Principle #4 – Without Religion the Government of a Free People Cannot be Maintained.

We, especially those of us in America, have failed to understand the importance of religion in our country and the tremendous emphasis that our Founding Fathers put on it. They realized the importance of religion to help build the nation that they envisioned.

The congress that approved and passed the Constitution in 1787 also passed what is known as the Northwest Ordinance that emphasized the necessity of teaching religion and morality in the schools. The three most important subjects to be covered were first: religion that emphasized man’s relationship to God and his fellowman, secondly: morality as a standard of behavior and discerning between what is right and wrong, and thirdly: knowledge relating to any field of human experience such as history, geography, science, etc.

When I see what is happening in our schools today I see how far we have been moving from this 4^th principle. Our Founding Fathers, like George Washington, recognized that without religion morality cannot be maintained.

A problem that the Founding Fathers had was to make sure that no one denomination with their religious tenets and creeds be emphasized above others. It was Benjamin Franklin who came up with the five fundamentals of ‘all sound religion’ that could be taught in public schools.

“The ‘Fundamental Points’ to Be Taught in the Schools:

1. There exists a Creator Who made all things, and mankind should recognize and worship Him.
2. The Creator has revealed a moral code of behavior for happy living which distinguishes right from wrong.
3. The Creator holds mankind responsible for the way they treat each other.
4. All mankind live beyond this life.
5. In the next life mankind are judged for their conduct in this one.”

Reading through some of the writings of the Founding Fathers one can see that these five things are often mentioned.  One paramount issue in these five things is the basis for teaching what I call the “Biblical Worldview.” A worldview is very important because it is through a worldview that one screens everything that comes his or her way. It is through this worldview that decisions of life are made. If the worldview is wrong or off base so will be the decisions that one makes. Here in the West, especially in America, we used to have a Biblical Worldview but now it is more secular and we see the result of this today in our abortions, divorces, broken homes, fatherless kids, etc.

Reading through some of the writings of the Founding Fathers one sees the importance that they laid on religion in the life of the Republic.

Samuel Adams said: “The religion of America is the religion of all mankind.”

John Adams called these tenets the “general principles” on which the American civilization had been founded.”

Thomas Jefferson called these basic beliefs the principles “in which God has united us all.”

It was during this period of time that those promoting atheism and amorality gained control in France and turned the French Revolution into a blood bath and this was something that our Founding Fathers did not want and they saw religion as the way to avoid this.

Alexis de Tocqueville discovered the importance of religion in America when he visited in 1831 and was very impressed with what he saw, and he recognized that what made America great was her religion that taught right and wrong. At the time it was popular in Europe to teach that religion and liberty were enemies of one another. Like de Tocqueville pointed out: “In France I had almost always seen the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom marching in opposite directions. But in America I found they were intimately united.”

Another aspect that de Tocqueville saw was “the flaming pulpits” of the churches preaching righteousness as well as the clergy to maintain the “separation of church and state” keeping the state out of religion, but not religion out of the state. He also saw how the clergy had influence on the morals and customs of public life that helped develop the laws and the moral climate of the country.

It was different in Europe where the clergy had political power. To me it brings out the difference between power and influence. The clergy in Europe had power but no influence, yet in the early days of the formation of the American Republic the clergy had influence. What de Tocqueville recognized was that religion in America was what kept families together, and above all it kept individualism under control where instead of just caring for oneself people cared for one another. De Tocqueville recognized that without caring for one another it is easy to rely upon government (welfare) and in the process lose our liberty.

Right now in America we are faced with the danger of losing our religious freedom.

Principle #3 – The Most Promising Method of Securing a Virtuous and Morally Stable People is to Elect Virtuous Leaders.

Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.”

Exodus 18:21 “But select capable men from all the people — men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain — and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.”

It was Samuel Adams who said: “But neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man.”

We need to elect men and women who have proven experience, knowledge, training and mostly – character. In one of our presidential elections it was actually asked if character really matters. The thought was that if the person was able to manipulate, had a charismatic personality and was able to have a dominating presence that would be the man or woman for office. How wrong that thinking is!

The Founding Fathers recognized this fallacy because they recognized human nature and the bent towards evil. They wanted to develop a system that would bring to the forefront the wisest, most experienced men/women; ‘men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain.’

Madison went on to say: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.”

The Founding Fathers recognized that at that time in Europe the ruling class had an artificial aristocracy consisting of the elite because of their birth or wealth that had neither virtue nor experience. What Jefferson and the Founding Fathers wanted was what they called a “Natural Aristocracy” consisting of men/women of noble character: freemen and women of virtue, experience and patriotism; men/women who rise to public office on their own merit, experience, wisdom and not on birth or wealth. This type of Natural Aristocracy would be open to all, but “inheritable by none.”

The Founding Fathers recognized that the Creator who formed man for the ‘social state’ would also give man what is needed in wisdom and virtue in order to manage well. In the Old Testament when the Children of Israel came out of Egypt and formed a country what did they look for? “Capable men from all the people — men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain.” Exodus 18:21

A question in my mind is: In the 21^st century today are we any different? In the Old Testament we have God’s people – Israel – looking for men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain, but Peter tells us in 1 Peter that we the church, are the people of God. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

Are we unable to find men/women who, like God told Moses when a new nation was being born, find men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain?

I am not talking about a theocracy, but about finding capable men/women to fill our public offices who are men/women of godly character. Is that impossible; not just here in the United States, but also in other countries?

At this writing I just received a letter from a brother in West Africa who was asking for help in building the church and the nation. I think the two go together – church and nation.

One of the greatest threats that our Founding Fathers saw was that the most reliable, best qualified people would refuse to run for public office thinking that others should but not themselves. Men like Samuel Adams and his cousin John Adams sacrificed their fortunes to serve in politics. George Washington’s salary was $25,000 per year, but he refused it, because he saw that the two dangers facing public office were avarice (greed and materialism) and (self) ambition.

Much more could be said as our Founding Fathers wrote quite extensively on this subject, but what comes to mind is what Jesus said in Matthew 9:37-38. “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”

Should we not be asking God to raise up capable men from all the people — men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain? We have not, because we ask not.

Principle #2 – A Free People Cannot Survive Under a Republican Constitution Unless They Remain Virtuous and Morally Strong.

Isaiah 59:14-15 “So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.”

Here in the West we are now living in a society where we are calling good evil and evil good and so “whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.” If we speak against gay marriage or homosexuality we are called bigots, homophobes, etc. If we stand up for what is right and stand for the truth according to God’s Word we are intolerant. In other words, we are moving into a place in our society where if we are not politically correct (according to ‘the opinion makers’ in our society) then we are silenced by bullying tactics similar to what often happens with the school yard bully.

In the early days of America’s founding there were heated debates on whether the early Americans were ‘virtuous and moral’ enough to govern themselves. Benjamin Franklin wrote: “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” George Washington pointed out that a nation can survive “only so long as there shall remain any virtue in the body of the people.”

Isn’t it interesting to see how over the years the government has become more dictatorial? We are now being told more and more what we can and cannot do. Why is this? Franklin said it well: “As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”

When we think of public virtue what did the founding Fathers have in mind? We associate morality with the Ten Commandments, but public virtue for the Founding Fathers was more like the Golden Rule, a public maturity that would put the good of the community first; a patriotism, or love of country.

During the forming of our country there were some great men-like John Jay, Robert Morris, Robert Livingston, and even John Dickinson – who doubted if ‘public virtue’ was prevalent enough in the populace for a republic form of government.

Thomas Paine pointed out that most of the people were honest, frugal and not influenced by what was happening in Europe – of luxury, indolence, amusement and pleasure. Also during that time many of the main news-papers wrote, or had letters, describing some of the deficiencies in the society. Through this, people became non-involved in public affairs and self-interests were becoming a driving force in their lives.

The Founding Father knew two things about virtue. First, it must be learned and earned. Secondly, virtue is not a permanent quality in human nature. It is something that has to be cultivated and exercised; virtue starts in the home and overflows into the churches and yes, into the schools. What the Founding Fathers called ‘public virtue’ is what I would call ‘character.’ We are born with a personality, but not with character. This is something that we develop as we respond to things that come upon us and at us daily. This is why the family, schools and churches are so important in helping to develop right character or public virtue.

We will not change the world by going to church, but change the world by being the church.

In his farewell address, George Washington declared: “Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education… reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principles.”

Today we see the homes deteriorating and marriage being redefined, babies being born out of wed-lock, babies not allowed to be born, children growing up in all kinds of environments, without fathers, without mothers at home, and we can see how “public virtue” is fast disappearing. When we go to our public schools and see political correctness being taught (among other evils) and how prayer and the Word of God have been removed and heavily frowned upon, and how the American flag is publicly trampled on with disrespect – we realize that ‘public virtue’ is not being taught at home or in schools.

We would do well to heed the warning of our Founding Fathers. Samuel Adams, who is sometimes called the “father of the revolution,” wrote to Richard Henry Lee: “I thank God that I have lived to see my country independent and free. She may long enjoy her independence and freedom if she will. It depends on her virtue.” John Adams pointed out: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

The question that we need to ask ourselves is: What is the Key to reserving a virtuous Nation?

We will look more at this in principle #3.