Our Founders Beliefs About Religion
Since it began America has been an unusual nation. It believes freedom is a right, and has public elections to keep government within its limitations. I would argue that America has been very successful as a nation. We won the Revolutionary War which was impossible statistically. We enjoyed economic growth and prosperity above all other nations for over 200 years. But unfortunately many Americans believe that our best days are behind us. What has changed in our country, and can it be reversed?
The United States of America was greatly influenced by Christian principles because our founders knew that a nation could only have freedom if the people were subject to God. Although many of the founders were not Christians, or even religious, they did believe that God exists, and knew that a moral people alone would be able to keep the nation from falling into chaos.
Our first president realized that if obligation to God vanished, obligation to self would be the only alternative. If people are only guided by their own desires in a nation that elects their leaders, then it should be expected that selfish immoral individuals will obtain the power they crave. If justice and truth are decided by the majority instead of God then they become variables in an equation that desperately needs a constant.
Benjamin Franklin said, “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” If people aren’t held to morals by a belief in God, and can’t be held to morals by a government they elect, what can keep them from becoming corrupt and vicious
Some will certainly argue that religion is not required for moral judgments. They believe that humans are perfectly capable of being good, virtuous people without a belief in God. They may even argue that it’s sad that Christians have to live in fear of a supreme dictator to be moral people. They often say things like “do you think people would be running around murdering people if there wasn’t a God?” While my first answer is no, I don’t think there would be anything without God, I would consider their actual intention, “Do think people would be running around murdering if they didn’t believe in God”. It is evident that there are many people that are atheists that are moral people. However America is unusual, if you commit murder in America you will almost certainly be convicted for it. Americans also have just about everything they need in abundance. We don’t lack necessities like, food, water, clothing, shelter, internet access, cell phones, and cable TV. The truth is most Americans don’t have a reason to steal, or murder.
Another point sceptic’s make is that many wars and immoral things have been done in the name of religion. This point is certainly factual however it is similar to saying governments declare war so we shouldn’t have government. Religions can be good, or bad. If there is a Holy spiritual entity, it stands to reason there would be an evil spiritual entity. So religions could be serving one or the other. The argument, because evil religions like cults exist, shouldn’t be a reason to abolish good religions, like Christianity.
Good religions are a necessity of our nation. As John Adams said “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other”.
As Christians we need to be growing in Christ and sharing the gospel with others. If America returns to it's exceptional status it will be due to the Holy Spirit convicting hearts and Christians spreading the gospel. America has been a nation that exemplifies Psalms 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD”. The question is, will it continue to be.