The White House Attack on Religion Continues Part Two by David Barton

Today’s liberals and secularists attempt to relegate the effects of America’s Judeo-Christian heritage exclusively to the realm of a personal theological choice, ignoring the fact that Judeo-Christian teachings also encompass a philosophy of living that is directly proportional to the degree of civil liberty enjoyed in a society. Early statesman Dewitt Clinton (1769-1828) correctly recognized that Biblical faith applies not just “to our destiny in the world to come” but also “in reference to its influence on this world,” and therefore must always “be contemplated in [these] two important aspects.” [i]

While today’s post-modern critics refuse to acknowledge the dual aspects of Judeo-Christian faith, America’s Framers wisely recognized and heartily endorsed the influence of those teachings on the civil arena – especially on the formation of America’s unique republican (i.e., elective ) form of government:

The Bible. . . . [i]s the most republican book in the world. [ii] John Adams, signer of the declaration, framer of the bill of rights, u. s. president

I have always considered Christianity as the strong ground of republicanism. . . . It is only necessary for republicanism to ally itself to the Christian religion to overturn all the corrupted political . . . institutions in the world. [iii] Benjamin Rush, signer of the declaration, ratifier of the u. s. constitution

[T]he genuine source of correct republican principles is the Bible, particularly the New Testament or the Christian religion. . . . [A]nd to this we owe our free constitutions of government. [iv] Noah Webster, revolutionary soldier, legislator, judge

They . . . who are decrying the Christian religion . . . are undermining . . . the best security for the duration of free governments. [v] Charles Carroll, signer of the declaration, framer of the bill of rights

[T]o the free and universal reading of the Bible . . . men were much indebted for right views of civil liberty. [vi] Daniel Webster, “defender of the constitution”

Scores of other Framers, statesmen, and courts made similarly succinct declarations about how the Judeo-Christian Scriptures not only shaped republicanism [vii] but also many other unique aspects of our civil culture.

For example, when Benjamin Franklin founded America’s first hospital, he chose the Bible’s story of the Good Samaritan for its logo, with the passage from Luke 10:35 beneath: “Take care of him and I will repay thee.” Significantly, it was Jesus Who not only taught that it was proper to help the hurt (Luke 10:25-37) but He also taught that it was proper to feed the hungry, befriend the stranger, clothe the needy, visit the bedridden, and support the imprisoned (Matthew 25:34-40) – and to do so for strangers (Luke 10:27-37) as well as for enemies (Matthew 9:35-39). His teachings provide the true standard for charitable relief and civil benevolence.

Scriptural teachings were so important to society at large that America’s most famous public school textbooks taught students Biblical teachings such as the Good Samaritan; [viii] and even today, states continue to pass “Good Samaritan” statutes to protect willing volunteers (i.e., Good Samaritans) from legal liability for good-faith assistance efforts. Incontrovertibly, Biblical teaching such as the Good Samaritan, the Golden Rule (“Do unto others and you would have them do unto you” Matthew 7:12), and many others have elevated the culture; and even though these specific teachings are exclusive to Christianity, their primary application is to civil society.

The Framers thus properly recognized Christian teachings as the basis of America’s great civil benevolence – its unprecedented willingness to help others:

Christian benevolence makes it our indispensable duty to lay ourselves out to serve our fellow-creatures to the utmost of our power. [ix] John Adams

[T]he doctrines proclaimed by Jesus and His apostles [include] lessons of peace, of benevolence, of meekness, of brotherly love, [and] of charity. [x] John Quincy Adams, u. s. president

Let the religious element in man’s nature be neglected and he becomes the creature of selfish passion. . . . [T]he cultivation of the religious sentiment . . . incites to general benevolence. [xi] Daniel Webster

Christianity introduce[ed] a better and more enlightened sense of right and justice. . . . It taught the duty of benevolence to strangers. [xii] James Kent, “father of american jurisprudence”

The Christian philosophy, in its tenderness for human infirmities, strongly inculcates principles of . . . benevolence. [xiii] Richard Henry Lee, signer of the declaration, framer of the bill of rights