National Decree for Day of Fasting and Repentence

[avatar4321]

I've been reading "The Covenant: One Nation Under God - America's Sacred & Immutable Connection with Ancient Israel". (Very interesting Book). In it, I read the National Decree for a Day of Fasting and Repentence made by the Second Constitutional Congress. This was the same Congress that wrote the Declaration of Independence. The Decree goes as follows:

Whereas, the war in which the United States are engaged with Great Britain, has not only been prolonged, but is likely to be carried to the greatest extremity; and whereas, it becomes all public bodies, as well as private persons, to reverence the Providence of God, and look up to him as the supreme disposer of all events, and the arbiter of the fate of nations; therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended to all the United States, a soon as possible, to appoint a day of solemn fasting and humiliation; to implore of Almighty God the forgiveness of the many sins prevailing among all ranks, and to beg the countenance as assistance of his Providence in the prosecution of the present just and necessary war.

The Congress do also, in the most earnest manner, recommend to all the members of the United States, and particularly the officers civil and military under them, the exercise of repentance and reformation; and further, require of them the strict observation of the articles of war, and particularly, that part of the said articles, which forbids profane swearing, and all immorality, of which all such officers are desired to take notice.

It is left to each State to issue out proclamations fixing the days that appear most proper within their several bounds.

Now these are some of the same people who later established the Constitution. What does that tell us of their understanding of the First Amendment and the place for God in our nation?

[gabosaurus]

Not much of anything. Not everyone shared the ideas of the author.

[ConHog]

I've been reading "The Covenant: One Nation Under God - America's Sacred & Immutable Connection with Ancient Israel". (Very interesting Book). In it, I read the National Decree for a Day of Fasting and Repentence made by the Second Constitutional Congress. This was the same Congress that wrote the Declaration of Independence. The Decree goes as follows:



Now these are some of the same people who later established the Constitution. What does that tell us of their understanding of the First Amendment and the place for God in our nation?

That those who say we weren't founded as a nation faithful to God are full of crap?

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

I've been reading "The Covenant: One Nation Under God - America's Sacred & Immutable Connection with Ancient Israel". (Very interesting Book). In it, I read the National Decree for a Day of Fasting and Repentence made by the Second Constitutional Congress. This was the same Congress that wrote the Declaration of Independence. The Decree goes as follows:



Now these are some of the same people who later established the Constitution. What does that tell us of their understanding of the First Amendment and the place for God in our nation?

The vast majority of colonists were God loving, God fearing CHRISTIANS!!!!
Depend on God's love but be assured of the justice of his wrath.
Despite some people here that just love to pretend that this country was not founded on Christian principles it was and our First government reflected that foundation! --Tyr

[gabosaurus]

The Alexander Hamilton Society has this to say on the subject of religion and the founding fathers:

There is no evidence that any of the major leaders of the Revolution were Jewish. But even though they all came from Christian backgrounds, we know that a few of the founders were not religious at all. Contrary to historians who want to claim that the founders practiced evangelical Christianity, it seems several of the founders were almost secular, and several seemed to be deists (believing in a deity but not necessarily in organized religion). Almost all of the founders came from backgrounds that were NOT Episcopalian/Anglican (the so-called "established church" of England), so they would probably have experienced discrimination if they had stayed in England. That may be why they were in favour of having freedom of speech and freedom of religion enshrined in the constitution.
Jews did settle in the colonies, fight in the Revolutionary War, etc etc, but we can't honestly say the founders had any Jewish ancestry. That having been said, all educated people back then studied Bible, so they would certainly have been able to quote what they called the Old Testament.

[avatar4321]

Not much of anything. Not everyone shared the ideas of the author.

The author of this decree was the Second Continental Congress. The same group of men who wrote and issued the Declaration of Independence. Many of that group also wrote and compiled our Constitution to apply the principles of the Declaration and the movement they were involved in.

The more I've been studying about the period. The more I am convinced that our Founders understood something. They understood that they were building a nation built on a Sacred Covenant with God. A covenant that would establish a nation of Liberty, Prosperity, and Security for themselves exactly as Ancient Israel did.

They did not all go to the same Church, but they realized that there is a God in Heaven and they wanted the freedom to worship Him as they chose. They wanted the liberty He promised to those who follow Him.

Not only did they encourage people to fast, pray, and repent, they saw the hand of Divine Providence throughout the War for Independence. They saw the hand of God in their attempts to liberate Boston. The Lord was present in their retreat at the Battle of Long Island. He was with them at Trenton. He was with them as they miraculously took Princeton as well. He He was with them at Valley Forge and at Yorktown and in countless other battles. You can see the hand of God all over those battles.

The Lord fought with the colonists to make us Free. Why? 1) Because our Founders made a covenant with Him. That they would follow His counsels and serve Him. and 2) Because there is was and is a Divine Purpose in the establishment of the United States of America.

The covenant is simple. If we keep His commandments and serve God, he will prosper us in the land. We will keep our liberty and we will remain secure no matter whether our enemies try to attack us.

If we don't, then we have no promise.

This is the National Covenant. That He will be our God and we will be His people.

[bullypulpit]

Religion and politics are the purer for separation.

[SassyLady]

Religion and politics are the purer for separation.

Really? And look where that's gotten us.

[avatar4321]

Religion and politics are the purer for separation.

God and politics aren't purer for separation. That's why we have been getting an ever more corrupt government every year we've turned away from the Lord.