|
We've already given it away!
|
Mathias Burnet was sadly correct!
Reprinted from the Homeschoolers of Wyoming website;
Reclaiming Independence Day By Marilyn Boyer
One of the tragedies of our time is that we have lost so much of our knowledge of the glory of America. John Quincy Adams said that America revered Independence Day almost as much as Christmas because our country had been founded upon the very bedrock principles of Christianity. Everybody used to call it Independence Day. Now it’s just the Fourth of July. Ballgames, picnics, fireworks. That’s about all.
But not to the Christian patriot. This sacred day is so much more than sparklers.
Independence Day…what an opportunity to teach our children about real godly heroes. In America, we are blessed to live in a nation which was birthed through prayer, Bible study and adherence to principles found in God’s Word.
Of the 250 men who are considered to be our founding fathers, all but about a dozen were Christians. Listen to their words:
Samuel Adams: “I rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.”
Charles Carroll: “On the mercy of my Redeemer I rely for salvation and on His merits; not on the works I have done in obedience to His precepts.”
John Witherspoon: “I entreat you in the most earnest manner to believe in Jesus Christ, for there is no salvation in any other.”
Roger Sherman: “I believe that there is only one living and true God, existing in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost…and that at the end of this world, there will be a resurrection of the dead, and a final judgment of all mankind, when the righteous shall be publicly acquitted before Christ the Judge, and be admitted to everlasting life and glory, and the wicked be sentenced to everlasting punishment.”
Gunning Bedford: “To the triune God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost – be ascribed all honor and dominion forever more. Amen.”
That’s just a sampling. It’s astounding! Is there any doubt that we have inherited a godly heritage!
When our founding fathers pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor, those were not just empty words. When they signed their names to the Declaration of Independence, they knew they could be signing their own death warrants. King George commanded his officers to find and kill these fifty-six men. Nine of them never lived to witness America becoming a nation, five were tortured by the British, twelve lost everything they owned, three lost their families and children.
By all human standards, the Americans shouldn’t have won. They had no national resources and no military. Robert Morris, a wealthy man, was given position of financier of the American Revolution. He personally funded the first three years with two million dollars. He was never repaid, and spent his final days in debtor’s prison, as his country couldn’t afford to pay him back. He gave his word. He never complained.
John Hancock, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was a wealthy merchant. After Hancock fled to avoid capture, the British set up headquarters in his mansion. Hancock, upon discovering this, rounded up the militia and destroyed his own home with a volley of cannon fire, rather than let the British profit at American expense.
Abraham Clark, another signer, had two of his sons captured by the British and put in British warship prisons. The British told him they would release his sons if he would renounce his signature on the Declaration of Independence. He refused and said he would be lying to do so.
Our founders were men of integrity. When they gave their word, their actions backed it up, despite devastating personal loss.
We have found it fascinating to begin researching our founding fathers. I found a set of posters, replicas of portraits of the founding fathers. I frame one at a time and hang it in our dining room as we share facts about each founder with our children. My goal is for our family to learn about each of our founders, their spiritual declarations and what they sacrificed for our freedom. (See www.wallbuilders.com for excellent resources.)
Independence Day has taken on a whole new meaning for us. When we learn what godly men sacrificed for our freedom, it serves to give us a vision for how we can make a difference in America. I am personally praying for God to raise up a mighty army of home educated children to reclaim our spiritual heritage and move America back to the principles of God upon which it was established, and for which our fathers suffered much to attain.
James Garfield, our 20th President, said, “If the next centennial does not find us a great nation…it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.”
Rev. Mathias Burnett charged his people in 1803: “Let not your children have reason to curse you for giving up those rights and prostrating those institutions which your fathers delivered to you.”
Our freedom was purchased at a great price. This Independence Day, enjoy those picnics and the fireworks, but let’s nor neglect to pass on to our children their heritage of freedom. As David Barton said, “Psalm 32:12 declares that blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; this nation has been blessed from its beginning; and if America does not stay blessed, it will be because Christians did not stay involved. Get involved – make a positive difference in America.”
Our republic has been destroyed by the extremists of the politically correct! A cheerleading squad was told they would be able to display their bible verses 50 yards away from the field!
Our children and their children will not only "curse" us many will euthanize us! We have piled unconstitutional debt on them like a millstone around their necks!
Print- •
-
Share
- Share this item
-
Grab the link
Copy and paste the link:
- Blog about it
- Close
- •
-
12 Comments
- •
-
Flag
-
Thank you for your contribution.Flag this as inappropriate
- Close
-
- •
Follow KennethSchustereit
Comments
Gee, even when you put the words of Jefferson down it still is not true. Sounds like a Democrat.
I guess Jefferson lied about himself. And it is in his records.
October 3, 2009 at 1:46 p.m.PatB: "Why bring up something about Independence Day in October?"
It's just another contrived excuse to evangelize and blur the lines between the separate concepts of patriotism and religion. The idea of patriotism has already been pillaged so we might as well scuttle it to the ocean floor by insinuating patriotism & Christianity are mutually inclusive.
October 2, 2009 at 2:08 p.m.twocents,
My skin is plenty thick, it's just starting to fatigue under repeated stresses. Also why I strayed from the high road as you pointed out. I agree with BSspotter that Christianity hardly holds the monopoly on good. The principles at the foundation of our country may have been laid down by Christians, but are not the sole domain of the christians. Why would I volunteer for a country that wasn't for me? Freedom, liberty, equality and justice are just as powerful when rooted in a person's sense of duty to his or her fellow humans as it is when rooted into a sense of duty to a deity.
The point I think we should be focusing on is that we should focus more on how we are alike, than how we are different. Wanting your country to adhere to religious philosophies is a very effective way to focus on differences. That is why I take articles like these personally.
October 2, 2009 at 1:44 p.m.mytwocents says: "Here's the bottom line: Practical Rules and Life Principals are based on Precepts. Precepts are 'big ideas' - like Truth, Justice, Love, etc. Precepts, in turn, are based on a Person -- God. He IS my standard and my morality has a firm foundation. Others 'morality' is based on science, logic, human understanding and opinion - it is usually good, has great potential, and some merit - but falls short as a universal standard."
Morality is manifested in actions. If two moral actions are indistinguishable in every way other than by the origins of the respective moral codes, how is one morality superior to the other? Why is a non-Christian moral action only an "attempt" at morality? What Would Jesus Deliberate?
I'll take the morality that based on "logic & human understanding" over the one based on because-he-says-so. A non-Christian morality doesn't have to be arbitrary.
October 2, 2009 at 1:36 p.m.Why bring up something about Independence Day in October?
October 2, 2009 at 1:13 p.m.Jefferson was a Deist, not a Christian. He had serious doubts regarding the divinity of Jesus, which was his motivation for creating the "Jefferson Bible", in which he omitted all supernatural aspects, such as miracles, the Trinity, angels & resurrections. While he had tremendous respect for the philosophy & teachings of Jesus of Nazareth (the man), he didn't possess the belief in the divinity of Jesus required to be a "Christian".
When can we all agree that morality can exist outside of Christianity?
October 2, 2009 at 12:05 p.m.Kenneth, I take mild offense to this. I am not a Christian, but I am a veteran. I volunteered to serve my country and did so in the combat theaters of both Iraq and Kosovo.
I served my country, not a god. Does this cheapen my service in your eyes? It would seem so if you would wish an army of homeschooled kids to rise up and all but negate my personal sacrifices.
I've served as good as many and more than most. Our military is full of people from a variety of religions and those who follow no religion at all. Imagine that, there are athiests and wiccans out there protecting you. More than you would think. I thought they were the enemy.
But articles like this one marginalize the service of these men and women. I love my country and I'm proud to have served. At the same time, it sickens me to see something like this which would belittle me for not having imaginary friends.
October 2, 2009 at 11:31 a.m.The words of Thomas Jefferson
"Albert Ellery Bergh, ed (1853). April 21, 1803 letter to Doctor Benjamin Rush. X. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association. p. 379. http://www.constitution.org/tj/jeff10.... Retrieved 2009-05-23. "To the corruptions of Christianity I am, indeed, opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian, in the only sense in which he wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others; ascribing to himself every human excellence; and believing he never claimed any other."
Yes Jefferson was great pushing for the restrictions of government, not the citizens. And public land is owned by the citizens, not the government. Nor the non citizens.
Thomas Jefferson was raised in an Anglican family.
He went to a Christian school and was taught by Christian pastors.
Jefferson attended church regularly his whole life.
As an adult he served on the Vestry of the Anglican church.
He attended the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist churches.
Jefferson regularly tithed to the church.
Washington & Adams ended their Presidential Papers with "In the Year of our Lord", Jefferson ended his Presidential Papers with "In the year of our Lord Christ 18__".
As President he attended the largest church in the nation which held their services in the House Chambers of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
Jefferson was not pleased with the music, so he ordered the Marine Band to come to church on Sundays.
Jefferson's actions as president.
Promoted legislative and military chaplains.
Established a national seal using a biblical symbol.
Included the word "God" in our national motto.
Established official days of fasting and prayer at the state level.
Punished Sabbath breakers.
Punished marriages contrary to biblical law.
Punished irreverent soldiers.
Protected the property of churches.
Required that oaths be phrased by the words "So help me God" and be sworn on the Bible.
Granted land to Christian schools.
Allowed government property and facilities to be used for worship.
Used the Bible and nondenominational religious instruction in the public schools. He was involved in three different school districts, and the plan in each required that the Bible be taught in our public schools.
Allowed and encouraged clergymen to hold public office.
Funded religious books for public libraries.
Funded salaries for missionaries.
Exempted churches from taxation.
Established professional schools of theology.
Wrote treaties requiring other nations to guarantee religious freedom, including religious speeches and prayer in official ceremonies.
Jefferson simply quoted the First Amendment then uses a metaphor, the "wall", to separate the government from interfering with religious practice. Notice that the First Amendment puts restrictions only on the Government, not the People!
October 2, 2009 at 9:58 a.m.Best to avoid Thomas Jefferson (though he's always been my favorite),
"Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned: yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth."
Great man Jefferson.
October 2, 2009 at 8:55 a.m.