“Some, and I fear a multitude which no man can easily number, there are amongst us, who call themselves Christians, and yet live seldom or never seriously think of Jesus Christ at all. They can think of their shops and their farms, their plays, and balls, their assemblies, and horse races...but as for Christ, the author and finisher of faith, the Lord who has bought poor sinners with His precious blood, and Who is the only thing worth thinking of, alas! He is not in all, or at most in very few of their thoughts. But believe me, O ye earthly, sensual, carnally minded professors, however little you may think of Christ now, or however industriously you may strive to keep Him out of your thoughts, by pursuing the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, yet there is a time coming, when you will wish you had thought of Christ more and of your profits and pleasures less.”

     It was against the backdrop of this kind of teaching that the founders of the American Republic were raised. It would be foolishly illogical to think that such a powerful influence would go without outward results.

THE ATMOSPHERE

     By this time, English rule was advancing toward a greater oppressive state. Only those licensed and who were “loyal to the crown” could publicly declare the Word of God.

     In 1743, the General Court in Williamsburg, Virginia, under Governor William Gooch, sought to silence preachers Robinson and Roan. On April 25, 1745, Gooch told the General Court’s Grand Jury that he planned to put an end to those dissenters who railed against the Anglican Church, use of the “law” those who railed against the Anglican Church. It was in the midst of this oppression that the framers of our nation were primed for their work to serve God in establishing the American Republic.

     One would be hard pressed to think that any other mindset other than Biblical Christianity would be popular in the realm of their civil service. In fact, after the Republic was established, it became a common law that all those who would aspire to serve in public office must be a professor of Jesus Christ.

JEFFERSON AND CHRISTIANITY

     Given the historical information surrounding the socio-religious tenor of the colonists, one would have to be consciously ignorant of its influence on the people, especially the leaders of the Independence movement. Over the years, many have tried to discredit the statements and the intentions of the Founders, as it relates to their Scriptural convictions, by claiming them as either inaccurate, unfounded or inconsistent with their personal convictions. One such leader is the controversial Thomas Jefferson.
In voicing his anger over the tyranny of the English, he wrote in “A Memoranda of Services to my Country”.

     “I propose the demolition of the church establishment, and the freedom of religion.”

     What Jefferson was calling for here was not the demolition of the Christian Religion, nor was he identifying himself as being anti Christian. In fact it is quite the contrary. Jefferson here is upholding the Christian religion as the only true religion as he seeks to demolish all “establishments of man and governments” that would attempt to destroy it.

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