Citizen Religious Duty

by Susan Snelling

There are many duties of an American citizen that the Founding Fathers wrote about. One of those was religious duties. The Founding Fathers thought it important for the republican form of government that the citizens worship God, both publically and privately. And not just any god, but as John Adams and other Founders believed in, the Creator of the universe. The God of the Bible. This religious duty requirement for an enduring constitutional republic has not changed. Biblical principles never change. The principles that undergird this representative republic do not change.

John Adams wrote in “Thoughts on Government in 1776”: It is the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the SUPREME BEING, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping GOD in the manner most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession or sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship.

By “religious profession and sentiments,” Adams was not referring to any other religion than that which worships God, the Creator. Religious profession and sentiments here refer to denominations and factions of the Christian religion, for the Founders expressed that America’s government would not work under any other religion. Notice what is contained in that quote by Adam is also in the First Amendment to the Constitution in the Bill of Rights regarding the freedom of religion: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”  Under the umbrella of Christianity, all religions have been offered freedom of worship in America.

Patrick Henry, one of those who ratified the Constitution wrote: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of  Jesus Christ, this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” John Witherspoon, a member of the clergy, had a profound impact on the Founding Fathers and the formation of the American government.

On May 17, 1776, at Princeton University where he was president, he preached a sermon titled, “The Dominion of Providence over the Passions of Men:”

While we give praise to God, the Supreme Disposer of all events, for His interposition on our behalf, let us guard against the dangerous error of trusting in, or boasting of, an arm of flesh … If your cause is just, if your principles are pure, and if your conduct is prudent, you need not fear the multitude of opposing hosts. 

What follows from this?

That he is the best friend to American liberty, who is most sincere and active in promoting true and undefiled religion, and who sets himself with the greatest firmness to bear down profanity and immorality of every kind.

 Whoever is an avowed enemy of God, I scruple not to call him an enemy of his country.

According to Witherspoon, a noted Founding Father, worship of God was key to the success of America as a free nation. And for Witherspoon to call him an enemy of America who was against God is a powerful statement. It is something to consider, that so many Founding Fathers expressed Christian principles and sentiments, and provided for the freedom of religion in the Bill of Rights, with the idea that Christianity was the prevailing religion and protective umbrella under which all have the freedom to worship as they choose. However, the citizen religious duty is to worship God, the Creator of the universe, on whose principles the nation was built and the Constitution established.

Is it any wonder the assault on Christianity today, with a focus on robbing the youth of their innocence?  Christianity in practice is the biggest threat to the enemy. Those who are against God are against America. It is time citizens of this great nation take their duties seriously.