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Liberty Advocate http://www.libertyadvocate.com/
Christian America?
Was America Founded As a Christian Nation?
Recently, someone wrote Liberty Advocate challenging the founding of America as a Christian nation. Read our e-mail correspondence...
From: Lee < XXXX@gmail.com>
After stumbling across one of your posts I felt the need to educate and
inform you.
Have you ever read the Treaty of Tripoli? If not I have included article
11 which was written In 1797, only six years after the the Bill of
Rights. This Treaty was signed by President John Adams and read aloud on
the senate floor without any objection.
"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any
sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no
character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of
Mussulmen,—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of
hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties
that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an
interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries"
The constitution even says in the First Amendment : "Congress shall
make no law respecting an establishment of religion". It also
states in Article VI, Section 3 : " no religious test
shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust
under the United States." . If I was making a government that
would be formed around a religion I think I would make it a requirement
that any man in office be apart of that religion.
You make vague references in your post "standing your ground"
to historical documents which ambiguously mention the word God or
creator but no where mention the name of Jesus in which Christianity is
founded upon. To say that America was founded as a Christian nation is
incorrect, ignorant, and prideful. You make no proof anywhere that the
name of Jesus is in any historical federal document that helped form our
government. James Madison who is called the Father of the Constitution
even claims government does not need religion to secure and perpetuate
it. I see no proof that America was based on Christianity only senseless
ramblings about the name God in a couple of documents.
From: "Karen Pansler" <karenpansler@netzero.com> 1) Yes, I have studied the
Treaty of Tripoli. There is
controversy about the recently circulated copy being a fraud.
There is evidence that the phrase "...the government of the
United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian
Religion..." was actually not part of that treaty. A revised
version of the Treaty of Tripoli, accepted April 17, 1806, after the US
went to war with Tripoli does not contain that phrase. Nonetheless, if the phrase was included, Article 11 must be
read in its entirety. But even if shortened ("the government of the
United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian
religion"), this statement is not untrue as it is referring to the federal
government. Even while the Founders openly described America as a
Christian nation, they did include a constitutional prohibition against
a federal establishment of a John Adams wrote to Thomas Jefferson on June 28, 1813: Could my answer be understood by any candid reader or hearer, to recommend to all the others the general principles, institutions, or systems of education of the Roman Catholics, or those of the Quakers, or those of the Presbyterians, or those of the Methodists, or those of the Moravians, or those of the Universalists, or those of the Philosophers? No. The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence, were the only principles in which that beautiful assembly of young men could unite, and these principles only could be intended by them in their address, or by me in my answer. And what were these general principles? I answer, the general principles of Christianity, in which all those sects were united, and the general principles of English and American liberty, in which all those young men united, and which had united all parties in America, in majorities sufficient to assert and maintain her independence. Now I will avow, that I then believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God; and that those principles of liberty are as unalterable as human nature and our terrestrial, mundane system. I could, therefore safely say, consistently with all my then and present information, that I believed they would never make discoveries in contradiction to these general principles. In favor of these general principles, in philosophy, religion, and government, I could fill sheets of quotations from Frederic of Prussia, from Hume, Gibbon, Bolingbroke, Rousseau, and Voltaire, as well as Newton and Locke; not to mention thousands of divines and philosophers of inferior fame. (Emphasis added.) The discussion in 2) will expand on this further... 2) "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion": Article 1 of the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States (1791) prohibits the establishment of a state religion, such as the Church of England. In other words, the law may not establish a national church and demand mandatory attendance or mandatory tithes. American colonists were not forced to be members of the Church of England or any other state religion; and could freely worship in the Christian church of their choice. The Church of England is the officially established religious institution[3] in England, and also the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The British monarch is the titular leader of the Church of England." The First
Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution
explicitly forbids the federal
government from
enacting any law respecting a religious establishment, and thus forbids
either designating an official church for the United States, or
interfering with State
and local official churches ¡ª which were common when the First
Amendment was enacted. It did not prevent state
governments from
establishing official churches. 3) The word "God" is often used in the Bible to denote the Holy Trinity. For example, Genesis 1:1 states... "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" And then in Genesis 1:26... "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." (Emphasis added.) This is plural name of persons in the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Over and over again in the Bible, "God" is used in the plural (Trinity) and in the singular (God the Father). Vague references? "Ambiguously mention the word God or creator"? "No where mention the name of Jesus in which Christianity"? Did you read the excerpts from the numerous historical documents? Cited documents use the following words or phrases: a. First Charter of Virginia, 1606: "in propagating of Christian religion to such People." b. Mayflower Compact, 1620: "Advancement of the Christian Faith." c. Charter of Massachusetts Bay, 1629: "Obedience of the onlie true God and Saulor of Mankinde, and the Christian Fayth." d. Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639: "to maintain and preserve the liberty and purity of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." e. Articles of Confederation of the United Colonies of New England, 1643: "to advance the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ." f. Constitution of Virginia. 1776: "the duty we owe to our Creator...the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance." g. Declaration of Independence: "endowed by their Creator...the Supreme Judge of the world." In the Bible... "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth" (Ecclesiastes 12:1). "And to God the Judge of all" (Hebrews 12:23). etc. Again, "God" is repeatedly used in the Bible for Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Ghost. All of these concerns will be more fully discussed in upcoming messages on Liberty Advocate. Hopefully, you will read them and seek the truth about America's Christian heritage. Faithfully serving our Lord Jesus Christ and Savior, Karen Pansler-Lam
From: Lee <XXXX@gmail.com>
From: "Karen Pansler" <karenpansler@netzero.com> 1) Jefferson's bible shows he did not wholly reject the Holy Scriptures. He may have rejected the divinity of Jesus, but he did not reject all Biblical teachings. Moreover, Jefferson was filled with pride: "I am of a sect by myself, as far as I know." 2) "Records of Thomas Jefferson's church-going habits are far
from complete. However, evidence does exist of his involvement with and
attendance at local churches throughout his life. His accounts record
donations to a number of different churches in Philadelphia, Washington,
D.C., and in Charlottesville." 3) You write... God is an essence that we know nothing of. Until this awful blasphemy is got rid of, there never will be any liberal science in the world.-- John Adams, "this awful blashpemy" that he refers to is the myth of the Incarnation of Christ. Note the highlighted: The section in bold is often attached to fragments from an earlier letter from Adams to Jefferson (17 January 1820). The Europeans are all deeply tainted with prejudices, both ecclesiastical and temporal, which they can never get rid of. They are all infected with episcopal and presbyterian creeds, and confessions of faith. They all believe that great Principle which has produced this boundless universe, Newton¡¯s universe and Herschell¡¯s universe, came down to this little ball, to be spit upon by Jews. And until this awful blasphemy is got rid of, there never will be any liberal science in the world. Letter to Thomas Jefferson (22 January 1825). The section in bold is often attached to fragments from an earlier letter from Adams to Jefferson (17 January 1820). (Emphasis added.) http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Adams 4) George Washington... His adopted daughter, Nelly Custis-Lewis, in response to a request from Jared Sparks in 1833 for information on Washington's religions views, wrote, "He attended the church at Alexandria when the weather and roads permitted a ride of ten miles (a one-way journey of 2-3 hours by horse or carriage). In New York and Philadelphia he never omitted attendance at church in the morning, unless detained by indisposition [sickness]." She continues by saying "No one in church attended to the services with more reverential respect." She adds: "I should have thought it the greatest heresy to doubt his firm belief in Christianity. His life, his writings, prove that he was a Christian. He was not one of those who act or pray, that they may be seen of men." In closing, Nelly attempted to answer the question of whether General Washington was a Christian. She responded, Is it necessary that any one should certify, 'General Washington avowed himself to me a believer in Christianity?' As well may we question his patriotism, his heroic, disinterested devotion to his country. His mottos were, 'Deeds, not Words'; and, 'For God and my Country.' [15] Eyewitness accounts exist of Washington engaging in morning devotions. Biographer Jared Sparks recorded the following account from Washington's nephew George W. Lewis: "Mr. Lewis said he had accidentally witnessed [Washington's] private devotions in his library both morning and evening; that on those occasions he had seen him in a kneeling position with a Bible open before him and that he believed such to have been his daily practice."[27] During the Revolutionary war, General Robert Porterfield stated he "found him on his knees, engaged in his morning's devotions." Alexander Hamilton corroborated Porterfield's account, stating "such was his most constant habit."[28] A French citizen who knew Washington well during the Revolutionary War and the presidency stated "Every day of the year, he rises at five in the morning; as soon as he is up, he dresses, then prays reverently to God."[29] Indeed, Washington had purchased a prayer book "with the New Version of Psalms & good plain Type" a few years before the Revolutionary War.[30]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_and_religion 5) Paul was called to preach the Gospel. The Jews were looking for a Messiah who would establish a government so they could rule the world. But Jesus came to establish the Kingdom of God, not the kingdom of man. Incidentally, Paul claimed his legal rights as a Roman in Acts 22:25. "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?" Irrefutably, government is ordained by God: "The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God." 2 Samuel 23:3 Paul tells us that rulers are to act as ministers of God: "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have the praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." Romans 13:3,4 Civil government is ordained by God. And rulers are ministers of God and must rule justly and in the best interests of those whom they are given charge. There is an implicit covenant between God and rulers, and an explicit covenant between rulers and the people. If a ruler breaches the covenant - commits acts of tyranny - the people may resist the tyrant. Yet resistance to authority should be a last resort, and only when all more peaceful means have utterly failed to obtain justice and redress of wrongs. Hence, the Declaration of Independence redresses all the wrongs colonists suffered under King George. And their petitions to the king were of no avail: "In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people." Read their list of grievances...read the entire Declaration of Independence... http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/ 6) As for Benjamin Franklin, he was not an atheist, he was not a Muslim, he was not a Buddhist, and so forth. He believed in God and believed He bestowed favors and goodness upon us: "Let me then not fail to praise my God continually, for it is his Due, and it is all I can return for his many Favours and great Goodness to me; and let me resolve to be virtuous, that I may be happy, that I may please Him, who is delighted to see me happy. Amen." http://www.historycarper.com/resources/twobf2/articles.htm Was he a Christian? No. But he was not an atheist nor an agnostic. And he was in the minority in America. 7) God is the Author of liberty, not man. "Therefore thus saith the Lord; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbor: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth." Jeremiah 34:17. See also Jer. 17:24-27; 2 Chron. 36:19-21 God gives us certain inalienable rights, not man. And man must not take them away. America is a republic. The power of the republic is confined to the proper defense of the individual: pursuits of life, liberty, property and happiness - inalienable rights endowed by The Creator. 8) Our national monuments clearly proclaim America's Christian heritage... "...the Washington Monument. The form of the Monument recalls
ancient Rome and Greece, but at its topmost point, inscribed on the
aluminum tip of the capstone, is the Latin phrase Laus Deo --
"Praise be to God." Along the stairway to that height are 190
carved tributes donated by states, cities, individuals, associations,
and foreign governments. The blocks resound with quotations from
Scripture -- "Holiness to the Lord" (Exodus 28),
"Search the Scriptures" (John 5:39), "The memory of the
just is blessed" (Proverbs 10:7) -- and such invocations as,
"May Heaven to this Union continue its Benefice." 9) The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the Revolutionary War between Great Britain and the United States and its allies. The Treaty opens with the following words: "In the Name of the most Holy & undivided
Trinity." 10) It is the current fashion to denigrate America's Founding Fathers and deny our Christian heritage. They point out Franklin and Jefferson, but purposely refuse to point out the other 54 signers of the Declaration of Independence and signers of other historical documents who practiced Christianity. 11) The early political culture of the American republic was deeply influenced by the New England preachers.
Political Sermons of the American Founding Era: 1730¨C1805
Read this book free online... Political Sermons of the American Founding Era. - Online Library ...
The Online Library of Liberty is provided in order to encourage the
study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals by
making freely ...
oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile... - Cached - Similar 12) Finally, the inscription on the Liberty Bell is Leviticus 25:10... "Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof." http://www.nps.gov/inde/liberty-bell-center.htm I pray these brief answers to some of your concerns will encourage you to learn the truth about Christian America. In the near future, Liberty Advocate will expose the lies and deception denying our Christian heritage. Don't be deceived: this is an evil scheme to destroy our Christian heritage and American patriotism to get us to willingly submit to the New World Order. It's the undeniable truth: America was founded by Christians and for Christians. Faithfully serving our Lord Jesus Christ, Karen Pansler-Lam
See also: "Stand Your Ground" @ http://www.libertyadvocate.com/message%2020.htm
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