The Foundation of our Nation

The first permanent American settlement began in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. It also started the British rule over the colonies which was unfair in that Americans were taxed without representation in the British Parliament. This, along with persecution, oppression, and the desire for true freedom drove the colonist, against all odds, to consider a war against the British. The "straw that broke the camel's back" was when the British attempted to disarm the Americans. Battles were fought at Lexington and Concord in April of 1775, and ignited the war. Patriot militias were added to the Continental Army and George Washington was appointed Commander-in-Chief by the Second Continental Congress two months later. The Declaration of Independence came before the Congress on July 2, 1776, and was ratified on July 4, 1776. The men who put their names on the document risked losing everything if the British won the American Revolution. I join with the thought that God directed the events leading to the birth of America, and our early leaders confirm this. The war officially ended in September 1783, when the Treaty of Paris was signed. The Treaty begins: "In the name of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity. It having pleased the Divine Providence..." The Declaration of Independence begins with the following statement:  "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, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." When the United States became a sovereign and independent nation, it had the opportunity to write its own laws. A new Constitution was written in 1787, uniting the states as a single nation.
 
A web site called "RenewaNation" explains their mission:  It is "to inspire and equip the family, church, and school to give millions of children a Biblical Worldview."  One of their posts is called "The Providence of God in American History." In it they remind us of an address that George Bancroft gave to the United States Congress in 1866. (George Bancroft is known as the "Father of American history" as he is an American historian who studied and wrote about the origins and development of the United States.) "He reflected a predominant philosophy to the leaders of the new nation." He said, "That God rules in the affairs of men is as certain as any truth of physical science." George Washington, upon reviewing the events of the Revolutionary War wrote, "The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all of this, that He must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligation."

When the framers of the Constitution wrote their document, they made it clear that this was a miracle of God. "The Father of the Constitution, James Madison said, 'It is impossible to conceive the degree of concord which ultimately prevailed, as less than a miracle.'" Benjamin Franklin wrote: "Our General Convention...when it formed the new Federal Constitution was...influenced, guided, and governed by that omnipotent and beneficial Ruler in whom all...live, and move, and have their being." When he called the Constitutional Convention to prayer in the summer of 1787, he said:  "That God governs the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that 'except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.' (Psalm 127:1) I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."

As the Founders of our nation acknowledge God and gave Him thanks, should we not continue to do so? RenewaNation writes, "We have advanced due to His goodness and purposes, not our wisdom and abilities. If we reject Him and fail to rely upon Him, this great experiment in liberty will become like the ruins of Babel. Let us, therefore, follow the advice of the Continental Congress and famous Declaration signatory, John Hancock: 'Let us humbly commit our righteous cause to the great Lord of the Universe...Let us joyfully leave our concerns in the hands of Him who raises up and puts down the empires and kingdoms of the earth as He pleases.’" We must be in prayer for our nation and stand on the truths that have been given to us in the Bible. This is our only way to save the Godly foundations of our nation.