Christianity is interwoven into America's very fabric.
Many of the first settlers coming into the new world were driven by their belief in God and desire to worship Him.
Colonists found inspiration to separate from England and form a “more perfect union” in their conviction that God had destined them to be free, that it was “self-evident” and that this right was “endowed by their Creator."
Practically the entire Bible can be pieced together from laws passed, foundational writings, governmental records and inscriptions carved into buildings, memorials and monuments found throughout this nation.
'OUR HIGHEST GLORY'
The laws of nature and nature’s God form the basis of our entire legal system. Far from separating Christianity from government, George Washington, the leader of our revolution and the first president of our nation, stated, “It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”
He noted, “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.”
Washington viewed being an American citizen and patriot as an outgrowth of being a Christian, directing that “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."
Noah Webster, father of the American English language, stated, “it is the sincere desire of the writer that our citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct republican principles is the bible, particularly the New Testament or the Christian religion.”
He knew the foundation for America’s system of government was derived from the Christian belief structure. Because of that it was his view that “the Christian religion is the most important, and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government, ought to be instructed.”
Patrick Henry, the heart of the revolution, declared “it cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.
"For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."
'A TYRANNY OF DISBELIEF'
Far from a separation of the practice of Christianity from public discourse, American history shows that its fundamental ideas and beliefs were vital to our system of government and encouraged to be practiced in public and private.
This was an idea far different than a “freedom from religion,” which ultimately left all faiths bereft of any liberty to worship and weakened the underpinning of America.
Today we are bombarded with the mantra that there is a wall between church and state, public and private, government and governed, that did not exist in the minds of the first Americans.
This is a fabrication, and is only justifiable with a gross misunderstanding of history or willful ignorance of facts.
There existed a clearly defined relationship between Christianity and the nation that was founded upon its precepts.
While early Americans would have certainly balked at being forced to be a particular Christian sect, as was the case in many societies they fled, none would have hesitated to recognize the Creator that gave them prosperity and liberty, and would have promoted this acknowledgement far and wide.
We have a tyranny of disbelief today that threatens to unwind what has made America great.
We are ignorant of history and facts, and we have fickle leaders that cave at the first sign of opposition.
Thomas Jefferson said, “God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God?”
Whether it is at school or work, public or private, we should encourage this conviction at every opportunity, not hide or remove it from view or discourse.
John Hancock taught that “resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual… Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us.”
Let us find the bravery to sign our name to this endeavor as largely as he once did, and resist.
Sean Dorsey lives in Laurel Hill.
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: DORSEY: Ignorance of history fuels anti-Christianity sentiment
