Thomas Jefferson
[Introduction]
[Separation of Church and State]
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We all
know that Thomas Jefferson wrote the
Declaration of Independence, was the third President of the United
States, started the University of Virginia and donated his library to
establish the Library of Congress. He also wrote the words "A Wall of
Separation between Church and State." Because of this last quote many
people have come to think that Jefferson was an anti-Christian
agnostic, or advocated that religion be barred from the government.
But what did Jefferson really believe about the Christian faith and its
relation to our government? The late Dr. D. James Kennedy
made some interesting
observations about the life of Thomas Jefferson, in his new book "What
if America were a Christian Nation Again?"
- Thomas
Jefferson was raised in an
Anglican family.
- He went
to a Christian school and was
taught by Christian pastors.
- Jefferson
attended church regularly
his
whole life.
- As an
adult he served on the Vestry of
the Anglican church.
- He
attended the Presbyterian,
Methodist, and Baptist churches.
- Jefferson
regularly tithed to the
church.
- While
Washington & Adams ended
their Presidential Papers
with "In the Year of our Lord", Jefferson ended his Presidential Papers
with "In the year of our Lord Christ 18__".
- As
President he attended the largest
church in the nation which held their services in the House Chambers of
the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
- Jefferson
was not pleased with the
music, so he ordered the Marine Band to come to church on Sundays.
Mark A. Beliles has assembled an impressive list of
some of
Jefferson's actions as president.
- Promoted
legislative and military
chaplains.
- Established
a national seal using a
biblical symbol.
- Included
the word "God" in our
national
motto.
- Established
official days of fasting
and prayer at the state level.
- Punished
Sabbath breakers.
- Punished
marriages contrary to
biblical
law.
- Punished
irreverent soldiers.
- Protected
the property of churches.
- Required
that oaths be phrased by the
words "So help me God" and be sworn on the Bible.
- Granted
land to Christian schools.
- Allowed
government property and
facilities to be used for worship.
- Used
the Bible and nondenominational
religious instruction in the public schools. He was involved in three
different school districts, and the plan in each required
that the Bible be taught in our public schools.
- Allowed
and encouraged clergymen to
hold public office.
- Funded
religious books for public
libraries.
- Funded
salaries for missionaries.
- Exempted
churches from taxation.
- Established
professional schools of
theology.
- Wrote
treaties requiring other nations
to guarantee religious freedom, including religious speeches and prayer
in official ceremonies.
You will
notice that in many cases
Federal Treasury money was used to support churches.
Engraved on the
walls of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C.
are the words of our third President: "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?"
Jefferson wrote this warning on September 6,
1819: "The
Constitution . . . is a mere thing of wax in the
hands of the judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any form
they please."
It
is very evident
from the record that
Thomas Jefferson believed in God and felt that religion should play an
important role in the government, and that government could and should
support churches. Would Jefferson who added the word "God"
to
the National Motto, agree with the 9th Circuit Court, who stated that
the word "God" in the Pledge of Alegance is Unconstitutional? The
War that the Supreme Court has
launched on people of faith, Jefferson would be totally against.
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