Faith of Our Fathers
Recently, our family had the privilege of hearing Tim Barton, from WallBuilders, speak in person. It was so exciting to see him walk out on the stage and realize I as actually there in the audience and not just watching a video. But even more exciting is when I was able to shake his hand and get a picture with him. This makes the third person I have met, in person, that I look up to who has a national /international platform. I thank the Lord for this opportunity.
Leading up to the 250th Birthday of our nation, many people have shared more and more of the Story behind the Founding of our wonderful U.S.A and the men we call the “Founding Fathers”. The meeting we attended with Tim was no different and he did not disappoint.
The following is some of the information I found most intriguing:
The average length of a single governing constitution ranges between 17-19 years. America has passed 10 times this number. On September 17th, 2026 we will celebrate our 239th year with a single constitution.
Some people are saying America is and has been a bad nation. Tim said “…we have done bad, but so has every other nation in the past 6,000 years.” His reasoning for this, because “every nation has people in it” and people are inherently sinful. So, even with our weaknesses, America has still been the most generous, kind and free nation in the history of the world.
What was the #1 source for the ideas in the founding documents of the U.S.A? The Bible. There were three other individuals that were highly quoted, however, the Bible topped them by over 30%. (For more information on this research you can read “Origins of American Constitutionalism” by Donald S. Lutz.)
Alice Baldwin in her book, “The New England Clergy and the American Revolution”, points out how every idea in the Declaration of Independence was preached from the pulpits in every one of the 13 colonies BEFORE the year 1763. One example is John Wise. He preached ideas like: “Taxation without representation is tyranny,” “Consent of the governed,” '“All men are created equal with certain unalienable rights”.
Twenty-nine of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were graduates of Bible Seminary.
Tim gave a few examples of men who made bold professions of faith and yet we are told they were atheists, agnostics and deists. Here are some of my favorites.
John Witherspoon: Scottish revivalist preacher. Asked to be the president of Princeton University. (Two founding fathers traveled to Scotland to ask him to be the president of the university.) He is also responsible for having the first family Bible printed and distributed to families.
Francis Hopkinson: Musician, choir leader, and song writer. Designed the first American flag (although it was not used) and set the “Psalms of David” to music.
John Hancock: Governor of Massachusetts, made 22 prayer proclamations during his time in office.
Benjamin Franklin: Considered the least religious of the Founding Fathers. Many even say he was a deist. However, look at the longest speech Ben Franklin made during the Constitutional Convention:
“ In this situation of this assembly, groping, as it were, in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with Britain when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the Divine Protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. . . And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in 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. 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 . . . and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a byword down to future ages. I therefore beg leave to move, that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business.”
Now if you know what a deist is you will quickly see Ben Franklin was not a deist.
There is so much more to say. So much more to learn. I will revisit this post and add more to it. Someday.
But for today!
Happy 250th Birthday to these United States of America!!!
You can find our more of the true history behind our Founding Fathers at WallBuilders.com.
Here is the link to Tim’s message.