America s True Foundation Presented by: Brant Ralph
Introduction The great nation that is the United States of America has gone a long way since its foundation. The United States has gone through many changes since then. In modern America today, everything revolves around big government and political correctness. It seems that today, America has forgotten its true foundation.
Five Biblical Principles from Declaration of Independence The Founding Fathers founded this country on five key Biblical principles. 1. God created all people equal.(genesis 1 and 2) 2. God gave every person certain rights that are essential to God s purpose for them.(genesis 1 and 2) 3. God instituted government to secure and protect these rights.(genesis 9 and Romans 13) 4. God established moral laws in His Word. We the People hold the government accountable to God s moral laws.(exodus 20, Acts 4:18-20, Romans 2:12-16) 5. Government must rule at the consent of the people.(exodus 18:27)
The Signers of the Declaration The signers of the Declaration gave so much for our freedom that we have today. Of the 56 signers 9 died during the war, 5 were captured and 17 lost everything they owned. Although these men suffered greatly, not one went back on his word. Nearing the end of the war the British had captured New Jersey signer Abraham Clark s two sons and were going to kill them but offered Clark that if he would recant and become loyal to the King then they would not kill his sons. Even though the war was nearly over he still declined the offer.
The need for God in a Society America was founded on Biblical Principles with God in the center. History has proven that once you remove God from your culture, your nation starts to go in the wrong direction. If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God then we will be a nation gone under. - Ronald Reagan
Democracy in America Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville visited America in 1831 to study American society. His report to the French government was titled Democracy in America In his report his report he states, I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her and her ample rivers - and it was not there...in her fertile lands and it was not there...in her rich mines and her vast world commerce - and it was not there...in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.
In God We Trust In God We Trust was adopted as the national motto of the United States in 1956. In God We Trust appears on America s coins and paper currency. This was added to the national currency in 1865. It is also the motto of many states across the country.
...So Help Me God. So Help Me God is a phrase that generally ends an oath when someone is elected into public office. The use of this phrase in American politics dates back to 1789. Others oaths that use this phrase are the Oath of Citizenship, the Enlistment Oath, and when a witness is being sworn in during a court case.
...One Nation Under God. One Nation Under God is part of the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States. This phrase was added to the pledge in 1954. This phrase is essential in conveying how America was truly founded.
Separation of Church and State Today many Atheist groups are pushing for religion to have no influence or appearance in politics or government. Their main evidence for this is a letter written by Thomas Jefferson in which he says, building a wall of separation of church and state. Yet that letter was written by Jefferson to assure a Baptist delegation that there would be no national church and that they were protected with religious freedom. It had nothing to do with removal of Christian influence in America.
Separation of Church and State (cont.) However, they are taking this out of context. The full phrase is, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of protection for the church from the State. The true definition of separation of church and state is that the government was not to set an official religion of the country. Instead, everyone had the right to exercise their religion as they see fit. This is seen in the 1st Amendment of the Bill of Rights.
Conclusion In conclusion, America has forgotten its true foundation as Christ and God s Word at the center. We as citizens of this great nation need to make a difference by electing Godly leaders and continuing to pray for our current leaders. It cannot be any more clear that the Founding Fathers founded this country with the intent of being One Nation Under God America needs to wake up and remember its true foundation.