bbcovert@juno.com

The Independence Day celebration is a great time to learn about the Christian heritage of the United States. If you attended a public school - as I did - your education may not have focused attention on the religious fervor of our Founding Fathers. This summer I’ve been excited to learn of their belief and trust in God and His Son, Jesus. Take a break from the picnics and sparklers to share some food for thought with your children!

Did you know that many preachers enlisted in the Revolutionary War? One was the Reverend John Rossburgh, Chaplain in the American army. The enemy overtook him and prepared to kill him. As he was about to die, he prayed that God would forgive the enemy! Another clergyman, John Witherspoon, was one of the fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Did you know that when the war first began, the cry, "No king but Jesus," was heard throughout the colonies? My teachers never mentioned that piece of information.

Thomas Paine published a booklet called Common Sense in 1776. I knew that from history class. However, they did not teach us that Paine said that America should be founded on the law of God!

Patrick Henry is another well-known patriot from our history books. He was a member of the Continental Congress. I was both surprised and thrilled to learn that he said, "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!"

The men who signed the Declaration of Independence knew that the British King would label them as traitors. That was a crime punishable by death. It took great courage to stand for what they believed was right - to fight against tyranny and for freedom. Of the fifty-six men who put their signatures on the Declaration of Independence, five of them were captured and tortured to death. Twelve lost their homes. Thomas Nelson Jr. lost his home in the battle of Yorktown. He gave General George Washington permission to open fire on his home after a British General took control of it. The cause was more important than his personal property. Nine others fought and died in the war.

Noah Webster said, "Education is useless without the Bible."

George Washington said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible." He also said, "What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ."

The times have changed. Our Christian heritage has been ignored and forgotten. We have the opportunity to correct this wrong. We must teach our youth the truth about our country’s birth. God blessed America back then. God can bless America again if we are faithful and have the courage to speak up.

Happy homeschooling!

Copyright 2005 by Brenda B. Covert