Lest We Forget

There is an increasing effort in our nation to remove all vestiges of the Christian faith and its influence over the affairs of America and her world view. Examples of this effort are legion, among which are the flagrant attempt to intimidate ministers and preachers to not hold Bible studies in homes to the removal of a cross in the desert dedicated in the honor of fallen soldiers.

Let me remind you of our Christian heritage and the statements by some of those who were responsible for its early formation. They struggled against enormous odds to preserve for all of us “a more perfect union.”

Dr. Tim LaHaye wrote a book some twenty years ago or so, entitled “Faith of Our Founding Fathers,” which my wife and daughters presented to me as a Father’s Day gift in 1989. I was thumbing through it the other day and was once again intrigued with the manner in which God was at work in the establishment of the United States. LaHaye writes, “Christianity is not a passive faith that occupies only a person’s theological speculations. It involves everything he does. The early Christians were called 'followers of the Way' before they were ever called Christians, because Christianity is a way of life. And that way of life had so permeated this nation by 1787 that it extended its influence to every area, including the fields of law, government, morality, marriage, and business.”

A couple of years ago, Pastor Bill Schuler of the Capital Life Church in Arlington, Virginia wrote a piece for Fox News concerning the role of the Bible in America. The following are mostly quotes from well-known Americans who shared their thoughts about the importance and relevance of the Bible to American life.

“The Bible is worth more than all other books which have ever been printed.” – Patrick Henry.

“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has given to man.” – Abraham Lincoln.

“The Bible is the best book in the world.” – John Adams.

“We cannot read the history of our rise as a nation, without reckoning with the place the Bible has occupied in shaping the advances of the republic.” – Franklin Roosevelt.

“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.” – Theodore Roosevelt.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” – The Bill of Rights.

Are you aware, for instance, that the first act of Congress was to have 20,000 Bibles printed for distribution among the Indians? It was determined at that time that everyone should have direct access to the Word of God, the Bible. I suspect if such a decision was made by today’s Congress that the ACLU and various other groups would absolutely blow a gasket.

Some in recent times have called to question whether George Washington was a Christian. Here are the words of those who knew him well and gave ample testimony to this man’s devotion to God. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Marshall, had this to say about Washington. “Without making ostentatious professions of religion, he was a sincere believer in the Christian faith, and a truly devout man.”

The Reverend J. T. Kirkland spoke these words following Washington’s death, “The virtues of our departed friend were crowned by piety. He is known to have been habitually devout. To Christian institutions he gave the countenance of his example; and no one could express, more fully, his sense of the Providence of God, and the dependence of man.”

I will close with this prayer of Washington’s which is proof enough of his very clear belief in the Christian faith. “Almighty and Eternal Lord God, the Great Creator of heaven and earth, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; look down from heaven, in pity and compassion upon me Thy servant, who humbly prostrate myself before Thee, sensible of Thy mercy and my own misery. . . . Help all in affliction or adversity – give them patience and a sanctified use of their affliction, and in Thy good time, deliverance from them; forgive my enemies, take me unto Thy protection this day, keep me in perfect peace, which I ask in the name and for the sake of Jesus. Amen.”

The United States has been a Christian nation from its inception. Whether it remains so is up to you and me, lest we forget.