Faith in God is woven into the fabric of our national life from the beginning.
When the first settlers landed on American soil at the spot which they named Jamestown after their sovereign, they carried with them the official admonition of the London Council for Virginia that “the way to prosper is to serve and fear God, for every plantation which our heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted out.”
When the Pilgrim Fathers set foot at Plymouth, they worshipped God “with prayer and psalm.”
When William Penn established his colony of Pennsylvania, among the many expressions of his Christian concern was this exclamation: “O that thou mayst be kept faithful to the God of thy mercies and in the life of righteousness be preserved to the end!”
So from the earliest years, the name of God was known and honored. As time rolled on to bring the stirring and critical days of the Revolution, it provided the impressive picture of the American commander-in-chief on his knees in fervent prayer at Valley Forge. It gave us also his memorable prayer after his inauguration as President in which he called upon God in humble supplication for the new nation.
When later years brought violent division in the nation, we find another great figure, about to take up his presidential duties, turning to his neighbors and friends gathered to bid him farewell and saying to them: “Trusting in him who can go with me and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To his care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, Ibid you an affectionate farewell.”
Instances multiply beyond number that evidence the strong religious convictions which influenced our leaders, molded our national ideals, and carried us successfully through many a crisis.
While it is true that the religious life of America had its ebbs and flow, it is also true that the undercurrents of religion were never lost and have proved to be a spiritual resource for individual and nation. – Deane Edwards
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“Wherever we find the Word of God surely preached and heard, and the sacraments administered according to the institution of Christ, there, it is not to be doubted, is a church of God.”
I will not cede more power to the state. I will not willingly cede more power to anyone, not to the state, not to General Motors, not to the CIO. I will hoard my power like a miser, resisting every effort to drain it away from me. I will then use my power, as I see fit. I mean to live my life an obedient man, but obedient to God, subservient to the wisdom of my ancestors; never to the authority of political truths arrived at yesterday at the voting booth. That is a program of sorts, is it not? It is certainly program enough to keep conservatives busy, and Liberals at bay. And the nation free. – William F. Buckley
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
“And I’m proud to be an American,
Mighty God, Your will is sovereign and perfect, and You do as You see fit in the affairs of humankind and in all Your creation.
