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July 8, 2012 |
| Deists? I Don’t Think So | ||
This country is in a battle over its identity and therefore its future. On one side are the people who claim that the USA was never a Christian country and therefore there is no reason to base our laws on the Word of God. They claim that the concept of Separation of Church and State means that all mention of religion should be removed from government.
Supporting these people are many dishonest historians who claim that the founding fathers were only Deists – people who believe there is some god but he isn’t involved in people’s lives. "According to Deists, god never intervenes in human affairs or suspends the natural laws of the universe. Deists typically reject supernatural events such as prophecy and miracles, tending instead to assert that a god (or "the Supreme Architect") does not alter the universe by intervening in it"1 They believe that all organized religions are a corruption of the true religion that this god intended.
In this lesson we will look at the founding fathers of this country, in their own words, and determine their beliefs from those.
This idea that the founding fathers were Deists has become extremely widespread. It is a very comfortable way for non-believers to view the founding fathers. This is because Deism is a system of beliefs where human reason plays a central role and obedience to a god, any god, is almost non-existent. Even the Wikipedia page quoted above makes multiple references to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin being Deists. But is it true?
We’ll start with George Washington, founding father and first President of the country. In February 26, 1776 he issued these orders to the military:
All Officers, non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers are positively forbid[den from] playing at Cards, and other Games of Chance. At this time of public distress, men may find enough to do in the service of God and their country without abandoning themselves to vice and immorality.
From what he says we can see that he believes in a god and that god is against vice and immorality, but is it a particular god or some unreachable Supreme Architect of the universe? The answer comes in these orders he issues In July 9, 1776:
The Hon. Continental Congress having been pleased to allow a Chaplain to each Regiment, with the pay of Thirty-three Dollars and one third pr month—The Colonels or commanding officers of each regiment are directed to procure Chaplains accordingly; persons of good Characters and exemplary lives—To see that all inferior officers and soldiers pay them a suitable respect and attend carefully upon religious exercises. 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.
Here we see the answer clearly. Washington was no Deist. Because Deists believe that God does not involve himself with the affairs of men they would not have expected blessing or protection from Heaven. Also he calls the soldiers Christians. Christianity is an organized religion that Deists did not accept.
"While Jefferson has been lionized by those who seek to drive religion from public life, the true Thomas Jefferson is anything but their friend. He was anything but irreligious, anything but an enemy to Christian faith. Our nation’s third president was, in fact, a student of Scripture who attended church regularly, and was an active member of the Anglican Church, where he served on his local vestry [church committee]. He was married in church, sent his children and a nephew to a Christian school, and gave his money to support many different congregations and Christian causes.
"Moreover, his "Notes on Religion," nine documents Jefferson wrote in 1776, are "very orthodox statements about the inspiration of Scripture and Jesus as the Christ," according to Mark Beliles, a Providence Foundation scholar and author of an enlightening essay on Jefferson’s religious life.
"In 1813, after his public career was over, Jefferson rejected the deity of Christ. Like so many millions of church members today, he was outwardly religious, but never experienced the new birth that Jesus told Nicodemus was necessary to enter the kingdom of Heaven.
"Nonetheless, Jefferson’s presidential acts would, if done today, send the ACLU marching into court. He signed legislation that gave land to Indian missionaries, put chaplains on the government payroll, and provided for the punishment of irreverent soldiers. He also sent Congress an Indian treaty that set aside money for a priest’s salary and for the construction of a church.
"Most intriguing is the manner in which Jefferson dated an official document. Instead of 'in the year of our Lord,' Jefferson used the phrase 'in the year of our Lord Christ.' Christian historian David Barton has the proof – the original document signed by Jefferson on the 'eighteenth day of October in the year of our Lord Christ, 1804.'"2
Almost all of the founders made statements consistent with having a Christian belief system. One example is Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence
My only hope of salvation is in the infinite, transcendent love of God manifested to the world by the death of His Son upon the cross. Nothing but His blood will wash away my sins. I rely exclusively upon it. Come, Lord Jesus! Come quickly!3
Many of them had had theological training and they knew the Bible very well. In fact they frequently quoted from it. Here for example is John Hancock, signer of the Declaration of Independence, from his will.
I John Hancock, … being advanced in years and being of perfect mind and memory – thanks be given to God – therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die [Hebrews 9:27], do make and ordain this my last will and testament … Principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it: and my body I recommend to the earth … nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mercy and power of God. …4
Another example that they correctly understood the Bible comes from Charles Carroll, Signer of the Declaration of Independence.
On the mercy of my Redeemer I rely for salvation and on His merits; not on the works I have done in obedience to His precepts.5
The claim from historians that they were Deists seems to come from the founders use of titles for God that Deists also used. We do not use titles for God much anymore. Mostly we use the titles God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. But it was very common in their time for people to refer to God as Supreme Being, Almighty Being, Creator, nature’s God, God most high, author of my existence, and with many other titles.
You can see that kind of usage in these words from the will of Samuel Adams (Father of the American Revolution, Signer of the Declaration of Independence)
I . . . recommend my Soul to that Almighty Being who gave it, and my body I commit to the dust, relying upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.6
If those titles were all that the founders ever used, historians might honestly come to the conclusion that the founders were Deists. But the historians have "missed" the other names and titles the founders used for God, which we see as an example in the reference above to Jesus Christ. In addition to the titles for God the founders used that were the same as the titles used by Deists, the founders also used names and titles such as Jehovah, redeemer, son of the father, savior, and others. They also used terms such as gospel, and blessings. None of these would have had any place in the mouth of a Deist.
The constitution of the United States and the constitutions of the 13 colonies drew heavily from the Bible, especially from the Ten Commandments, often called the Decalogue.
"Art. I, Sec. 8, A 8, says:
"The duties of men are summarily comprised in the Ten Commandments, consisting of two tables; one comprehending the duties which we owe immediately to God – the other, the duties we owe to our fellow men
"[…] the Rhode Island Colony was the only one of the thirteen colonies that did not have civil laws derived from the first four divine laws – the so-called first "tablet." Significantly, every other early American colony incorporated the entire Decalogue into its own civil code of laws."7
In some cases the colonies created their constitutions as a secondary law to the Bible by stating that legal cases which the constitution did not cover would be referred to the Bible.
The US constitution was formed at a Constitutional Convention where the atmosphere was one of prayer and Bible study.
The First Amendment to the US Constitution is now used to keep God out of government. But that isn’t the way the authors interpreted that amendment. We see this in multiple cases where they called for and set aside nationwide days of prayer and fasting. They saw God as being fundamental to the nation, to themselves personally, and to their role in founding the nation.
This is the text of the first national day of thanksgiving in America (set for December 18, 1777), declared by the Continental Congress on November 1, 1777:
IN CONGRESS
November 1, 1777
FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of; And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy not only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence, but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defence and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased in so great a Measure to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops and to crown our Arms with most signal success:
It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these United States, to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for Solemn Thanksgiving and Praise; That with one Heart and one Voice the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favour, and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD, through the Merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole; to inspire our Commanders both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty GOD, to secure for these United States the greatest of all human blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE; That it may please him to prosper the Trade and Manufactures of the People and the Labour of the Husbandman, that our Land may yet yield its Increase; To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety, under his nurturing Hand, and to prosper the Means of Religion for the promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom which consisteth "in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost."
And it is further recommended, that servile Labour, and such Recreation as, though at other Times innocent, may be unbecoming the Purpose of this Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion.
Written on the peak of the Washington Monument are the Latin words Laus Deo! Meaning Praise be to God! When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848 deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society.8
The founders also committed the country into a covenant with God. This was done through a prayer that is similar to the one prayed by King Solomon when the first temple was dedicated. Washington’s Prayer for the United States of America appears on a plaque in St. Paul’s Chapel in New York City, where the prayer was first prayed.
"Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy Holy protection; and Thou wilt incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the Characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."9
God did bless this country and in many ways. Just one example is transportation. For thousands of years the fastest means of travel was by horse. But then in a very quick succession, led by the United States, the first automobile was created in 1875; the Wright brothers flew the first airplane 28 years later in 1903, the first warplane flew 15 years later in WW I; passenger planes came into service soon after that; the first jet engine plane flew in WW II as did the first rockets; 20 years later man landed on the moon. Within the lifetime of a single person the world went from riding horses to walking on the moon.
An honest assessment of the facts shows that most of the founders were professing Christians. But not only that, they created a country whose foundation was the Bible and God. And going even one step further, they dedicated the country to God and his purposes.
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deism
2 Thomas Jefferson, Deist or Christian? http://www.wnd.com/2002/06/14285/
3 The Founders as Christians http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=78
4 The Founders as Christians http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=78
5 The Founders as Christians http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=78
6 The Founders as Christians http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=78
7 WallBuilders
8 http://www.palletmastersworkshop.com/lausdeo.html
9 http://swordattheready.wordpress.com/answering-the-charge-that-george-washington-was-a-deist/