Here's the foreward to the book that you'll both obviously be reading so that we can have an educated discussion here:
Foreword
Archie P. Jones, Ph.D.
Rev. Benjamin F. Morris’ magnum opus, the Christian Life and
Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States, could not
be more pertinent to present day American life. The little-known
information that it contains is just as true today as it was in 1864 and
is far more needed than it was in the mid-nineteenth century. Moreover,
American Christians have long neglected the heritage that God
has given us through our Christian forefathers, so the vast majority of
American Christians are ignorant of the Christian character of our civil
government institutions.
Furthermore, there has been a long-standing effort by anti-Christian scholars
and propagandists to de-Christianize American civil government, law and life.
Largely because of their ignorance, many Christians have been misled by
the disinformation lead by anti-Christian writers who have obscured or denied
the Christian nature of our heritage of civil government and law.
That heritage was not perfect but it was superior
to the heritage of any other people on earth, and both Christians and
non-Christians benefited immeasurably from our God-given heritage
of Christian influence upon civil government and law in America.
Hence, the interesting information presented by Rev. Morris is a must reading
for Christians and non-Christians alike.
Morris’ great work is a magnificent contribution to our understanding
of the Christian—or dominantly Christian—history of these
United States of America. The evidence which he presents makes
it unmistakably clear that early American citizens and statesmen
knew what Romans 13 and the Bible as a whole make so clear: that
civil government is not neutral among religions and philosophies of
men but instead is a ministry of the sovereign God who created and
rules His universe and world, and works out His eternal plan and
holy will in history. Our forefathers in the faith did not retreat from
involvement in society and politics. They did not turn civil government,
the making, enforcement, and adjudication of laws, over to
Satan and those who serve him. They did not surrender the ministry
of civil government to those who are in rebellion against God. Instead,
they sought to base civil government and law upon the truth.
They understood that God is the Lord of history who rules the lives
of nations by His divine providence, and that He is in authority over
our nation as well over all others.
They knew that our nation’s civil
government and law must be based upon God’s laws and principles
of justice if we are to enjoy His blessings upon our land and people.
They comprehended that all men are sinners, and that man’s sinful
nature has particularly destructive consequences when it is allowed
to vent itself through the power of civil government.
They understood that true religion (Christianity), virtue, and liberty are
inseparately united, and that liberty cannot long be perserved in the absence
of virtue among the people and their representative.
Table of Contents:
Foreword 7
Preface 17
Introduction 23
1. Sources of Proof to Establish the Christian Life and
Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States 39
2. The Hand of God in the Settlement of the
American Continent 55
3. Puritan Settlement—Its Christian Motives and Scenes 61
4. Civil Government Instituted in the Mayflower on
a Christian Basis 71
5. Christian Colonization of the New England Colonies 83
6. Christian Systems of Education in the
New England Colonies 95
7. Christian Colonization of Pennsylvania—New York
—New Jersey—Delaware 107
8. Christian Colonization of Virginia—Maryland—
South Carolina—North Carolina—Georgia 119
9. Statesmen of the Revolution—Their Views of
Christianity and Its Relations to Civil Society and
Government 139
10. Christian Legislation of the Continental Congress 241
11. State Constitutions During the Revolution—
Christian Doctrines Incorporated in them as
Fundamental Law 267
12. The Federal Constitution a Christian Instrument 293
13. Christian Scenes in the First Congress Under
the Constitution 323
14. The Christian Acts and Scenes of the Army
of the Revolution 333
15. Government Chaplains 367
16. Christian Ministers of the Revolution 405
17. Christian Women of the Revolution 475
18. Christian Churches of the Revolution—
Congressional Churches 515
19. Christian Churches of the Revolution—The Baptist
Churches—Methodist Episcopal Church 553
20. Christian Churches of the Revolution—The Reformed
Dutch Church and Other Churches—
German Lutheran Church—Universalist Convention 571
21. Christian Character of Washington 599
22. Fast and Thanksgiving Days 651
23. Thanksgiving Days Appointed by the Senate 701
24. Christian Scenes in the Capitol of the Republic 769
25. Christianity of American Courts, and Christian
Character of Eminent American Judges 797
26. The Christian Element in the Civil War
of the United States 841
Since it will take you and waterbear a week to order and receive the book, and a few days to get through the entire 1,060 pages, here's an article by the man who wrote the foreward entitled:
"Christianity, Our Early State Constitutions,
and American Federalism".
http://www.contra-mundum.org/cm/features/10_Jones.pdf
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights..."
Linear Mode
