Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins

What Our Forefathers Wanted For America I don’t need to inform you that a segment of our population wants God out of the picture in America. Some would remove His name from the classroom and public buildings. They are not content with that. They want the Bible and any and all references to Christianity excluded. The vehicle upon which these efforts are speeding forward is said to be the Constitutional “separation of church and state” mandate. We have all heard it, but in searching for it in the Constitution, we have a hard time finding it. Why? Because it’s not there! That’s right – it’s not there. Neither did our forefathers intend for it to be there. That is very apparent when we read documents written by them. The following is a very small sample of evidence that our nation’s founders believed in the God of the Bible and intended that Christianity be taught all over this nation. Declaration of Independence “...all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator...” “…appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world…” “…with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.” Our Federal Constitution “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” 1st Amendment “...in the year of our Lord…” [a clear reference to Jesus Christ, our “Lord”]. Individual State Constitutions First of all, note that the Constitutions of forty–five of our fifty states include in the preamble to their Constitutions clear, definitive references to the God of the Bible. These are just a few: Maine: “…acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe…imploring God’s aid“ New Jersey: “…grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy… …looking to Him for a blessing…” Presidential Inaugural Speeches Search through all those inaugural addresses and you will discover that every president, in his inaugural address, has asked God for His blessings and His guidance. “…that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations…the Great Author of every public and private good…the benign Parent of the Human Race...” George Washington “…that Being who is supreme over all… …the Fountain of Justice…” John Adams “…overruling Providence…that infinite Power who rules the universe…that Being in Whose hands we are…who led our forefathers” Thomas Jefferson “…Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity, and a firm reliance on Him who has never yet forsaken this favored land...” Abraham Lincoln “…a profound reverence for the Christian religion and a just sense of religious responsibility are essential to true happiness…” William Henry Harrison “…of divine origin. She cherishes no purpose save to merit the favor of Almighty God…” Calvin Coolidge Leaders And Authors Of Significant Early Documents In America “Sir, we have been assured in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it’” [Psalm 127:1]. Benjamin Franklin “Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” Patrick Henry “The Christian religion, in its purity, is the basis, or rather the source of all genuine freedom in government…I am persuaded that no civil government of a republican form can exist and be durable in which the principles of that religion have not a controlling influence.” Noah Webster “Whatever strikes at the root of Christianity tends manifestly to the dissolution of civil government…we are a Christian people, and the morality of the country is deeply engrafted upon Christianity.” James Kent [Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New York State, commonly known as the “Father of American Jurisprudence”]. National Symbols in America The United States Supreme Court Building: Written in public places are at least three depictions of Moses, the Ten Commandments and other written Bible passages. In the Library of Congress, on a statue representing “religion” is written: “What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” from Micah 6:8. Above a statue representing science we find these words from Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” In the Nation’s Capitol, chamber of the House of Representatives, on the wall behind the Speaker’s table: “In God We Trust” Countless other engraved Bible passages and references from the Bible or to the Bible on numerous monuments in Washington, D.C. Presidential Oath of Office Beginning with George Washington, every president since then has placed his hand on the Bible, repeated the mandated oath, and then concluded the oath with “So help me, God.” The U.S. code mandates that the Vice President and all other government workers take a similar oath, including the words, “So help me, God.” Concluding Remarks We are aware that the terms “Christian” and “Christianity” are often used in the aforementioned locations in ways that are not harmonious with biblical usage. We do not claim that all our forefathers embraced Christianity in its purest form. However, we can see from these and other documents that the Bible was given great respect in public and was very much in the minds of those who founded our nation. It is my prayer that such respect might be restored in this nation. If not, future generations will pay a high price for our failure. May we all do everything we can do to return America to that degree of respect. Carl B Garner

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land,” 2 Chronicles 7:14 The material referred to here in an abbreviated form, along with much more, is available on an excellent DVD from World Video Bible School. Arrangements are being made that will make that DVD available to all of us at a very reasonable price.