I believe it is a mistaken and dangerous notion that our American liberties can rest on any other than a moral foundation. This was the belief of the founders of our nation.
Two days after the opening of the First Continental Congress in 1774, they began the practice of beginning each day’s session with prayer, a practice that carried over to the United States Congress and has continued to this day. Here is the first prayer of the Continental Congress (offered by Reverend Jacob Duché, Rector of Christ Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania):
“O Lord, our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings and Lord of lords: who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all kingdoms, empires and governments; look down in mercy, we beseech thee, upon these our American states, who have fled to thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves upon thy gracious protection, desiring henceforth to be dependent only on thee.
To thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to thee do they now look up, for that countenance and support which thou alone canst give. Take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under thy nurturing care; give them wisdom in council, valor in the field. Defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their cause; and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, O let the voice of thy unerring justice sounding in their hearts constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle!
Be thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the counsels of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation, that the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that harmony and peace may effectually be restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety prevail and flourish amongst thy people. Preserve the health of their bodies and the vigor of their minds; shower down upon them and the millions they represent such temporal blessings as thou seest expedient for them in this world, and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ thy son, our Savior. Amen.”
The Declaration of Independence, signed by delegates to the Second Continental Congress in 1776, begins with these words:
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”
and ends with these words:
“We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States… And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
The Constitution of the United States was signed by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
Article 6 prohibits religious discrimination in the qualification for any public office:
“… no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
Article 7 acknowledges that our civil calendar is dated from the birth of Jesus Christ:
“Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven…”
The First Amendment to the Constitution places two specific restrictions on Congress in regard to religious liberty:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”
There was a compelling reason why the people demanded a Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution. The liberties addressed in these first ten amendments had been denied to them or their ancestors over the course of the preceding centuries. And there was a very specific reason why the First Amendment begins with the issue of religious liberty. Many of the inhabitants of the colonies, or their ancestors, had fled to America to escape religious persecution. Many in England (and other countries) had been imprisoned and even put to death simply because they belonged to the “wrong” church or worshiped in a manner that was not approved by the state.
The intent of the founding fathers in regard to religious liberty, as clearly seen in the First Amendment, was to prevent the state from dictating compulsory religious observance, and to protect the free exercise of religion. The founders of our nation were strongly against religious persecution and religious discrimination. But they were strongly for religion and morality.
Here are a few representative statements of the founders:
John Adams: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
George Washington: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.”
Benjamin Franklin: “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”
Samuel Adams: “While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued, but when once they lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their liberties.”
Our founding fathers believed in a higher law to which men and nations are accountable. They appealed to the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God. They held certain truths to be self-evident; in particular, that all men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. They appealed to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of their intentions. And they proceeded with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence to secure our cherished liberties. It befits us to acknowledge and appreciate the faith and courage of our fathers that have secured for us these liberties.
George Washington proclaimed: “…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…”
Our American liberties rest on the God who alone has the unchallenged authority to grant them. If there is a living God who is our Creator and Judge, and we choose not to acknowledge Him or give thanks, then we will proceed at our own peril to build on a false foundation that cannot sustain the liberties with which we have been entrusted.