Christianity and the Constitution
Even as we pause to celebrate the birth of our nation revisionists are extending themselves in efforts to destroy the foundations of faith on which our nation was established. What is their purpose? They profess it to be noble, but anyone who knows even the most elemental truth about construction knows what happens to a building when its foundation is destroyed.
Detractors attack the intellect of those who defend the influence of faith in our founding and exploit occasional misquotes by defenders. They argue correctly that many of the founders were not Christians, but fail to acknowledge their knowledge of, regard for, and subscription to Biblical principles. However, the record is replete with the testimony of legitimate historians who affirm the faith factor. Likewise those closely associated with the founding of our nation testify of the faith factor. Consider these attestants.
The “Father of Our Country,” George Washington, aligned patriotism with political prosperity, religion and morality when he asserted, “In vain would that man claim patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness.”
In a letter from John Adams written to Thomas Jefferson on June 28, 1813, Adams wrote: “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
A vital opinion of the founding our nation is found in the Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States of America, January 23, 1856, p. 354: “The great, vital, and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and the divine truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence and a ratifier of the Constitution in a letter to Elias Boudinot dated July 9, 1788, wrote: “I do not believe that the Constitution was the offspring of inspiration, but I am as satisfied that it is as much the work of Divine Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testament.”
George Washington acknowledged his opinion of the importance of Divine influence in our national emergence in these words regarding the Constitution. “[The adoption of the Constitution] will demonstrate as visibly the finger of Providence as any possible event in the course of human affairs can ever designate it.”
Daniel Webster, who served as Secretary of State under three presidents, noted, “I regard it [the Constitution] as the work of the purest patriots, and wisest statesmen that ever existed, aided by the smiles of a benignant [gracious] Providence… it almost appears a Divine interposition in our behalf…”.
Benjamin Franklin did not shrink from acknowledging his belief in God at work in forging our Constitution. “I have so much faith in the general government of the world by Providence that I can hardly conceive a transaction of such momentous importance [as the framing of the Constitution]… should be suffered to pass without being in some degree influenced, guided, and governed by that… beneficent Ruler in whom all inferior spirits live and move and have their being.”
Having been bequeathed such a legacy, it is incumbent upon this generation to defend it and live so as to show appreciation for it.
In Memoriam
Editor’s Note: It is with deepest sorrow that we share that our beloved friend Dr. Nelson Price was called home to be with Jesus on August 30, 2025, at the age of 94. Though our hearts grieve his absence, we rejoice that he now rests in the presence of his Savior—face to face, where there is no more pain or death.
Dr. Price’s life was a testimony of faith, wisdom, and an unwavering devotion to God and his precious family whom he loved dearly. His legacy will continue to bear fruit for generations to come, in ways known and unknown, as the seeds he sowed in countless lives continue to grow.
Dr. Price was a prolific writer and this website contains only a small sampling of his prose. This website will continue to be updated as his writings are collected, so please check back often. For more collected writings on the legacy of our dear friend, please visit the In Memoriam tab at the top of this webpage.
Also please be blessed by Dr. Price’s newest book, Uplifted: A Journey Through Acts: A Study of the Early Church and its Timeless Lessons for Today. Now available on Amazon for Kindle.
Happiness Is a Byproduct
“Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence. The phrase gives three examples of the unalienable rights which the Declaration says have been given to all humans by their Creator, and which governments are created to protect. The unalienable rights are defined as: “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
These rights are “unalienable,” meaning that is something that can’t be transferred or taken away. The source of these rights is carefully noted as being “endowed by their Creator,” meaning God is the source enabling these unalienable rights. Government is not their source, they are a gift from God. They are a birthright which the government is to perpetuate.
Let’s focus on one of these rights: “the pursuit of happiness.”
One Cajun is reputed to have said, “I may not catch that happiness, but I am going to chase the fool out of it.” Most people agree.
If going to pursue a thing it is good to clearly know what it is. Dictionaries define it as “An agreeable feeling or condition of the soul arising from good fortune or propitious happening of any kind, the possession of those circumstances or that state of being which is attended with enjoyment; contentment; joyful satisfaction; felicity; blessedness. It is a good feeling. It is much to be desired.
It is often associated with, but not always assumed that it is the fleeting feeling giving place to giddy laughter.
Practically, it is the beautiful byproduct of a job well done. It is the payoff for achievement.
Before going further it is expedient to expose a misconception. Money can’t buy happiness. Research shows: to a certain level, money can buy happiness if you are very poor. Money can give you the ability to meet your basic needs. But once those basic needs are met, and once you have a basic aspect of security in your life, more money won’t make you happy.
Many feel like the person who said, “Okay, money can’t buy happiness. But, I’d still like to have a lot so I can enjoy my misery all the more.”
In summary the teachings of Jesus are that what is going on inside us is more important than what is going on around us. Thus, happiness is an inside job.
God is not so concerned with our happiness, but with our holiness.
Happiness is not in yourself. Jesus himself said that if you want to find happiness you have to lose your life to find it. A life surrendered to Jesus is a fertile field in which happiness grows. Happiness is not found in seeking it, but in surrendering to the Lord; the byproduct is happiness.
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4), and “in your presence is fullness of joy, and at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
The Statue of Liberty
“Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence. The phrase gives three examples of the unalienable rights which the Declaration says have been given to all humans by their Creator, and which governments are created to protect. Standing in New York Harbor is the imposing Statue of Liberty. The copper-clad statue which is 305 feet high, represents freedom and democracy.
“Lady Liberty” was a gift to the United States from the people of France. It was dedicated on October 28, 1886, to commemorate the centennial of the United States Independence.
Four million people pay $25.50 to tour the Statue of Liberty every year. Children 4 and under are free. The ferry ride to the 60 acres Island takes 15-20 minutes.
The statue took nine years to build. It arrived from France by the French steamer Isere in crates holding the disassembled statue on board. The statue is a classically draped woman inspired by the Roman goddess of Liberty, Libertas.
Clad in gold she holds a torch, in her right hand and in her left hand a tablet inscribed JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776). The integral metal framework was made by Gustave Eiffel, who also built the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
She is postured with her left foot on a broken chain and shackle commemorating the national abolition of slavery.
Liberty is not only to be loved, but also to be lived. Liberty is too precious a thing to be buried in books. It costs too much to be hoarded. It is to be respected and enjoyed.
Liberty is not a license to do what we want. It is the responsibility to live within established limits.. Operating within these expansive rights there is freedom. Our loving Lord offers His guidance to live happily within the restrictive limits of liberty.
Thomas Jefferson noted: “Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure, when we have removed their only firm basis — the conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God?”
E. Stanley Jones observed, “If we lose our sense of being led, we become victims of circumstances.”
“Look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him, everything else…” wrote C. S. Lewis.
The framers of our Declaration of Independence left us the legacy of these lines: “With firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
“Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near…” (Isaiah 55:6). This is the sure way to find and enjoy liberty.
Bravado Abounded
Wise and courageous men were willing to potentially forfeit their fortunes and/or pay with their lives to enable the establishment of a nation and government like no other.
In breaking away from England they asserted in the Declaration of Independence their belief that all persons are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.”
Therein they appealed “to the Supreme Judge of the World for the rectitude of our intentions” with “a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence.”
Years lapsed and there came a day when they set about to codify their concept of government in the Constitution. It was intended to guide our nation for all time. It was to be the document by which all laws through the ages should be evaluated.
One area of concern was the desire to avoid establishing a state church like many nations in Europe. Some colonies had already named a specific denomination as its official church.
In Massachusetts a Baptist pastor, Isaac Backus, contended with John Adams, who was to become our second president for freedom from denominational control. As a Baptist he was concerned that the Presbyterian denomination would become the official state church. Doing away with official churches seemed so unrealistic that Adams said, “You might as well expect a change in the solar system as to expect us to give up our established churches.”
Later Thomas Jefferson, considered by some an iconoclast among early presidents in matters of religion, wrote to a body of Baptists intended to insure the government could not give preference to one denomination wrote of “A wall of separation.” Though Jefferson wasn’t involved in the writing of the First Amendment he understood it as intended by those who composed it when they stated, “Congress shall make no laws regarding the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” It was a prohibition against the government establishing any one denomination as the official church of the state. The restriction was on the government, not churches.
Today the application of the amendment is not in keeping with the intent of those who wrote our Constitution and the Amendments. As an indication of what that congress meant look at the agenda items passed by the body. In their first session they appointed a chaplain of the congress and chaplains for the armed forces. It resolved that the inauguration of George Washington should culminate with a worship service at St. Paul’s Chapel, an Anglican Church. On that same day they called on the President to proclaim a day of “public thanksgiving and prayer.”
As confirmation of what Jefferson meant by the wall of separation consider that during his term as president the primary textbooks in public schools were the Bible and Watts Hymnal. He attended the first church service held in the House of Representatives on January 3, 1802, and continued to do so for seven years. The Marine Corps Band played, Sunday School was held in the Supreme Court Building and Treasury Building.
Constitutional Law was for years the basis of all law in America. Former Justice Felix Frankfurter said, “What governs is the Constitution, and not what we have written about it.” In recent years instead of interpreting and making laws in accordance with the intent of those who wrote the Constitution and Amendments some jurists base interpretations on public opinion, present trends, and even laws of other nations with little or no regard to the intended meaning of the document designed to govern us.
As a consequence there has been much change in our culture. By using the current means of establishing laws any change is possible.