The Christian Roots Of Our Republic
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Sermon Delivered 7/6/03
The Bible and prayer have played an
important role in our nation’s history. Not many current day history books
inform their readers of this fact or that this nation was founded upon
what has been called the Judeo-Christian Ethic. And, if I were to walk up
to people and ask them what the Judeo-Christian Ethic was, I would be
surprised if I got a correct answer. For the record, the Judeo-Christian
Ethic refers to the teachings and principles of the Old (Judeo) and New
(Christian) Testaments.
I believe that America has been blessed because our
nation was founded upon the teachings and principles of the Old and New
Testaments. The Lord promises in Psalms 33:12 "Blessed is
the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom
he hath chosen for his own inheritance."
In this mornings message I will be sharing with you a
few of the true stories that show the Christian Roots of Our Republic.
 \To begin, I must take you back to Jamestown, Virginia,
established on May 13, 1607 by 104 Englishmen, mostly Puritans. In
September of 1608 Captain John Smith was elected Governor of the colony.
As Governor, Smith saw that there was a major change that needed to be
made if the colony would survive. Here’s the problem. Many of the
colonists were off doing their own thing, specifically searching for gold,
instead of planting crops and hoeing their gardens. He instituted a new
rule based on 2 Thessalonians 3:10. The verse says, "For even when
we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work,
neither should he eat." Smith paraphrased it, "He who will not work
shall not eat!" Indeed, that was a wise move! Though this "law" was
unpopular at first, it did facilitate the survival and ultimately the
expansion of the colony.
The Importance Of
Diligence
I must tell you that one of the things that has made
America great is the work ethic of her people. Even before man’s fall into
sin, he was charged with dressing and keeping God’s Garden. There are
three verses that I want to share with your about the importance of
working diligently.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to
do, do it with thy might..."
Colossians 3:23 "And whatsoever ye do, do it
heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;"
Proverbs 14:23 "In all labour there is profit…"
God blesses honest, diligent work! Laziness and
irresponsibility bring poverty. We read in Proverbs 13:4 "The soul
of the sluggard [idle; lazy person] desireth, and hath nothing: but
the soul of the diligent shall be made fat [prosperous]."
If you will be successful, be diligent in all of your
undertakings. Employers are looking for diligent workers!
On September 16, 1620 the Mayflower departed for the
New World overloaded with 102 Pilgrims. Finally after more than 60
grueling days at sea, at 7 a.m. on November 19th the "Land-Ho"
came from the crow’s nest. All the Pilgrims gathered on deck and William
Brewster led in the singing of Psalm 100 in meter. They prayed and thanked
God for seeing them through the arduous voyage.
 "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that
hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the
sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and
bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is
everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." Psalms
100
The words of the doxology are a good reminder for us…
"Praise God from who all blessings flow."
If you ever get a chance, when you are in Washington
D.C., to go to the Capitol; In the Rotunda area you can see the mural
commemorating the Pilgrims coming to the New World.
The Importance
Thankfulness
The Pilgrims knew what it was to be thankful to the
Lord! Despite their hardships, they knew the truth of 1 Thessalonians
5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you." We need to follow the example of the
Pilgrims and make known our thankfulness to the Lord.
- Philadelphia Pennsylvania: The First Continental Congress
We have see that 2 Thessalonians 3:10 and
Psalm 100 a part of our national heritage. But there is another Psalm
that played an important part in the founding of our nation –
Psalm 35.
In September of 1774 the First Continental Congress was meeting at
Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia. They had invited Rev. Douche to open the
session with a Scripture reading and then prayer. Below is a portion of
that Psalm. Remember as you read the words that the colonies were in a
struggle with Great Britain and moving closer to war by the day.
 Psalms 35:1-9 "A Psalm of David. Plead my
cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that
fight against me. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up
for mine help. 3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way
against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy
salvation. 4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek
after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that
devise my hurt. 5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the
angel of the LORD chase them. 6 Let their way be dark and slippery:
and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. 7 For without cause
have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause
they have digged for my soul. 8 Let destruction come upon him at
unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very
destruction let him fall. 9 And my soul shall be joyful in the
LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation."
John Adams wrote to his wife, "It seemed if Heaven had
ordained that Psalm to be read on that morning." Further, when Rev. Douche
lead in prayer the historian says it brought tears to the eyes of every
man present.
May I make an observation? Our forefathers wanted God’s
aid and blessing on this nation! I believe that we as Americans should
follow the pattern of our Founding Fathers and regularly read the Bible
and pray to our Lord for Wisdom, Guidance and Protection.
- Philadelphia Pennsylvania: Independence Hall
I would be surprised if there was anyone here who did
not know of the Liberty Bell. It was purchased in 1751 to commemorate the
50th Anniversery of William Penn’s 1701 Charter of privileges.
Pennsylvania’s original Constitution speaks of the rights and freedoms
valued by people all over the world. Inscribed on that bell are words from
Leviticus 25:10 "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all
the inhabitants thereof." How fitting it was for the Liberty Bell to be
rung on July 8th, 1776 from the tower of the Pennsylvania State
House, summoning citizens to hear the first public reading of the
Declaration of Independence.
 I am thankful God has entrusted us the freedoms that we
have in this country. However, I see our freedoms eroding as our citizens
move away from the God of the Bible and His teaching. Benjamin Franklin
hit the nail on the head when he gave a speech to the delegates of the
Constitutional Convention on Thursday, June 28, 1787. He said…
"We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings
that ‘except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build
it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His
concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political undertaking no
better than the builders of Babel."
The Bible passage Franklin quoted was
Psalm 127:1
Our Founding Fathers knew the importance of reading the
Bible, following its principles and praying for the Lord’s wisdom,
guidance and protection. The final example that I offer you in this
message is…
- George Washington Taking The Oath of Office
On April 30, 1789 the first President of the United
States, George Washington took the oath of office. He asked that the Bible
be opened to Deuteronomy 28. Do you know that content of that
chapter? God promises blessings for obeying his Word, and cursing or
judgment if God’s Word is disobeyed.
I for one, want to see God’s blessing continue on our
Nation and I am therefore resolved to incorporate the Bible, its teachings
and Prayer into my daily life to give Him a reason to bless me, my family
and our nation.
Let me review the Scriptures that have had a part in
the foundation of our nation…
2 Thessalonians 3:10
Psalm 100
Psalm 35
Psalm 127:1
Deuteronomy 28
Saint Paul said, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is
laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:11 Is your life
founded on Jesus Christ? J
John 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into
the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be
saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that
believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God."
If you have never received Jesus Christ as your
personal Savior, I would urge you to call on his name this very moment and
ask Him to forgive your sins and save your soul.
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