Monthly Archives: September 2017

A New Nation and Religious Freedom

A United States Senator, at a highly publicized confirmation hearing, made this rather heated comment about a colleague who had publically professed his Christian faith and belief in its core tenants: “I would simply say, Mr. Chairman, that this nominee is really not someone who this country is supposed to be about.”

REALLY?! How quickly we forget, like the early Hebrews (see the book of Judges), the foundation of our nation. Today we are seeing a departure from the Judeo-Christian roots of Western Civilization to a level never experienced before. Christian beliefs are becoming a disqualification for participation in the public square under the guise of bigotry or some type of phobia. This view of Christianity is spreading among the elites of our nation and Christians must be watchful and prepared because the past does repeat itself.

Let’s continue our historical timeline (from two weeks ago):

Seventeenth Century:The birth of a new nation

The Pilgrims came to America in order to worship God purely and freely. They built an impressive (but little known) monument in Plymouth called the “Pilgrims Monument” to serve as a vision for successful government, and it is still there today tucked away in a New England neighborhood. (See Kirk Cameron’s documentary, “Monumental, In Search of America’s National Treasure,” for more insight on this hidden topic).

As early America began to grow there is much evidence that the founding fathers based government and education on Biblical standards such as the Ten Commandments. American universities were started as Christian universities to teach the Scriptures, share the Gospel, and pursue knowledge from God’s perspective. Harvard’s original motto Veritas (truth) was there to encourage the pursuit of God’s truth. Their charter even included this statement: “To consider well the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life.”

Public schools used the Bible to teach basic reading and writing as evidenced by the New England Primer, and the Act of 1647:

*The “Old Deluder Satan Act” of 1647:

“All towns of 50 or more must have a school to teach the Scriptures to keep Satan from deluding the people… it be one chief project of the old deluder Satan to keep man from the knowledge of the Scriptures.”

*Note: Exactly 300 years later (1947) our government would put into place “separation of church and state” effectively nullifying any teaching of the Scriptures that would keep “Satan from deluding the people.” So what do we see in public education today? Do we see “things that delude the people” being taught?

Eighteenth-Nineteenth Centuries: The move from a Christian society to a secular culture

Family life began to change as the industrial revolution took men out of the family businesses and farms and into the factories. At the same time a transformation was happening in the universities with philosophical changes that resulted in a shift from God centered teachings (Christianity) to man centered teachings (secular-humanism). Christian professors began to leave the universities and retreat to the pulpits. Seminaries were established for Christian studies, leaving the universities to non-Christians. Today, the majority of university professor consider themselves atheists or progressive secularists.

An overview of the progression from Christianity to secularism can, generally speaking, be seen as follows:

• The Enlightenment Period/Industrial revolution (early 18^th century)
• Scientism/Inductive reasoning (late 18^th century)
• Modernism/Evolutionary theory (19^th century)
• Postmodernism/Humanism in education (20^th century)
• Progressive secularism/ Post-Christian Western Society (21^st century)

To see the vision, that the early Pilgrims had, watch this 15 minute clip from the documentary Monumental:

Reflection:

1. What is your view of Christianity’s influence on the founding of our country, its government, and its laws?
2. How have you seen Christianity’s influence change over time? If so how?
3. Prayer focus: Thankfulness for the freedoms we still have in this country to worship Jesus and read the Bible.

Please continue to pray for God’s peace and comfort that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:4-7) for Nabeel Qureshi’s family at this time of great earthly loss, and celebrate the great rejoicing in Heaven as he is welcomed home. In God’s will and Jesus’ Name always we pray, Amen.

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15