American history is often something we neglect, so I found this information today and thought I would pass it on as we celebrate a rainy
Independence Day.
I'm not nominating all of our founding fathers for sainthood. At the same time we need to be aware of the fact that there is a
lot of revisionist history that totally ignores or distorts the faith of our Founding Fathers. A lot of them were motivated by their faith in Christ.
Here's some
back story on some of the
fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence. Most Americans know next to nothing about these fifty-six heroes who pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to the cause of freedom.
John Witherspoon was an
ordained minister and authored several
books of sermons, as well as
editing America's first family Bible in 1791.
Charles Thomson served as Secretary of Congress and was
a Biblical scholar. He helped edit
the first American translation of the Greek Septuagint into English.
Charles Carroll, the last of the fifty-six signers to pass away at the age of 95 in 1832, wrote out his
declaration of faith at the age of eighty-nine.
On the mercy of my Redeemer I rely for my salvation, and on His merits; not on the works I have done in obedience to His precepts.
Another Founding Father,
Benjamin Rush, is considered the "Father of American Medicine." He personally trained three thousand medical students. Dr. Rush also founded "
The First Day Society" which was
the precursor to the Sunday School movement, as well as
founding America's first Bible society. It was
Benjamin Rush who said the
Constitution was "
as much the work of Divine Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testament were the effects of divine power."
Francis Hopkinson was
a church music director and
edited one of the first hymnals printed in America in 1767. He also set 150 psalms to music.
Roger Sherman is the only
Founding Father to sign all four of America's Founding documents: the
Articles of Association in 1774, the
Declaration of Independence in 1776, the
Articles of Confederation in 1778, and the
U.S. Constitution in 1787. Roger Sherman was also
a theologian. He wrote
a personal creed that was adopted by his church:
I believe that there is one only living and true God, existing in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are a revelation from God, and a complete rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him.
I could share story after story, but the bottom line is this:
many of our Founding Fathers were motivated by their Faith in Christ. They wrote sermons and creeds and hymns. They founded
Bible Societies and
Sunday Schools. They served God's purposes in their generation. And I, for one, am grateful.
I hope that adds a
spiritual dimension to your 4th of July celebration!
to think about in terms of creation and the timeline).
