Christianity and America’s founding

When the first colonists came from different lands and at different times, some came empty handed. However, none of the first settlers came empty-minded. They brought with them distinct culture, heritage, and ideas from the West. In forming a new nation, the founders had little interest putting into practice ideas that previously failed or were drastically new. These intelligent, well-educated men combined the best ideas of the West to establish a government for the United States.

German historian Ranke, when asked who he thought some of the major contributors for theological, philosophical, and political sources in the founding of the United States, said “John Calvin was the virtual founder of America.” What a strange and bold claim, but he is not the only who would agree. The American historian Bancroft, who was not a Calvinist himself, called Calvin the “father of America” and later went on to say that any who would “not honor the memory and respect the influence of Calvin knows but little of the origin of American liberty.”

Calvinism as a theological system encompasses both a world view and an in-depth view of human nature. An effective government must have an honest assessment of these two categories. As James Madison asked in Federalist No. 51 “What is government itself but a reflection on human nature?” The understanding that the law of God is written upon men’s hearts gives merit to the idea that even a heathen has basic knowledge of right and wrong. Combined with the restraining power of Common Grace, one might think men could potentially be a good (not righteous) neighbor, husband, and father. However, without any additional restraint men, both leaders and common men, often follow the wicked desires of their heart.

The Puritans were staunch Calvinists. They stressed the total depravity of human nature, and believed that the state, like the church, was an instrument God used to combat sin. They also believed everyone needed to know how to read the Bible which lead to high quality education in colonial New England. They also held to a covenant view of government, in which the state possessed limited powers limited to certain people. Meetings often took place in the church (located near the center of townships) where only the members were allowed to vote and hold civil office.

Postmillennialism, the predominate eschatology in the 17th, 18th, and 19th century, influenced Puritan political thought in many ways. They believed that God was actively using believers to prepare the world for the inevitable return of Jesus Christ and this urged religious leaders to do God’s work well and the strong desire to maintain biblical law.

The Rev. John Cotton drafted a code of laws which made reference to “the Law of Nature, delivered by God” and Isaiah 33:22. This code resolved to make a set of laws that were agreeable to the Bible, which was adopted in 1641 as the Massachusetts Body of Liberties. The Puritans believed that Scripture contained the general principles of government and addressed topics such as work ethic, individual rights, and moral leadership.

As Calvinists, Puritans knew better than to give anyone too much power because of their understanding of human depravity. Power has the ability to corrupt and influence ‘good’ men to oppress others. As Rev. Cotton put it, “Let all the world learn to give mortal men no greater power than they are content they shall use, for use it they will…”

Puritans went too far on some areas in the attempt to establish a “Holy Commonwealth”. Until Roger Williams idea of “Two Tables” and the ordination of a Baptist minister, there was little regard for religious liberty among the Puritans. Later Johnathan Edwards challenged the idea of a “halfway covenant” that allowed the unregenerate to join the church, vote, and receive the sacraments. Edwards conceded that a Holy Commonwealth wasn’t feasible and desired to separate church membership from civic privileges.

Although it eventually fizzled out the ideas established in Puritanism and the influence of the first Great Awakening in 1742, which called Americans back to religious zeal, had a most significant impact on the foundation of America. In fact, the source most often cited by the founding fathers was the Bible.

The traditional biblical values and underlying principles of the Constitution are what made this country what it is: A free society. However, there are many great threats to the foundation of the republic, one being the ignorance and outright denial of Christian influence. Other dangers include secularization of all major fields in America, the denial of human depravity, public encouragement of immorality, and the growth of ‘Big Government’. Christians must stand firm in defending the ideals of American society.