Psalm 50:14 “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and perform your vows to the Most High.”
Was America founded as a Christian nation, or as the 1619 Project now teaches in some schools as a Slave nation? Tracing the history of Thanksgiving alone affirms the answer: a Christian nation.
Last week’s article began with 1620 (the Pilgrims) to 1784 (John Hancock). This week, we cover the next 10 years of America’s founding and our emphasis on a National Day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God. This takes us from 1620 to 1800 – the first 180 (of 403 and counting) years of the United States of America.
We begin with George Washington: Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Commander of the Continental Army, America’s 1st President, President of the Constitutional Convention, and farmer (before the American Revolution). Then we study John Adams: Signer of the Declaration of Independence, 1 of the 2 Signers of the Bill of Rights, America’s 2nd President, and lawyer (before the American Revolution).
President George Washington, October 3, 1789: “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor. Therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November 1789, that we may all unite to render unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection.”
This was the first national Thanksgiving since this was year 1 of America’s federal government. Right after completing the Bill of Rights, the Congress and Senate issued this statement: “We wish to offer an opportunity to all the citizens of the United States to join with one voice in returning to Almighty God their sincere thanks for the many blessings He has poured down upon them. Therefore, we resolve that a joint committee of both Houses be directed to wait upon the President of the United States to request that he would recommend to the people of the United States a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer.”
Washington was a strong Christian, as seen in his 1779 speech to Delaware Indian Chiefs: “You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people.” On October 3, 1789 Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday.
President John Adams, March 23, 1798: Adam’s speech is a mirror of this week’s verse – Psalm 50:14: “As the safety and prosperity of nations ultimately depend on the protection and blessing of Almighty God, and the national acknowledgment of this truth is not only an indispensable duty which the people owe to Him, but a duty favorable to that morality and piety without which social happiness cannot exist…
I recommend that on Wednesday, the 9th day of May the duties of humiliation and prayer be accompanied by fervent thanksgiving to the Bestower of Every Good Gift, not only for His having hitherto protected and preserved the people of these United States in the independent enjoyment of their religious and civil freedom, but also for having prospered them in a wonderful progress of population, and for conferring on them many and great favors conducive to the happiness and prosperity of a nation.
Acknowledging before God the manifold sins and transgressions with which we are justly chargeable as individuals and as a nation, beseeching Him at the same time, of His infinite grace, through the Redeemer of the World, freely to remit all our offenses, and to incline us by His Holy Spirit to that sincere repentance and reformation which may afford us reason to hope for his inestimable favor and heavenly benediction.”
As Leftists try to rewrite history, they portray John Adams as either at worst an enemy of Christianity or at best a weak advocate. A simple study of his quotes on the Bible and Christianity – clearly show his strong reverence for the Christian worldview: “The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity, and humanity… I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world.”
He went even further to equate the principles of America’s founding with the principles of Christianity: “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. 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.”
Next week, we study James Madison and Abraham Lincoln and America’s legacy of Thanksgiving.
“The Evidence of Faith’s Substance” _ Article #581
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