Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
by Dr.John Adams, Executive Dir. Moral Action
The blessing of wisdom is the blessing of God. The invitation of wisdom is the invitation of God. Many believe that God invited the early American founders overwhelmingly to raise Christ as the Leader of America.
That mindset was held by George Washington, John Adams, Daniel Webster, Benjamin Rush, Samuel and on and on.
The Bible
The American Frontier opened up between 1776 and 1850,American colonists first expanded out as far west as Appalachia, then pushed the frontier to the Mississippi River. By 1850, American pioneers pushed the edge of settlement to Texas, the Southwest, and the Pacific northwest,
seeking cheap land and inspired by the belief that they had a “manifest destiny” to stretch across the continent…The Patriot Bible. In 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville, a French historian, traveled America as it was coming is own as a nation. He wrote down his observations in Democracy in America. This classic book provides unique insights into what made America such a rapid success which he clearly believed to be Christianity and the Bible.
Education
In a great culmination of writings and historical opinions, American
schools, colleges, and universities loved the Word of God. Harvard University, founded in 1636 by the Puritans adopted the “Rules and Precepts” of the university that stated: “Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his study to wit to know God in Jesus Christ which is eternal life. John 17:3, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” Most of America’s oldest universities were started by preachers and churches. Harvard, William and Mary. Yale, Princeton, King’s College, Brown, Rutgers, and Dartmouth were founded by Christian preachers and church affiliations. Yale College was established in 1701 with a stated goal that “every student shall consider the main end of his study to wit to know God in Jesus Christ and answerably to lead a godly, sober life.” William and Mary was founded in 1693 to supply the church of Virginia “with a seminary of ministers” that the Christian faith may be propagated.” Princeton had as one of its founding statements:
“Cursed is all leaning that is contrary to the Cross of Christ.”
To be open and correct, all the Founding Fathers of America were not Christians (true believers in Christ): they were not. But the Christian teachings from the Bible were great influences on the culture. Christ’s words had a profound effect on the homes, families and political leaders of
that day.
The Baptists sent out their “farmer-preachers.” As was true of the Mryhodistsk the Baptists developed systems that made it easy for committed lay people to enter the ministry and to be deployed quickly where the greatest opportunities were. Most of their preachers had little education and were poorly paid, but they were in touch with the pioneer’s lives.
With an emphasis for a personal conversion and salvation from sin through faith in Jesus Christ, these ministers spread the Gospel far and wide.
This conviction today that I attributed to Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia is so needed today:
“It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was
founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
