At the very minimum, there are two Bible verses relatable to our Nation within today's lesson. The first is found in Genesis 12:2, where it is said, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” The other verse is Deuteronomy 8:20, “Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.” We know God's original message was directed to the Old Testament Nations – not America. But God's Word holds true to people of all ages and every ethnicity.
Religion in America was important from our very beginning. During the colonial and Revolutionary eras, religion permeated the lives of Americans. Later, very conservative Blue laws kept the Sabbath holy by limiting store hours and closing taverns. Certainly, beer and hard liquor may have been consumed but it wasn't sold on Sundays. Freedom of religion and respect were two of the strongest links meshing folks of different heritages and ethnicities together, even when they had differing opinions on many core issues.
During this radical era, there was great importance placed on living a moral life in accordance with one’s spiritual beliefs, whatever those beliefs were. We might wonder what were the religious beliefs of the forefathers of America? Well, they were a mixture of Catholics Congregationalists, Deists, Dutch Reformed, Episcopalian, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Quakers. Were there any avowed atheists or even agnostics among them? No, not a single one!
Although I'm not sure that same statement of facts would hold true of a substantial number of today's elected or appointed officials.
One might also wonder how much did our founding Father's religious beliefs contribute to the empire-shaking language of the expressed rights and the liberties written and protected within our Declaration of Independence, our Articles of Confederation, and our United States Constitution?
Yes, America was conceived, formed, and ratified by a group of godly men – truly a godly Nation from its very conception. We were a scattered group of colonies standing together, unified under God, offering to fight 'till the death for liberty and fairness? Our founding Fathers struggled to extend religious freedoms to everyone, while protecting us from government mandated religions. Yes, they did, indeed!
On July 1, 1776, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. The very next day, July 2nd, 12 of the 13 colonies voted in favor of independence, even as the New York delegates delayed their vote. So we can see that Independence Day could be celebrated on July 2nd when the Continental Congress actually voted for independence. John Adams predicted in his writings, that July 2 would be remembered in America's history and would be marked with fireworks and celebrations. Well, he was half right, wasn't he?
Our 13 original colonies were proclaimed “free and independent states” no longer ruled by the British Empire. The Declaration of Independence we know today, was dated as the 4th of July but wasn't completed until August First 1776, when all fifty-six delegates had finally signed the document. There was a 44-year age difference between the youngest and oldest signers. With quill and ink, Benjamin Franklin, at the age of 70, scrawled his name on the parchment as did Edward Rutledge who was only 26 at that time. Those brave and stalwart men gave start to the Revolutionary War which ended with a treaty of peace signed in Paris, France, by the British in the fall of 1783.
Not much is taught, nowadays, about the The Second Continental Congress Articles of Confederation. However, these Articles created a loosely bound coalition of sovereign states and emphasized a very restricted central government, leaving most of the power under the control and direction of the individual state governments. After considerable debate and alteration, the Articles of Confederation were adopted on November 15, 1777. This document served as the First United States Constitution until the present day Constitution became effective on March 4, 1789.
Our current Constitution, the supreme law of the United States, originally comprising only seven articles, described the national government framework. The first three articles established the doctrine requiring of the separation of powers, whereby the federal government is divided into three branches to make sure no agency or individual group can exercise unlawful power. The ability of one branch to respond to the actions of the other branches is called checks and balances. Three brief amplifications are offered here only because, for the most part, public schools seldom seem to deem them worthy of teaching:
The Executive Branch carries out and enforces our laws (President, V.P., DOJ, FBI, HLS, ICE, and most other federal agencies) The President nominates heads of federal agencies and can veto legislations created by Congress.
The Legislative Branch makes laws and is not supposed to delegate that lawful authority. Congress, which is the House of Representatives and the Senate confirms or rejects the President's nominees and can remove the President from office in exceptional circumstances.
The Judicial Branch clarifies and adjudicates the meanings of written laws (Supreme Court and lower Federal courts) Note this branch is not supposed to make laws or interrupt them other than what is lawful under our Constitution. The Justices of the Supreme Court (nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate) can overturn unconstitutional laws or ask the Legislative Branch. But decisions interpreting a federal statute can be overturned simply through the enactment of a new statute by Congress, so that offers a means to reject the Court's reading of a statute.
Constitution Articles Four, Five and Six embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments and the states in relationship with the federal government. Article Seven established the procedures used by the thirteen States to ratify the oldest written, codified constitution in the world.
To adjust to the ever-changing needs of our nation our Constitution has been amended 27 times, including an amendment to repeal a previous amendment prohibiting production, transport, and sale of alcohol. As a side note, I think it's a little humorous that to drink beer or hard liquor was not illegal.
Generally, the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, offer specific protections of individual liberty and places restrictions on the powers of government. Some of the subsequent amendments expand our civil rights and address federal authority.
We are supposed to be an undivided Nation where the pursuit of life, liberty and justice is metered out equally without regard, to position, wealth or religious beliefs. Here is the first paragraph, the Constitution's first words: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Those words affirm that the government of the United States exists to serve its Natural born citizens and all immigrants that follow our rules and become lawful citizens.
For over two-hundred and twenty-nine years the Constitution of America has defined the laws of our land because the original framers wisely set forth safeguards not only for the majority's interests but the minority's rights, as well. In America, even the incarcerated have rights, though more limited, of course, that the average citizen. Every one of the prison inmates I minister to, citizen or not, is separated from children and family. Why? Because we have law that strive to punish criminals when they break laws. Yet, we protect the rights of visiting foreign national's when they lawfully hold a green card or valid visa – as well as all immigrants that gain lawful citizenship.
The three branches were chartered to guarantee justice, liberty, and equality for all citizens, not free liberty and welfare handouts to criminals illegally crossing our borders when and where ever they chose. Our founding documents clearly defined the rightful powers of the states and the limitations of the federal government. Sadly, that clarity has recently become blurred and out of focus among many cities and some elected officials of our great land.
The Founding Fathers were religious men. Any antagonist that tries to claim otherwise is ill-informed or is deliberately seeking to spread deceitful, inaccurate, propaganda. We must also keep in mind, the founding fathers’ religion wasn’t worn on their shirt sleeves. In the early years of our Nation, a person’s private or particular religious affiliation was neither flaunted about or publicly demeaned by others. Many persons in today’s society seem polarized on various issues, not the least among them is religious beliefs and the constitutional protections to live your life, raise your children, and let your business practices reflect your steadfast, faith-based beliefs.
Even when people have differing opinions issues, being civil to one another used to be the norm not the exception! Opposing opinions should be expressed without adversarial, uncivil, rude shouting matches or threats of physical violence.
People, stop! Think! What would Jesus do? Christians should mend and make amends. Christians are taught to try to find common ground and respect, do not spew out more division and hatred. If the peace-offering is rebuked, love and pray for your enemies.
Our the government can not officially endorse any faith-based religion, yet, the original delegates and their constituents respected the rights of religious freedom, which were primarily based during that era on solid and informed Christian values. Even if a person elected not to believe in God, the general population knew it was proper for the government to protect that individual's choice.
Moreover, that early Congress even paid for the publication of Bibles, appointed Chaplains for itself and granted public lands to promote Christianity. Authorized national days of Thanksgiving and of “Fasting, and Prayer” were sanctioned by Congress. Our Founding Fathers incorporated Christian values and planned for a civilized society based within the vitality of religion and state rights.
So now let's go back to the original question: Did the religious beliefs of the founding Fathers amplify the language, expressed rights, and liberties found within our founding documents? Absolutely and emphatically – YES!
The delegates were not unhinged religious zealots but they were Christ-loving, God-fearing men. Let's, respectfully, say their Godly-faith and love of Christ played very significant roles in their Nation shaping endeavors. Which, in no way suggests our forefathers, the framers sat around trading Bible verses or attended daily church services. For the most part, they individually demonstrated resilient, if not near-perfect, moralistic characters. Some believe these men, of vastly different desires and mindsets were gathered together by God Almighty to mold the foundation of the country in which we live in and love today.
How could these common, ordinary men frame our very solid foundation. How could they even imagine, at that time in history, a country’s structure based on a Democratic Republic such as the world had never before seen? America as it is today started out in uncharted waters, you could even categorize that new government as an experiment. One to be improved and corrected as necessary. And corrections were desperately need, one only needs to examine the changes we've made in abolishing slavery, women's suffrage, and the clear right of all citizens to vote. (Note, certain states still withhold voting rights to inmates and ex-felons.)
Our Constitution and Amendments are not only the key to our own futures, they are a fluid model for the world. Not persuasions forced upon other countries but ideas offered freely to the oppressed and downtrodden. So they too might strive to create a God-Blessed country without undue governmental over-site that suppresses or criminalizes religious beliefs and practices?
If you worry about the state of America today – and you should – and really want to do something about it – pray and vote twice! (note the order don't vote then pray) Pray that as individuals and as a Nation we repent of our sins and turn from our evil ways. I say vote twice because a state's Primary Election is almost as important as the General Election. Some say even more so!
Vote for your individual, personal choices, as viewed with your eyes and intellect wide-open. Not because some TV commentator or outside political activist try's to persuade you to their view. Every U.S. Citizen has a right and an obligation to vote. Show that you are Spirit filled, exercise all the righteous authority within you! Speak his words to the unsaved! Show your rightful power as a U.S. Citizen and vote at every primary and general election. Yes, voting can be confusing if you go without notes. Even better, get an absentee ballot and research the candidates. If you don't mail it in, take it with you to your designated polling place.
Place your lives and eternal future in the strong, loving hands of Jesus. The power of Christians praying for a good cause, a common good, is powerful.
Since this lesson, reflecting on our great Nation, opened with two Bible verses, let's also close with two as well. The first verse of Isaiah chapter 30, is often referred to as a “Warning to An Obstinate Nation!” It says, “Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the Lord, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin.”
Yet, after that fair warning, there comes a promise within Jeremiah 18:8, “and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.”
And all of God's children said – AMEN!
Hallelujah!
Hosannas to the Highest!
