What was “who” thinking? The founding fathers of our Nation and framers of our Constitution.

Constitution Day is September 17 – the day in 1787, when the Constitution of the United States was adopted. What were they thinking, those who drafted the document and all who signed it? And how should we view and understand the Constitution today?

Current debate pits two views/philosophies against each other. Originalism vs Living Constitutionalism. At risk of over simplifying the two: Originalism is a theory of the interpretation of texts, including the text of the Constitution. Originalists believe that the constitutional text ought to be given the original meaning that it would have had at the time that it was adopted. The original meaning of constitutional texts can be discerned from other documents of the framers (including such things as personal diaries, correspondence with others, dictionaries, grammar books, other legal documents), as well as their knowledge of history up to that point in time.

Living Constitutionalists believe that the meaning of the constitutional text changes over time, as social attitudes change. Racial segregation is a case in point.

Add to all this the debate over whether or not this country of ours was founded as a Christian nation…

To get at these matters, I believe it fair and reasonable to ask: What were they thinking? Those who drafted and signed the Constitution of the United States on September 17, 1787, what were they thinking back then, and should this impact our view of the Constitution today?

What were they thinking? I think it best to go back to the beginning: the very first governing document of the Plymouth Colony, the Mayflower Compact. It was written by the Separatists, fleeing from religious persecution by King James of Great Britain.

The Mayflower Compact was signed aboard ship on November 11, 1620 by most adult men. Signing the covenant were 41 of the ship’s 101 passengers, while the Mayflower was anchored in what is now Provincetown Harbor, near the tip of Cape Cod.

The Compact reads: In the name of God. Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the honor of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience.

Why did these Pilgrims cross the Atlantic to come to our eastern shores? They came for many reasons, but primarily “for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith…” This was our beginning, and the clearly expressed intent of the “Saints” who braved coming here.

The Mayflower Compact was the very first governing document of what would later become the United States of America. Not all aboard the Mayflower were Christian; but all who signed the Compact were united in their pursuit: “for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith.”

Fast forward to Philadelphia, September 17, 1787, and those who signed the Constitution of the United States. What were they thinking? No doubt the Mayflower Compact, among other things relevant. The intent of the founding fathers was not to establish a Church State, but most certainly a nation grounded in and governed by Biblical principles. How do we know? We know what they were thinking, and what their intent was, simply by what they themselves had written, expressing the thoughts and intentions of their hearts.

Consider the following:

Is it not that in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? – that it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer’s mission upon earth? – that it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity?

The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people…it is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
                                                                                                              John Quincy Adams

 

Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society.

Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can exist apart from religious principle.

It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors.
                                                                                                              George Washington

 

The God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.
                                                                                                              Thomas Jefferson

 

All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.

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

In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed.
                                                                                                              Noah Webster

 

As a side note, the founders and framers believed that public education should be established in order to teach children (in these schools) the very (biblical/Christian) principles upon which our nation was founded, that there might be a united understanding of our country’s founding.

The only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government is the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by means of the Bible.
                                                                                                              Benjamin Rush

 

Cursed be all that learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ.

Before any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe.
                                                                                                              James Madison

 

I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that “except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel.
                                                                                                              Benjamin Franklin

 

Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual… Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us.
                                                                                                              John Hancock

 

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.

We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus!
                                                                                                              John Adams

 

For my part, I sincerely esteem the Constitution, a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests.
                                                                                                              Alexander Hamilton

 

To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe that degree of civil freedom, and political and social happiness which mankind now enjoys… Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government, and all blessings which flow from them, must fall with them.
                                                                                                              Jedidiah Morse

 

Righteousness alone can exalt [America] as a nation. Reader! Whoever thou art, remember this; and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others… The great pillars of all government and of social life: I mean virtue, morality, and religion. This is the armor, my friend, and this alone, that renders us invincible.
                                                                                                              Patrick Henry

 

Not all, but many of the founding fathers came from Christian backgrounds which, no doubt, influenced their beliefs and principles, which lead to the content of the Constitution. Religion (the Christian faith) was clearly a part of our country’s heritage. These same principles and beliefs were foundational in the documents and events that founded this great country. We can gather from their own words that our country was established as a nation under God. In drafting the Constitution, the framers clearly understood the history of government: what worked and what didn’t, what they wanted and what they didn’t want; and they clearly understood the principles of the Almighty God and His Holy Word, namely “Blessed is the nation whose God is Lord” (Psalm 33:12); that “Righteousness exalts the nation…” (Proverbs 14:34); and that it is God who raises up and brings down (Psalm 75:4-7; Daniel 2:21).

On September 17 we celebrate the adoption of our U.S. Constitution…

We also have an election coming soon… For whom should we cast our vote? All legal citizens should cast their vote, not based on personality but on policy. Which candidate(s) policies most align with the Constitution? That depends, I guess, on which philosophy one holds: Originalism or Living Constitutionalism. No candidate is perfect; but which one’s policies move the nation closer to the content and intent of the Constitution (for their Pledge of Office is to uphold the Constitution…and govern by it)? It’s important, therefore, that we not only have a good understanding of our Constitution, but what the founders and framers where thinking.

What were they thinking? Now you know, at least in part. What now are you thinking?

Pastor Greg Schram, Pointman
2 Kingdoms Ministry