“THEY WERE AFRAID”
John 9
The Rev. Ms. Laurie A. McNeill
Montclair, New Jersey
March 13, 2005
WallBuilders is an organization of Christians who are committed to demonstrating
the strong religious heritage of our nation. Members of WallBuilders claim that American
history has been recorded from a secular point of view that fails to represent the religious
faith of our founding fathers. The WallBuilders organization contends that Americans need
to be reminded that ours is, historically, a nation structured by Christians.
Why else would we have on our national currency the words, “In God We Trust”?
The phrase “In God We Trust” also appears on a wall in the House of Representatives and on
numerous national monuments.
The Declaration of Independence uses religious language such as God, created
equal, Creator, Divine Providence and Sacred Honor. In fact, 10 percent of the
Declaration of Independence can be identified as bearing a religious imprint.
George Washington, when he resigned as a general, invited citizens to imitate “the
Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our Blessed Religion.” This is known as
Washington’s “prayer for America,” that Americans would honor God in their lives.
Many of us are familiar with Patrick Henry’s famous cry, “Give me liberty or give
me death.” Few of us recall the way Patrick Henry invoked the name of God in his speech.
He said, “Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and
slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me,
give me liberty or give me death!” Standard history books do not always include Henry’s
reference to God.
Thomas Jefferson allowed the Capitol and other government buildings to be used for
worship services. In 1803, Jefferson budgeted government money to be used to pay for a
missionary to Native Americans. Our third President was known for creating his own Bible.
Jefferson pieced together a Bible that had only the teachings of Jesus, omitting any
mention of stories of miracles or healings.
While Abraham Lincoln’s religious beliefs have been much debated, there is no
room to doubt his vast knowledge of Scripture. His speeches were rich with Bible verses
and theology. Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address describes a God “who gives to both
North and South this terrible war.”
There is ample evidence of the influence of Christianity in American history. In
spite of numerous examples of Christian beliefs on American leaders we, nevertheless, are
left with a legacy of omission. (“Putting God Back Into American History,” by David D.
Kirkpatrick, The New York Times, 2/27/2005, p. WK4)
The Founding Fathers could have created a theocracy and they chose not to do so.
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