A major election cycle is upon us, and after many politicians tossed their hats in and out of the ring, we have two presidential candidates ready to rumble. There will be declarations of intentions – and many surrogates will espouse their views concerning the keys to a successful future for our country.
There has been – and will be – lots of babble in the mix. Some of the babble will be about the importance of keeping religion out of government, implying that our forefathers set it up that way. But let’s not be deceived.
The United States has been the greatest country ever to be established for one reason, and only one reason. This country has been blessed by God.
Now I know that the imperfect humans who started our great nation made some horrific mistakes. The treatment of Native Americans and the practice of slavery were egregious.
Yet in the middle of those errors, there were many of the founding fathers who were true to their Christian beliefs, and they looked for God’s blessing on the entire endeavor.
One of the main reasons the first settlers endured the hardships of travel to arrive on our shores was that they were seeking religious freedom. The government of England had encroached on those freedoms to the point where these brave Christians were willing to tackle the harsh journey for the sake of having that freedom. That freedom was sacred to them.
Now, nearly 250 years later, we hear many people babbling falsehoods concerning these original intentions. And unfortunately, others begin to believe them. That’s the power of a lie. Even if it isn’t true, there will be those who believe it.
So what am I saying? I am saying that we should look for ourselves. Let’s take a look at some of the early writings of our forefathers. What did they really say? What were their intentions? As we look at these quotes from men of old, we will see for ourselves why God has blessed America.
God has blessed us. Over the years he has corrected us. And in our future, if we will turn our hearts back to Him, we will see Him continue to bless our country with His grace and peace.
Today is the first in a series of posts featuring the words of our American ancestors. May you be enlightened by these, and may you be encouraged to stand up for your God in these days ahead.
May He continue to bless America.
Now let’s hear from John Adams.
JOHN ADAMS
SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; JUDGE; DIPLOMAT; ONE OF TWO SIGNERS OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS; SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. 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.1
The Holy Ghost carries on the whole Christian system in this earth. Not a baptism, not a marriage, not a sacrament can be administered but by the Holy Ghost. . . . There is no authority, civil or religious – there can be no legitimate government but what is administered by this Holy Ghost. There can be no salvation without it. All without it is rebellion and perdition, or in more orthodox words damnation.2
Without religion, this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in polite company: I mean hell.3
The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity.4
Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. . . . What a Eutopia – what a Paradise would this region be!5
I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world.6
Notes:
1, Thomas Jefferson The Writings Of Thomas Jefferson, (Washington, DC: The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association, 1904), Vol. XIII, pp 292-294. In a letter from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson on June 28, 1813. 2. Letter from John Adams to Benjamin Rush, from Quincy, Massachusetts, dated Dec 21, 1809. 3. John Adams, The Works Of John Adams, Second President of the United States, Charles Francis Adams, editor (Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1856) Vol X, p 254, to Thomas Jefferson on April 19, 1817. 4. John Adams, Works, Vol III, p. 421, diary entry for July 26, 1796 5. John Adams, Works, Vol II, pp 6-7, diary entry for Feb 22, 1756 6. John Adams, Works, Vol X, p 85, to Thomas Jefferson on Dec 25, 1813
