America, God, and Politics

Those who whine that God has no place in American politics are publicizing their own ignorance of American history.

God was there in the beginning. Our founding fathers unashamedly proclaimed their dependance upon His Providence, and without hesitation sought His blessings upon every act and venture.

It is impossible to read of the lives or to peruse the writings of any of the patriots who established this nation without noticing their solemn and frequent references to God and the Bible.

Indeed, two scholars studied the writings of America’s forefathers. They reviewed over 17,200 books and articles written by colonial leaders between the years 1760 - 1805. These two men discovered that 34% of all supporting references listed in these documents came directly from the Bible.

Our fathers not only accepted God’s existence, but humbly sought His blessing.

Despite what your television or newspaper tells you, America was founded upon Christian principles.

In 1642, Harvard University told its students: “Let every Student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life.”

John Witherspoon was a preacher who signed the Declaration of Independence. As president of what is now Princeton University, He saw 114 of his graduates become ministers, 13 governors, 3 US Supreme Court judges, 20 United States Senators, 33 US Congressmen, and 1 President and Vice President. 9 of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention were graduates of his college. In his sermon on May 17, 1776, he said, “He is the best friend of American liberty who is most sincere and active in promoting true and undefiled religion and who sets himself with the greatest firmness to bear down profanity and immorality of every kind.”

God and character mattered back then.

George Mason was the richest man in Virginia in 1776. But more important than the 95,000 acres that he owned was the Virginia Bill of Rights which he authored. In one article of that Bill, George Mason said, “...the duty we owe our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and convictions...it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love and charity towards each other.”

His fellow Virginian and The Father of Our Country, George Washington, in his 1789 Inaugural Address said, “The ...smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which heaven itself has ordained.”

McGuffey’s Reader first appeared in 1836 and was the most widely used reading text in American public schools until 1920. The forward of that book declares, “The Christian religion is the religion of our country. From it are derived our prevalent notions of the character of God, the great moral governor of the universe. On its doctrines are founded the peculiarities of our free institutions.”

During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln overheard someone say that he hoped the Lord was on the Union’s side. President Lincoln replied, “I am not at all concerned about that, for I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.”

It is fitting that the last act of Congress signed by Abraham Lincoln before he was killed was the one requiring that the motto “In God We Trust” be inscribed upon all our nation’s coins.

Less than 50 years ago, our United States Supreme Court decided that it is unamerican to allow public school teachers to lead their students in prayer. But the United States Supreme Court in 1892 stated that “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 this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian.”

William McKinley became president in 1897. Speaking of the Bible President McKinley said, “The more profoundly we study this wonderful Book, and the more closely we observe its divine precepts, the better citizens we will become and the higher will be our destiny as a nation.”

In his Inaugural Address on March 4, 1925, President Calvin Coolidge said, “America seeks no empires built on blood and forces...she cherishes no purpose save to merit the favor of Almighty God.”

In September 1946 the Dallas Public Schools allowed high school students to earn ½ credit toward graduation for attending Bible classes taught at their church or Sunday School.

Harry Truman became president in 1949 and stated in his first address to Congress, “At this moment I have in my heart a prayer. As I have assumed my heavy duties, I humbly pray to Almighty God in the words of King Solomon, ‘Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and bad’...I ask only to be a good and faithful servant of my Lord and my people.”

On December 5, 1974, President Gerald Ford remarked that, “Without God there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first and most basic expression of Americanism. Thus the founding fathers of America saw it, and thus with God’s help, it will continue to be.”

In the 1980's President Ronald Reagan warned us that "if we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under.”

But not too long ago, a motion in the US House of Representatives calling for a national day of prayer and fasting failed to garner enough votes to pass. I suppose that these days some are too sophisticated and too well learned to waste time in prayer. Fortunately for us all, the 55 men gathered at the Constitutional Convention did not think so highly of themselves and approved Ben Franklin’s motion to begin each day’s discussion with prayer.

The only hope for America today is the same hope that encouraged men to risk their lives and fortunes to break the chains of tyranny and forge a new government, of the people, by the people, and for the people. That hope was the assurance that they were following the beckoning light shining from the hand of God.

As they were committed to pursue liberty to the death if necessary, let us resolve to hold God and His word high until all, from sea to shining sea, recognize that the same God who inspired and protected our forefathers by His providence stands ready to provide that same service to us.

The only hope for America is for America to return to God who made her strong.

©2008 Doug Ellingsworth