Listen to or read this week’s “Think About It” Radio Program: “George Washington’s Christianity”

© 2012 Don Pinson  /  To Download, right-click here: [Download]  / 

Each year on February 22, we celebrate the birthday of the Father of our country, George Washington.  There are some things about George Washington that my schooling never taught me.  Things like what Rev. Henry Muhlenberg, Pastor of the Valley Forge Lutheran Church in 1777, said of him when our Continental Army spent the winter there.  I quote Rev. Muhlenberg:

“I heard a fine example today, namely, that His Excellency General Washington rode around among his army yesterday and admonished each and every one to fear God…[and] to practice the Christian virtues.  From all appearances, this gentleman does not belong to the so-called world of society, for he respects God’s Word, believes in the atonement through Christ, and bears himself in humility and gentleness.  Therefore, the Lord God has also…marvelously preserved him from harm in the midst of countless perils, [ambushes], fatigues, etc., and has hitherto graciously held him in his hand as a chosen vessel.”

(The Notebook of a Colonial Clergyman, Theodore Tappert, Fortress Press, 1975, p.195)

Were you aware George Washington was that kind of man; a man who walked with Christian character and was not a part of the ‘world system’ of evil?  If you weren’t, why not?

Let’s consider more of George Washington’s character:  Note his order to his troops July 9th, 1776, the very first day he took command.  He said to them:

“The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man, will endeavor so to live, and act, as becomes a Christian Soldier defending the dearest Rights and liberties of his country.”

(The Writings of George Washington, J. Fitzpatrick, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1932, Vol. 5, p. 245)

Here’s further evidence of George Washington’s insistence on Christian character among his soldiers.  He issued an order on May 2, 1778, just before his troops would march out of Valley Forge, which stated:

“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion.  To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to [display] the more distinguished Character of Christian.”

(May 2, 1778, General Orders, Archives of Mount Vernon, Mt. Vernon, Va.)

If the American Revolution was based on this kind of character; and if it was this kind of character which obviously produced the birthing of the greatest nation in world history; shouldn’t we want to study our history to find out these things?

But will you find this in the history textbooks of our government schools?  Will you find this true story of how our Founders thought on the History Channel?  Not likely.  So where do you go to get the true story?  There are many places now where you can.  I suggest our website:  www.heritageministriesky.com  There you can order the book, Why God Birthed America.  Or you can follow links to other sites which we have listed there.  These will give you plenty of information to think about.

George Washington made another statement we should consider.  In his first Inaugural address made to Congress on April 30, 1789, he said this:

“No people can be bound to acknowledge the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States.  Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of Providential agency.”

(Am. God & Co. p.652)

Do you teach these things to your children?  Shouldn’t you learn our true history so you can point you children in the right direction?  Parent, if you don’t, who will?

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.