Our true Christian faith and heritage

“I have carefully examined the evidences of the Christian religion, and if I was sitting as a juror upon its authenticity I would unhesitatingly give my verdict in its favor. I can prove its truth as clearly as any proposition ever submitted to the mind of man.”

Now there’s a man after my amateur apologist’s heart. Alexander Hamilton, like virtually all the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was a Christian. And he was so convinced of the truth of Christianity and its preeminence as a worldview that he supported the formation of an association “to be denominated ‘The Christian Constitutional Society,’ its object to be first: The support of the Christian religion, second: The support of the United States.” ¹

The evidence for the truth of Christianity is matched by the evidence for it being inextricably woven into the foundation of our nation. From Christopher Columbus on, the men whose lives were bound up in the establishment of this great country were Christians who knew that only a nation guided by Christian principles and populated by God-fearing citizens would survive and thrive.

From a Maryland Supreme Court decision in 1799:

“Religion is of general and public concern, and on its support depend, in great measure, the peace and good order of government, the safety and happiness of the people. By our form of government, the Christian religion is the established religion; and all sects and denominations of Christians are placed upon the same equal footing, and are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty.” ²

The strong Christian faith of our first president George Washington is well-established. Committed as he was as general and then president, Washington knew his highest commitment was to Jesus Christ, and exhorted his troops at Valley Forge to the same.

“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to laud the more distinguished Character of Christian.”³

Daniel Webster, U.S. congressman, senator, and Secretary of State in the early 19th century, confirmed the truth of Christianity’s foundational place in the bedrock of our country and society. He said this at the bicentennial celebration of the Pilgrims’ landing at Plymouth Rock:

“Finally, let us not forget the religious character of our origin. Our fathers were brought hither by their high veneration for the Christian religion. They journeyed by its light, and labored in its hope. They sought to incorporate its principles with the elements of their society, and to diffuse its influence through all their institutions, civil, political, and literary.

Let us cherish these sentiments, and extend this influence still more widely; in full conviction that that is the happiest society which partakes in the highest degree of the mild and peaceful spirit of Christianity.” ⁴

^{1 William J. Federer, America’s God and Country: Encyclopedia Of Quotations (St. Louis: Amerisearch, Inc., 2000) p. 274.}

^{2 Ibid, p. 422.}

^{3 Ibid, p. 643.}

^{4 Ibid, p. 669.}