The Patriot Post - Our Founders Were Forthright About Faith

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The Patriot Post - Our Founders Were Forthright About Faith
From The Federalist Patriot
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Our Founders Were Forthright About Faith
By Mark Alexander · Thursday, December 22, 2011
America's Christian Heritage v Season's PC

"The Commander in Chief directs that divine Service be performed every Sunday at 11 oClock in those Brigades to which there are Chaplains; those which have none to attend the places of worship nearest to them. It is expected that Officers of all Ranks will by their attendence set an Example to their men. While we are zealously performing the duties of good Citizens and soldiers we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of Religion. To the distinguished Character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to add the more distinguished Character of Christian. The signal Instances of providential Goodness which we have experienced and which have now almost crowned our labours with complete Success, demand from us in a peculiar manner the warmest returns of Gratitude and Piety to the Supreme Author of all Good." --George Washington, General Orders, (May 2nd, 1778)

Each year, our family observes with due respect and reverence six national days of recognition: Patriots Day1, Memorial Day2, Independence Day3, Constitution Day4, Veterans Day5 and Thanksgiving6.

However, the most hallowed religious observance in our family, and the one with the most deeply rooted traditions, is Christmas. It is not a commercial feeding frenzy for us, but a quiet and reverent time of rest and celebration of the birth of Christ, punctuated by extended family festivities.

Unfortunately there is a perennial societal tension now associated with Christmas. If not for its dire implications for the future of Liberty, the seasonal contortions over "non-offensive greetings" would be humorous. The Left insists the word "Christmas" violates the phony "Wall of Separation7" doctrine if a government employee deigns to utter it within earshot, and that it is too ethnocentric for corporate use.

Some years ago, The Patriot Post coined the greeting "Happy Christmahanakwamadan." We did so in response to the fashionable PC crowd's ludicrous demands for "inclusive faith neutral" greetings. We also published our legal department disclaimer8 outlining the terms of acceptance for the greeting as a counterpoint to retailers vying for your business who have instituted policies discouraging or outright prohibiting9 any mention of "Christmas." We do not challenge private sector employer's right to dictate corporate policies on such matters.

However, the ongoing campaign to censor Christmas from public forums is another matter.

For example, this year there were disturbing new guidelines advising members of Congress and government employees that it would be unethical and even illegal to use specific religious greetings in conversation and correspondence with constituents and service recipients. While Virginia Rep. Scott Rigell recorded his rejection10 of those guidelines, this is an ominous development and foreboding precedent.

Ironically, it's often these same censors who take shortcuts such as wishing folks "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Xmas." Perhaps they're unaware that the word holiday is derived from "Holy Day," and that Xmas is derived from combining the Greek letter "chi," denoting "Christ," with the Old English word for "Mass."

Meanwhile, over in the Executive Branch, Barack Hussein Obama recently found Jesus11 when dedicating the 60-foot-tall 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree. Of course, this was only in response to polls indicating that Christians give Obama his lowest job approval ratings. Turns out that Jesus Christ is conspicuously absent from the Capitol Christmas Tree in the form of any ornaments. The tree is adorned, however, with prominently placed handmade ornaments paying adoring tribute to Obama. When our colleagues at Media Research Center inquired about the lack of Christian ornaments, the Architect of the Capitol office responded, "There may be ornaments like those you describe near the top of the tree, or they could have been obscured or moved due to wind or weather."

No question there is a lot of "wind" around the White House these days.

For the record, civilian Inspectors General and military JAGs cause a lot of heartburn for millions of government and military personnel, who must constantly check their comments because they will lose jobs or advancements in rank because of any public remark that might be construed to advocate a particular theological viewpoint. However, there is no basis in our authentic Constitution12 for such stringent expurgation, and that would be the same venerable document that outlines the Liberties both civilian and military government employs pledge to "support and defend13."

Our Founders, the framers of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution, had no such concerns about public expressions of faith, as none was warranted. Conversely, they were bold about promoting Christianity and speaking about their own faith.

Historian Peter Lillback, author of "Sacred Fire," an exhaustive scholarly treatise on George Washington, notes that it is only in recent years, with the searchable digital publication of our Founders' writings, that we get an accurate picture of their faith, and expression of same.

Lillback writes, "Washington referred to himself frequently using the words 'ardent,' 'fervent,' 'pious,' and 'devout.' There are over one hundred different prayers composed and written by Washington in his own hand. He described himself as one of the deepest men of faith of his day when he confessed to a clergyman, 'No Man has a more perfect Reliance on the alwise, and powerful dispensations of the Supreme Being than I have nor thinks his aid more necessary.' Although he never once used the word 'Deist' in his voluminous writings, he often mentioned religion, Christianity, and the Gospel. He spoke of Christ as 'the divine Author of our blessed religion.' He wrote of 'the blessed religion revealed in the Word of God.' He encouraged seekers to learn 'the religion of Jesus Christ.' He even said to his soldiers, 'To the distinguished Character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to add the more distinguished Character of Christian.'"

Believe it or not, Washington did not need to consult pollsters or focus groups, as General or President, before issuing proclamations of faith. He spoke them from his heart, just as most of our Founders did.