Falwell Confidential
Date: March 25, 2004
From: Jerry Falwell
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GOD RESTS IN THE HANDS OF THE COURT
I recently examined T.H. Matteson's engraving depicting the first prayer in
Congress, September 24, 1774, in Philadelphia's Carpenters Hall. In the
illustration, Jacob Duche kneels at a podium, his eyes raised toward heaven
as he recites his legendary prayer. Members of Congress, many of them on
their knees, humbly participate in the beseeching of God to grant His
blessings on the young nation.
While the etching is an embellished account of the event, Mr. Duche's
earnest prayer reveals the godly fervor that inhabited that august body that
day:
"Lord our Heavenly Father, High and Mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords,
who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with
power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and
Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech thee, on these our American
States, who have fled to thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown
themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent
on Thee, to Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to
Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support, which Thou alone
canst give; take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care;
give them wisdom in Council and valor in the field; defeat the malicious
designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of
their Cause and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, of own
unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the
weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle! Be Thou
present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable
assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation.
That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and
peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and
piety, prevail and flourish amongst Thy people. Preserve the health of
their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions
they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for
them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to
come. All this we ask In the Name and through the merits of Jesus Christ,
Thy Son and our Savior. Amen."
Fast forward now nearly 230 years to present-day America, where the U.S.
Supreme Court on Wednesday heard arguments on whether the diminutive phrase
"under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance is a violation of the so-called
"separation of church and state." We have reached this low point in our
nation's history because a federal appeals court actually ruled last year in
favor of an egocentric atheist named Michael Newdow who abhors our freedoms
of religious expression.
The members of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals conveniently ignored
the obvious fact that this nation was founded by men of deep and abiding
religious convictions, men who valued public expressions of faith, even
within the hallowed walls of the early Congress. Sadly, many modern-day
jurists - court jesters, if you will - are on a campaign to sanction
ever-changing politically-correct ideals instead of following the rule of
law. There is literally no telling what this type of legal belief system
could ultimately bring about.
Mathew Staver of the Orlando, Fla.-based Liberty Counsel filed an amicus
brief at the Court in the Ten Commandments case. The brief draws the
Court's attention to the vast reservoir of public acknowledgments of God in
our nation's revered history. Mr. Staver told me that the brief traces many
presidential proclamations throughout the years that have unequivocally
alluded to God and invoked His blessings on America. The brief also traces
the inaugural addresses of every president - from George Washington to
George W. Bush - and lists each time they acknowledged God in their
addresses.
Additionally, he notes that the founding documents of America acknowledge
God - from Virginia's first charter to the Manifesto of the Continental
Congress. The brief describes how every state constitution acknowledges
God; it also argues that God is the foundation of our freedom and our laws.
Here are just a couple of examples of presidents and founders invoking God:
President John F. Kennedy, in his inaugural address, eloquently stated, "The
rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand
of God." Benjamin Franklin wrote, "Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us
by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God." Thomas
Jefferson, whose "separation of church and state" metaphor has been
manipulated in order to advance the stark secularist agenda, exhorted, "[It
is] God who gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought
secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds
of the people that these liberties are a Gift of God?"
Mr. Staver said, "The phrase 'under God' in the Pledge in no way establishes
a religion. American history is a religious history. When the Court views
the long-standing history that illuminates our common heritage, they should
easily uphold the phrase in the Pledge of Allegiance."
Our Founders would have had no tolerance for Mr. Newdow or modern jurists
who purposely ignore our nation's evident history of reverencing God. I
don't know what kind of America they are trying to create, but it is
certainly not the America envisioned by Washington, Madison, Jefferson,
Franklin, or any other of the noble men who labored to ensure that religious
liberty was a key component of this nation.
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From Josh:I actually have been trying to get ahold of this dvd from the library, but they don't have it, I discovered...I looked on e bay, but it's no cheaper than buying at from the store, and I really don't want to spend any money on a DVD right now, but I'd like to see the film.
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THE GOSPEL OF JOHN DVD/VHS IS A FANTASTIC EASTER RESOURCE
As I shared with you a few months back, THE GOSPEL OF JOHN the film made a
tremendous impression on me. It is the perfect complement to THE PASSION OF
THE CHRIST, as it fully explains Christ's glory. This is a must-have movie
for every Christian because it is a family-friendly film that will serve to
deepen the understanding of Christ for those who already believe. It is
also a powerful education tool to bring non-believers into the community of
God and should be used as a treasured resource this Easter.
With the heightened awareness brought on by THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, I
recommend THE GOSPEL OF JOHN this Easter. Order the DVD and VHS now at:
1-800-851-4170 or
http://www.gospelofjohnthefilm.com/links/link.asp?AFDS3392S=110406&AFDS3392P=store/FeaturedItems.aspx