Independence Day, 2018

It is our day of celebrating our independence from England, but on days like this we're treated to a host of revisionist historians who aim to rewrite the origins of this nation. "It was never Christian," they tell us. And while, of course, a nation cannot be Christian and certainly not all of our Founding Fathers were Christians, I think it is unavoidable that the vast majority of them were genuine believers. Here are a few quotes from a few names you might know.

George Washington
1st President of the United States; President of the Constitutional Convention; Member of the Continental Congress

"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian."

"The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger. The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier, defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country."

John Adams
Signer of Declaration of Independence and 2nd 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."

"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."

John Quincy Adams
6th President of the United States

"My hopes of a future life are all founded upon the Gospel of Christ and I cannot cavil or quibble away ... the whole tenor of His conduct by which He sometimes positively asserted and at others countenances His disciples in asserting that He was God."

Samuel Adams
Signer of the Declaration of Independence; ratified the U.S. Constitution

"I . . . [rely] upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins."

Noah Webster
Revolutionary War soldier; judge; legislator; educator

"[T]he religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His apostles ... This is genuine Christianity and to this we owe our free constitutions of government."

Just a few ... a very few. Clearly these (and many, many more) were strong believers. It would be a mistake to dismiss the influence of Christianity in the building of this nation.

A couple of years ago I came across this speech.



It is a Christmas Eve address by an American President, but it speaks to the Christian roots of the country. Harry Truman, in 1950, urged his nation to celebrate the birth of God's Son and to "pray for a peace that is based on righteousness." Think about that. As recently as 1950 a Democrat was preaching Christ and calling on his nation to pray.

It is historical fact that America was founded on Christianity. It is also historical fact that America has departed from that foundation. As Dr. Mohler points out, "The church no longer represents the central core of Western culture." I think a sizable portion of the country is working hard at demonstrating this fact. But that doesn't change the fact that America's roots and early success were in a religious grounding, a Christian basis. Remember that while you celebrate our independence today, because the larger part today are celebrating an independence from God, the One that made this nation great.