In the early 1700's, God held a far higher place in America’s thinking than it does now. Mo recently sent me an article by Stephen Meyer printed in the Boston Globe. Mr. Meyer quoted a letter from Thomas Jefferson’s to Samuel Adams where Jefferson said,

“I hold (without appeal to revelation) that when we take a view of the Universe, in its parts general or particular, it is impossible for the human mind not to perceive and feel a conviction of design, consummate skill, and indefinite power in every atom of its composition.’’

Contemplating everything from the heavenly bodies down to the creaturely bodies of men and animals, Jefferson argued: “It is impossible, I say, for the human mind not to believe that there is, in all this, design, cause and effect, up to an ultimate cause, a fabricator of all things from matter and motion.’’ That was from our Founding Fathers!

Not surprisingly, the Bible was also highly valued in the early years of our nation. When settlers arrived in the New World, they brought three things – English courage, Christian faith, and the English Bible. In fact, the first book printed in the colonies was not a science, math, history, or literature book – rather, the Bay Psalm Book. Public education in this country began in order to teach people the Bible. There was only two books in the classroom – “The New England Primer” (a prayer book), and the English Bible.

Presidents and even Supreme Court justices would comment on how God and the Bible was essential to our nation’s moral foundation.

George Washington, “It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible”

Abraham Lincoln, “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.”

Supreme Court (1892) “Our laws, and our institutions, must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise, and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian.”

It would be unusual not to find a chapel built at the center of university campuses.  But times have changed. Our society views both God and the Bible quite differently than it did two hundred years ago, even differently than it did fifty years ago.

Our elders have arranged a short meeting with three special lessons devoted to building our faith in the midst of a faithless society. It will be on Sunday, August 2nd. 

At 10:00 am,   The Rival Beliefs

At 11:00 am    The Reliable Word

At 5:00 pm.    The Resurrected Jesus.

The guest speaker will be Kenny Chumbley. Here is a short bio on him:

Brother Chumbley was born and raised on farm in Champaign County, IL. He currently lives in hometown of Rantoul, Illinois. He has a BA, from University of Illinois; a MA, from Trinity Theological Seminary. He has done located work in Louisville, KY, Rantoul, IL, Nashville, TN, and is currently in Gibson City, IL; He has done meetings in 25 states, Ethiopia, Scotland, Russia. And is author of a commentary on The Gospel of Matthew and The Gospel Argument for God. He has three children, and three grandchildren.

There will be cards to handout to your friends and family. Look for them in the back! - Mike