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Today we hear much about what is called the “separation of church and state”.  By that phrase is meant that the Bible, nor Christian ideas, have any right to influence government.  Groups such as the ACLU, who promote this idea, say that the First Amendment to the Constitution forbids Biblical ideas from influencing government.  But an honest study of the men who wrote the First Amendment will reveal just the opposite.

America’s Founders came from a long line of people who looked to God as the Source and Strength of their lives.  Prayer to them was as natural as breathing, and an absolute necessity in times of national crisis.  When the first major step toward war occurred, which was the blockading of Boston harbor, the first Continental Congress was then in session.  This gathering marked the first time the thirteen colonies had come together to discuss how to deal with the King of England’s tyranny over the American colonies.  Their very first act was to invite a minister to start their sessions with prayer and the reading of the Bible.

On September 7, 1774, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, describing the effects of the prayer.  He wrote:

“When the Congress met, Mr. Cushing made a motion that it should be opened with Prayer. It was opposed by Mr. Jay of New York, and Mr. Rutledge of South Carolina because we were so divided in religious sentiments, some Episcopalians, some Quakers [and so forth] that we could not join in the same act of worship.

“Mr. Samuel Adams arose and said that he was no bigot, and could hear a Prayer from any gentleman of Piety and virtue, who was at the same time a friend to his Country.  He…had heard that Mr. Duche’ deserved that character and therefore he moved that Mr. Duche’, an Episcopal clergyman, might…read Prayers to Congress tomorrow morning. 

“The motion was seconded, and passed in the affirmative.

“Accordingly, next morning [Reverend…Duche’] appeared…and read several prayers…and read…the thirty-fifth Psalm. You must remember, this was the next morning after we heard the horrible rumor of the cannonade of Boston.  I never saw a greater effect upon an audience. It seemed as if heaven had ordained that Psalm to be read on that morning. 

“After this, Mr. Duche’, unexpectedly to everybody, struck out into an extemporary prayer, which filled the bosom of every man present.  I must confess, I never heard a better prayer, or one so well pronounced…prayed with such fervor…such earnestness…for America, for the Congress, for the province of Massachusetts Bay, and especially the town of Boston.  It has had an excellent effect upon everybody here…”

[Mr. Duche’ ended his prayer by saying,]  “All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ Thy Son and our Savior, Amen.” 

Adams continued:  “Washington was kneeling there, and [Patrick] Henry, Randolph, Rutledge, Lee, and Jay, and by their side there stood, bowed in reverence, the Puritan Patriots of New England, who at that moment, had reason to believe that…armed soldiers [were] wasting their humble households;…They prayed fervently for America, for Congress, for the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and especially for the town of Boston; and who can realize the emotion with which they turned …to Heaven for Divine [intervention].  It was enough to melt a heart of stone.  I saw the tears gush into the eyes of [even] the old [staunch] Quakers of Philadelphia.”

(1017.  Adams, John. September 7, 1774, in a letter to his wife Abigail relating the events of the First Continental Congress. John and Abigail Adams, Vol. I, pp. 23-24. Charles Francis Adams (son of John Quincy Adams and grandson of John Adams), ed., Letters of John Adams – Addressed To His Wife (Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1841), Vol. I, pp. 23-24. Phyllis Lee Levin, Abigail Adams (NY: St. Martin’s Press, 1987), p. 55:    America’s Providential History, p. 133-135)

Ladies and gentlemen, our forefathers believed God answers the prayers of those who will humble themselves before Him.  And they wanted Jesus Christ to show up in their government.  Do you?

Think about it; because if you don’t, someone else will do your thinking for you—
and for your children!  And you won’t like what that brings to you.  I’m Don Pinson, this has been Think About It.