Christian founders in the US?

Hi guys (and gals, DonnaMarie!, TexRN, etc )

I got tired of the debate over the idea that the founders of the USA were perfectly christian, through and through, each and every one. I saw this as a sideshow issue, distracting us from immediate issues. For example, it might take people away from talking about Jesus and evangelism, moving them to arguing with non-believers over "this is a Christian country." The Puritans weren't the only people who sailed here from Europe.

David Barton gives presentations and arguments that the Founders were all Christians in the sense of Reformed Chrstianity (not Joel Osteen/Rick Joyner, but more like John MacArthur, Mark Driscoll, and John Piper). He presents out-of-context, misleading "evidence."

If this topic has ever been of interest to you, or if you have been annoyed by someone at church pushing us into an Americanism cult, then check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU24fJ4NQxo

The film is 3 hours. So, either make poppedcorn and plan a potty break, or break it into sections. I recommend taking a break after about 45 minutes or your brain will overfill and it'll become a senseless drone.

The presentation is put together by Chris Pinto. Pinto's early work has some difficulties in it, but he's improved his research into different topics since his first two films. This is his 6th or 7th. He states his main point right after the opening title. The best parts are where he shows how people get mislead (about 1/2way through) and then shows the rest of the letters that Barton is _effectively_ misquoting. To understand what he's saying in the second half, it's good to make sure you understand his explanation of Jefferson's version of nominal Christianity.

This youtube posting may be illegal. After seeing the film, if you found it useful, consider buying it. Do a search. It's available on several sites. I'm planning on buying in a few paychecks.

I hope this is useful to helping understand our world (wise as serpents). Thanks for reading.

[NateR]

Originally Posted by Conrad

Reformed Chrstianity (not Joel Osteen/Rick Joyner, but more like John MacArthur, Mark Driscoll, and John Piper).

Not sure what you are trying to say about John MacArthur, Mark Driscoll and John Piper. Are you saying that these men are NOT true Christian teachers? I don't know much about John Piper, but I would have to strongly disagree with you about MacArthur and Driscoll, especially MacArthur.

[VCURamFan]

Originally Posted by NateR

Not sure what you are trying to say about John MacArthur, Mark Driscoll and John Piper. Are you saying that these men are NOT true Christian teachers? I don't know much about John Piper, but I would have to strongly disagree with you about MacArthur and Driscoll, especially MacArthur.

I took it to mean that he was supporting them. Reformed in the sense of Martin Luther & the Reformation away from Catholocism & back to biblical Christianity.

[NateR]

Originally Posted by VCURamFan

I took it to mean that he was supporting them. Reformed in the sense of Martin Luther & the Reformation away from Catholocism & back to biblical Christianity.

I have heard John MacArthur described as a "Reformed Baptist" before and I've always understood that to be a good thing. I listen to his sermons a lot and I think he is very Biblically sound in his doctrine.

Anyways, I'm about half an hour into this video and I'm currently putting as much stock in it as the average History Channel documentary. In other words, I'm not taking anything at face value; but I'm not going to totally write it off either.

I for one do not believe that every single Founding Father was a perfect Christian. In fact, I don't believe any of them were perfect Christians. Like anything else, I'm sure that many of them were just using Christianity to advance their own political agendas.

[VCURamFan]

Originally Posted by NateR

I have heard John MacArthur described as a "Reformed Baptist" before and I've always understood that to be a good thing. I listen to his sermons a lot and I think he is very Biblically sound in his doctrine.

Yes, I agree. I haven't heard of the other two, but I have heard/read Piper's stuff & he's solid. IMO, to be termed a "Reformed _____" typically means one who wants to hold to the five solas Luther & Calvin & the rest put forth (sola scriptura, sola fide, sola gratia, solus Christus & soli Deo gloria).

Originally Posted by NateR

Anyways, I'm about half an hour into this video and I'm currently putting as much stock in it as the average History Channel documentary. In other words, I'm not taking anything at face value; but I'm not going to totally write it off either.

I for one do not believe that every single Founding Father was a perfect Christian. In fact, I don't believe any of them were perfect Christians. Like anything else, I'm sure that many of them were just using Christianity to advance their own political agendas.

Yeah, I haven't really devled deeply into this topic, but that sounds probable. It'd be wonderful to believe that some were pure, but history has long taught us that is rarely the case when it comes to politics.

I did a lot of work on this subject while get my MA. I have seen this movie before and I have heard Barton before. The truth is actually in the middle. Many founders were followers. In fact in most states following the birth of the nation one had to be involved in church in order to get elected. In fact more than half the states had state ran churches. The founders were primarily of the reformed theology (Presybeterian and such) There were some who were deist and some who were agnostic. Of the original signers of the DOI all but 2 were active in their church. However as we all know being active in church makes you a followers about as much as working in a garage makes you a car.

So take the video and anything you hear from Barton with a grain of salt and realize they have a personal agenda and a per-disposed hypothesis. When doing historiography it is very easy to read the sources that fit your views and ignore the one that do not. Both of them did that. I got to read the works of just about every player in the founding of America and I learned a lot of what I thought was true was not so much.

Originally Posted by NateR

Not sure what you are trying to say about John MacArthur, Mark Driscoll and John Piper. Are you saying that these men are NOT true Christian teachers? I don't know much about John Piper, but I would have to strongly disagree with you about MacArthur and Driscoll, especially MacArthur.

Hi Nate,

No, you got me wrong about MacArthur and Driscoll (& Piper). Sorry I was unclear. I was saying that they are true Chrstian teachers.

MCURamFan got what I meant. Thanks.