The History of America, our Founding Fathers and Christianity } Why was America established? } Why were universities established? } What did the Founding Fathers believe? } What was the basis for the Constitution? } What about separation of Church and State? } What can we do to help America? 1
} Barton, Daniel. Separation of Church and State: What the Founders Meant.1 st ed. Aledo, TX: Wallbuilder Press, 2007. Award-winning historian and author } Beliles, Mark A., and Stephen K. McDowell. America s Providential History. 2 nd ed., 1 st printing. Charlottesville, VA: The Providence Foundation, 1989. Beliles Founder of Providence Foundation, author and trainer of Christian leaders for ministry McDowell - Exec. Dir of Providence Foundation, author and trainer of Christian leaders for ministry }, Gary. America s Christian History: The Untold Story. 2 nd ed. Reprinted with additions. Powder Springs, GA: American Vision, Inc., 2007. Author of 20 books, President of American Vision, a Christian educational organization } Federer, William J. America s God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations. St. Louis, MO: Amerisearch, Inc., 2000. Author of 20 books on history and Christianity } Founding Fathers mostly not Christian } America founded to enhance Christianity } Founding Fathers wanted Constitution based on Christian values } Early universities were Bible Colleges } 1st Amendment designed to allow freedom of religions like Christianity, Islam, Hindu, etc } Separation of church and state is part of the First Amendment Daniel Barton, Separation of Church and State What the Founders Meant 2
} In a religiously diverse society, what ethical standard should be used in government to make moral judgments about civil activity? } If we say all religious expression is valid, what about those that promote evil? } What if other religions than Christianity are not true? ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü Make case for objective morality Show God exists Which God? Religions contradict, not all true If Christianity is true, others false Evaluate the evidence If Christianity true, then Bible is moral standard for civil judgments Exactly what the founders intended Since then perverted, reinterpreted unjustifiably to society s detriment Find ways to reinstate intent 3
} Harvard University Precepts 1642 the maine end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ as the only foundation of all sound knowledge... Robert J. Federer, America s God and Country Motto - Truth (Veritas) for Christ (Christo) and the Church } Now - Harvard Divinity School Study of all religions and alignment with none Motto changed to Veritas } Princeton purpose 1746 Train ministers Motto - Dei Sub Numine Viget (Under God s Power She Flourishes) } Now Guidelines for Gender Inclusive Language students, not male/female Federer 4
} New England Confederation, Constitution (May 19, 1643), first document where colonies united: New Plymouth, New Haven, Massachusetts & Connecticut: we all came to advance the Kingdome of our Lord Jesus Christ Federer } Virginia, Second Charter (May 23, 1609): Conversion and reduction of the people in those parts unto the true worship of God and the Christian Religion. Federer 5
} First legislative act, PA - (1682): Whereas the glory of Almighty God and the good of mankind is the reason and the end of government therefore government itself is a venerable Ordinance of God [let there be established] laws as shall best preserve true Christian and Civil liberty Federer } 1892 Supremes: We are a Christian nation. } 1911 Pres. Woodrow Wilson: America was born a Christian nation. } 1930 Supreme Court; We are a Christian people } 1952, liberal Justice Douglas: we are a religious people and our institutions presuppose a Supreme Being. } 1976 Pres. Jimmy Carter: We have a responsibility to try to shape government so that it does exemplify the will of God., America s Christian History: The Untold Story 6
} Pres. FD Roosevelt said: We cannot read the history of our rise and development as a nation, without reckoning with the place the Bible has occupied in shaping the advances of the Republic } Pres. Wilson said: America was born a Christian nation to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture. } Time Magazine (1992) Religious values have no place in politics, claims: Founding Fathers would agree Founding Fathers not Christian ie. deist 1892 Supreme statement an anomaly Justices opinions mean nothing Little mention of religion in Constitution Lincoln did not believe in personal God and refused to go to church John Adams: Judeo-Christian tradition most bloody religion 7
} Some unorthodox, Protestant: Episcopalian (most), Quaker, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Congregationalists, Dutch Reformed, Presbyterian } Franklin, Jefferson had early deist leanings } Paine not a FF, had deist tendencies by 1790 s Common Sense quoted scripture, supported by FF Later work, The Age of Reason, little FF support } No FF docs express deistic beliefs } Jefferson I am a real Christian sincerely attached to His doctrines, in preference to all others. (but skeptical of OT and non-jesus writings and was anti-supernatural) Jesus Christ s system of morality was the most benevolent and sublime. 8
} Washington Episcopalian Oath, added I swear, so help me God Morals dictate actions Inaugural address full of thanks to God Scripture on back of tomb, in Monument Farewell Address: Of all the habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable Signed 1789 law: Education systems the proper place to encourage religion, morality and knowledge necessary to good government. } Adams: 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 } The Christian Religion as I understand it is the best. But not orthodox denied Trinity, original sin, atonement but not antisupernatural Only in keeping religion and morality together could the nation survive 9
} Lincoln Wrote stepbrother as father was dying tell him to call upon our great and merciful maker Quoted Jesus and quoted Psalms After children died carried Bible, prayed Regular at Sunday church in last 3 years Lincoln s pastor: Family deaths, Gettysburg led him to Christ } Franklin: God governs in the affairs of men. Belief in One God, the Creator and Governor of the Universe } Article 1, Sect.7 of Constitution recognizes Sunday as a day of rest } First session Cont. Congress 1774 opened in prayer } Declaration is religious document We are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. } Although not a Christian document, based on Christian views 10
} First Congress - Thanksgiving as day of public prayer, acknowledge Almighty God } Pledge of Allegiance one nation under God added in 1954 } In God we Trust on money since 1955 and national motto in 1956 } Chaplains lead opening legislature prayers } Oaths in court of law so help me God } Ten commandments in Congress and courts } 1983 Congress declared Year of the Bible } Supreme Court convenes with God save the United States and this honorable court. } 1954 Congress added a prayer room with Bibles, no other scriptures } Library of Congress has a Psalm quote engraved } Many other gov t buildings with Christian and religious phrases engraved 11
} Abandonment of God Darwin/Enlightenment/Scopes Trial/Atheism Academy of Sciences rules } Courts reinterpret Constitution Separation issue, church definition, abortion, homosexuality, same-sex marriage, gender Transition from referee to lawmakers/activists } Christians becoming liberal/moderate } Subjugate free speech/political correctness } 1st Amend: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise of. } Separation not in any governing doc } Congressional Record - meant to prevent single denomination } 1st Amend.to restrict gov t interference in individual Christian expression } Justice Story, 1800 s: object to exclude rivalry among Christian sects Barton 12
} Chief Justice Marshall: One great object of the colonial charters was avowedly the propagation of the Christian faith. } John Adams: The general principles of independence were the general principals of the Christian faith. } Adams: Our Constitution was made ONLY for a moral and religious people. } Harry Truman: In this great country of ours has been demonstrated the fundamental unity of Christianity and democracy. Barton } 1802 Pres. Jefferson responded to church concern that God gave our rights, gov t might interfere He said gov t should not interfere thus building a wall of separation between church and state. } 1947 Supreme Court reinterpreted to mean fed gov t must remove religious expressions from the public arena, citing a wall of separation between church and state Barton 13
} 1962 Supremes redefined church from denomination to religious activity } Courts reversed prohibiting free exercise of to prevent ie. Bibles, prayer, religious study in public schools } 1963 Supreme Court took Bible out of public classroom: If portions of the NT were read without explanation they could be psychologically harmful to the student. Barton } Violent crime, teenage pregnancies up 700% next decade } Tracked crime stats by age because junior high students so active } Schools began teaching abstinence } Courts ruled abstinence a religious principle and violated separation } Economic impact of teen mothers: 80% end up on welfare; 50% of long term welfare began as teens } $9 billion yrly gov t money to teen pregnancy issues Barton 14
} Supreme Court ruled abstinence good } Lowest teen pregnancy rates in 30 yrs } Recent rulings allow evangelism, prayer, Bible classes, family values films on public campuses } Communities can ban nude dancing } Allow teaching, display of founding docs that contain religious content, previously not in any textbooks Barton } Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, } Romans 1:22-23 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man } 2 Timothy 3:5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. } 1 Timothy 3:5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 15
} Mark 4:14-20 The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold. } America founded to enhance Christianity } Declaration identifies rights from God and gov t created to prevent denial of them } Constitution based on Christian values } Wrongly distorted, reversed purposes of FF } Supreme Court trend - subjugate Christianity } If no moral basis for justification of gov t, morals will disappear 16
} Everyone wants rights but deny Source } Biblical values promote societal benefits } Defend Christianity or lose basis of moral ethics and country } The Supreme Court wields unauthorized power } In Captain America: Civil War : Iron Man asked Spiderman why he takes the risk, fights against evil. } Spidey: When you can do the things I can do, but you don t, then when bad things happen, they happen because of you. } Edmund Burke The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. 17
} 329 new liberal judges! Over half } 9/13 circuits w/678 fed/9200 state } Pulpit censorship, hate speech } Civil Rights Commission - Religious freedom -code for discrimination } Chrislam } Societal disorder to oppose } Discrimination over religious freedom } Lose morality=societal destruction } Speak out against nonsense } Write Congressmen } Attend school board/city council meetings, engage local politics } Shed we shouldn t be political 18
} Elect conservative originationists to: Reverse meaning of separation Reverse Roe V. Wade Reverse new definition of marriage Incorrect science no gay gene, disorder Change Article III, Sect. 2 and limit federal court jurisdiction Petition for term limits } Gov t cannot solve our biggest problem and God gave them over } Study apologetics to know, share } Join the Providence Foundation Charlottesville, VA Join a Biblical Reformation Committee Equipping Christians to disciple nations www.providencefoundation.com 19
} Ongoing Prayer, Financial Support } Focus time on Apologetics Ministry Ratio Christi TV co-producer www.ratiochristi.org Teach 5 th Grade Sunday School 12th yr Coordinate Church Apologetics Training Next year apologetics book for tweens } For monthly or one-time online donation http://tomgriffin.ratiochristi.org Tom Griffin tjgconsult@aol.com 770-597-2654 Books The Last Premise by Thomas J. Griffin - Amazon Kindle - $4.99 } Fictional novel of what all this leads to Letters from Art by Thomas J. Griffin Unpublished 20
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