Today we celebrate America’s Independence Day! America has one of the most unique, distinct and pride-worthy origins as a nation. Our country is blessed to have a rich heritage of faith – our foundations are uniquely Christian. Scriptural beliefs and principles are woven into all the foundational documents and events, which were undergirded by prayer because of the Godly Christian men and women who sacrificed and worked to make this nation a reality. Looking at our historical origins, it is undeniable that we literally began as One Nation Under God.
This small sampling of Christian quotes from our founding fathers will give you an overview of their strong moral and spiritual convictions which helped form the foundations of our great nation and our government. Let’s keep these words in mind as we celebrate all that our nation is founded upon and stands for. Have a fun and safe holiday, and God Bless America!
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
JOHN ADAMS, Signer of the Declaration of Independence; One of Two Signers of the Bill of Rights; Second President of the United States [John Adams, The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, Charles Frances Adams, editor (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1854), Vol. IX, p. 229, to the Officers of the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Militia of Massachusetts on October 11, 1798.]
“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? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.”
THOMAS JEFFERSON, Signer and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence; Third President of the United States [Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia(Philadelphia: Matthew Carey, 1794), Query XVIII, pp. 236-237.]
“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.”
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Commander-in-Chief in the American Revolution; Signer of the Constitution; First President of the United States [Washington, Writings (1932), Vol. XI, pp. 342-343, General Orders of May 2, 1778.]
“Before any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe.”
JAMES MADISON, Signer of the Constitution; Fourth President of the United States [James Madison, A Memorial and Remonstrance Presented to the General Assembly of the State of Virginia at their Session in 1785 in Consequence of a Bill Brought into that Assembly for the Establishment of Religion (Massachusetts: Isaiah Thomas, 1786), p. 4.]
“Is it not that in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? – that it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer’s mission upon earth? – that it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity?”
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, Statesman; Diplomat; Sixth President of the United States, [John Quincy Adams, An Oration Delivered Before the Inhabitants of the Town of Newburyport at Their Request on the Sixty-First Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1837 (Newburyport: Charles Whipple, 1837), pp. 5-6.]
“Righteousness alone can exalt [America] as a nation. Reader! Whoever thou art, remember this; and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others…[T]he great pillars of all government and of social life: I mean virtue, morality, and religion. This is the armor, my friend, and this alone, that renders us invincible.”
PATRICK HENRY, Patriot and Statesman [Henry, Correspondence, Vol. II, p. 592, to Archibald Blair on January 8, 1799.]
“To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe that degree of civil freedom, and political and social happiness, which mankind now enjoys…Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government – and all blessings which flow from them – must fall with them.”
JEDEDIAH MORSE, Patriot and Educator, called “The Father of American Geography” [Jedidiah Morse, A Sermon, Exhibiting the Present Dangers and Consequent Duties of the Citizens of the United States of America. Delivered at Charlestown. April 25, 1799, The Day of the National Fast (Hartford: Hudson and Goodwin, 1799), p. 9.]
“I’ve lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: That God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We’ve been assured in the sacred writings that unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.”
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution [James Madison, The Papers of James Madison, Henry D. Gilpin, editor (Washington: Langtree and O’Sullivan, 1840), Vol. II, pp. 984-986, June 28, 1787.]
“I…recommend a general and public return of praise and thanksgiving to Him from whose goodness these blessings descend. The most effectual means of securing the continuance of our civil and religious liberties, is always to remember with reverence and gratitude the source from which they flow.”
JOHN JAY, Co-author of the Federalist Papers; First Chief-Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court [William Jay, The Life of John Jay: With Selections From His Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers (New York: J. & J. Harper, 1833), Vol. I, pp. 457-458, to the Committee of the Corportaion of the City of New York on June 29, 1826.]
“Human law must rest its authority ultimately upon the authority of that law which is Divine. …Far from being rivals or enemies, religion and law are twin sisters, friends, and mutual assistants. Indeed, these two sciences run into each other.”
JAMES WILSON, Signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; Original Justice on the U. S. Supreme Court [James Wilson, The Works of James Wilson, Bird Wilson, editor (Philadelphia: Bronson and Chauncey, 1804), Vol. I, pp. 104-106, “Of the General Principles of Law and Obligation.”]
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD” –
Psalm 33:12
