—the rights to the American government for themselves.
But America had a Christian founding. A wealth of empirical evidence exists suggesting that the Founding Fathers were Christians. Despite numerous critical claims, no cited “instance where these founders clearly rejected a basic tenet of orthodox Christianity or embraced deism” has been given by any contemporary writer, (Hall, M., p. 9). Additionally, all America’s Framers were familiar with the Bible, and raised and conditioned by its morality. Author Mark David Hall reports that “[e]ven though Christianity is not mentioned in the Constitution or Bill or Rights, the Founders of the American Republic were influenced by Christian ideas in significant ways,” (Heritage). Moreover, that James Madison . . . objected to the use of “toleration” in the article, believing that it implied that religious liberty was a grant from the state that could be revoked at will,” (Heritage). When the nation was founded “[i]n 1776, every colonist, with the exception of about two thousand Jews, identified himself or herself as a Christian. Approximately 98 percent of them were Protestants, and the remaining 2 percent were Roman Catholics, (Hall, M., p. xx). Defining deism as “God set the world in motion and then abstained from human affairs,” Hall asserts that “it is possible that only one of these men, Ethan Allen, was a deist. With the exception of Allen, all the founders regularly called deists are clearly on record speaking or writing about God’s intervention in the affairs of men and nations,” (Hall, M., p. 13). Thus, “[t]he Virginia Convention agreed, and Article XVI was amended to make it clear that “the free exercise of religion” is a right, not a privilege granted by the state,” (Heritage). The Founding Fathers acted in faith, and were willing to lose everything they had to walk in faith with God in their decision making. The Apostles were willing to lose everything they had in the name of their faith. Similarly, “[s]eventeen of those who signed the Declaration lost everything they owned,” (Jefferies D., p. 12). To argue against America’s Christian founding requires the total omission of all historic writings and empirical evidence.
Words of the Founding Fathers. American Historian David Barton attests that “while late in life Jefferson came to reject some orthodox Christianity, there are good reasons to believe that he was a more traditional Christian throughout his earlier years,” (Barton, D., p. 207). Barton confirms that “there was never a time when [Jefferson] questioned the overall value of Christianity to individuals or to a nation, or a time where he was anti-Jesus or rejected Christianity as a whole,” (Barton, D., p. 207). Moreover, that “[h]istorical documents unequivocally prove . . . that Freemasonry was not a significant influence in the formation of the United States,” (Barton, D., p. 21). Similarly, Daniel Dreisbach notes that “George Washington, like most gentlemen of his time and social standing, was well acquainted with the eloquent prose of the English Bible and often alluded to it in his writings,” (Dreisbach, D., p. 211). George Washington’s personal journal reveals that on October 3rd, 1789, he wrote, “it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor,“ (Washington, G., p. 679). Washington acknowledged that “both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanks-giving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God,” adding “especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness, ” (Washington, G., p. 679). Thus, America’s first president “assign[ed] Thursday the 26th. day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be,” (Washington, G., p. 679). Washington believed Thanksgiving would be a day for all Americans to “unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation,” (Washington, G., p. 679). Similarly, Alexander Hamilton believed atheism to be a perversion of man’s natural state. Hamilton noted on April 7th, 1789 that “[t]he attempt by the rulers of a nation to destroy all religious opinion, and to pervert a whole nation to atheism, is a phenomenon of profligacy reserved to consummate the infamy of the unprincipled reformers of France,” (Hamilton, A., Loc. 43980). Additionally, Washington displayed his value for Jesus Christ, and his commitment to facilitating Christian moralities through Congress, in his message to the native Americans. Washington wrote on May 12th, 1779, “[y]ou do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ,” (Washington, G., p. 187). Washington, speaking from his personal experience, explained that “[t]hese will make you a greater and happier people than you are,” (Washington, G., p 187). George Washington believed government ought to encourage individuals to pursue a personal relationship with Christ, writing to the Native Americans that, “Congress will do every thing they can to assist you in this wise intention; and to tie the knot of friendship and union so fast, that nothing shall ever be able to [lose] it,” (Washington, G., p. 187). Further, Benjamin Franklin showed no rejection of Christianity, nor illustrated a disbelief in its overall value. Ben “Franklin suggest[ed] a Biblical Symbol and a religious motto for America’s Great Seal,” and “also personally drafted a statewide prayer proclamation for his own State of Pennsylvania, and worked to raise church attendance in the State,” (Barton, D., p. 105). Conclusively, Thomas Jefferson appeared consistently curious about Jesus; writing that "[i]f you find reason to believe there is a God a consciousness that you are acting under his eye, and that he approves you, will be a vast additional incitement; if that there be a future state, the hope of a happy existence in that increases the appetite to deserve it; if that Jesus was also a God, you will be comforted by a belief of his aid and love," (Jefferson, T., p. 3160).
Conclusion
It is clear that America was founded on Christianity. Despite the critics, the Framers were Christians, who regularly pronounced their faith in their writings. The Founding Fathers were each born Christian; thereby instilling within them a fundamental concept of natural order of law, and distinct spheres of authority. Further, George Washington, the nation’s first president, referenced God in the majority of his writings; a common trait amongst the Founding Fathers. Washington initiated a day of thanks every November 26th; specifically so that all Americans would not lose sight of the force that unites them—imago dei; that every man was made in the image of God. During the Construction of the American nation, the Founding Fathers each advocated very different proposals of their vision of resilient government. Unlike Federalists Washington, James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton; Anti-Federalists, like Thomas Jefferson, Melancton Smith, and Patrick Henry rejected the centralization of Power. Yet Anti-Federalists still believed in the Christian doctrine of civic unity to mend the differences within the nation. Patrick Henry, Virginia’s first elected governor, wrote on July 1st, 1776, that “I am happy to find a catholic spirit prevailing in our country . . . [m]y earnest wish is that Christian charity, forbearance, and love may unite all different persuasions as brethren who must perish or triumph together,” (Henry, P., p. 93). Henry added, “I trust that the time is not far distant when we shall greet each other as peaceable possessors of that just and equal system of liberty adopted by the last convention, and in support of which may God crown our arms with success,” (Henry, P., p. 93). Despite the differences in each proposal; the concurrent values of the Founding Fathers remained consistent; each observed God’s inherent natural laws and remained tethered to the Christian doctrine.
In sum, the Founding Fathers sought the Lord to assist them in achieving Supernatural results—the undertaking of the creation of the greatest nation in the world. America would not have been the Constitutional Republic that it remains today; nor would it adhere to its “western values” striving to resemble Christ. The Founders believed that a resilient nation requires a comprehensive legal system, based on both eternal natural law and historic common law. Law encourages individual self-restraint, allowing specific objectives to be identified and pursued. Specific objectives, including those on the national agenda, require prophetic vision. For “[w]here there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law,” (Proverbs 29:18; ESV). Further, the Founders knew no nation can stand divided; observing the natural law given by Jesus; that “[a]ny kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall,” (Luke 11:17; NIV). Similarly, the Founding Fathers designed government in a way that its disunion would diminish its effectiveness. Thus, America’s Constitutional Republic modeled itself on the eternal natural law invoked by God before man was created. The Founder’s recognition that the pursuit of Christ resulted in a better-quality existence is observable from their personal statements, visions of union, and the incorporation of Biblical morality in the creation of America’s founding documents.
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