“Unto Him who is the Author and Giver of all good, I render sincere and humble thanks for His manifold and unmerited blessings, and especially for our redemption and salvation by His beloved Son.”

Chief Justice Jay was a strong Christian. And so was Samuel Adams, the so-called Father of the Revolution, who said:

“I recommend my soul to that Almighty Being who gave it, and my body I commit to the dust, relying upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.”

Another strong believer was Benjamin Rush, who said:

“Nothing but His blood will wash away my sins. I rely exclusively upon it (Him).”

Other founding fathers who professed Christian belief include John Dickinson, Charles Carroll, and Roger Sherman. Even Benjamin Franklin, perhaps the least religious of the group, acknowledged during the Constitutional Convention:

“I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live the more convincing proof I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of men.”

It is clear from the historical record that the majority of the founding fathers—those responsible for our Declaration, Constitution, and moral foundation—were orthodox Christians.

Consider also the words of John Adams:

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

To paraphrase: the further America moves from its religious roots and the morality contained therein, the more our Constitution loses its authority and becomes, as Adams warned, inadequate for non-religious governance.

But perhaps most importantly, Noah Webster—legislator, judge, educator, and soldier—said:

“The Christian religion is the basis, or rather the source, of all genuine freedom in government. I am persuaded that no civil government of a republican form can exist and be durable in which the principles of Christianity have not a controlling influence.”

The doctrines, theology, and principles of Christianity were not only influential, but essential to the founding of the United States. The Ten Commandments, the wisdom of the prophets, the moral teachings of Christ, and the Pauline epistles formed the spiritual, philosophical, and political basis of this nation.

Yet, the founders were clear: no one would be forced to adopt Christianity. The First Amendment protects this freedom:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”</p