The Law Class (1 of 1)

Lesson One - Page 6

Many of our greatest national leaders-among them Presidents Washington, Jackson, Lincoln, and Wilson-have recognized the influence of the Bible on our country's development. The plain-spoken Andrew Jackson referred to the Bible as no less than the rock on which our Republic rests. Today our beloved America and, indeed, the world, is facing a decade of enormous challenge. As a people we may well be tested as we have seldom, if ever, been tested before. We will need resources of spirit even more than resources of technology, education, and armaments. There could be no more fitting moment than now to reflect with gratitude, humility, and urgency upon the wisdom revealed to us in the writing that Abraham Lincoln called the best gift God has ever given to man . . . But for it we could not know right from wrong. The Congress of the United States, in recognition of the unique contribution of the Bible in shaping the history and character of this Nation, and so many of its citizens, has by Senate Joint Resolution 165 authorized and requested the President to designate the year 1983 as the Year of the Bible. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, in recog nition of the contributions and influence of the Bible on our Republic and our people, do hereby proclaim 1983 as the Year of the Bible in the United States. I encourage all citizens, each in his or her own way, to re-examine and rediscover its priceless and timeless message. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of February, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and seventh. signature Congress And The Bible Many Liberals and Humanists objected to this law making 1983 a national "The Year of the Bible." The news media gave it almost no coverage at all. Did you read about "The Year of The Bible" in your news paper? Did you hear about it on television? Probably not. Here are a few other almost unknown or unmentioned historical events. May 17, 1776: Congress appointed a day of fasting and prayer so they might "by a sincere repentance and amendment of life, appease God's righteous displeasure, and through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, obtain His pardon and forgiveness." September 11, 1777: Because the domestic supply of Bibles was short, the Continental Congress wrote, directing the Committee of Commerce to

import (from Europe) 20,000 copies of the Bible, the great political text book of the patri ots ... The Congress also authorized chaplains to be in the Continental Army. General Washington had chaplains appointed in each regiment. What did Congress call, the great political text book of the patriots?) September 10, 1782: Because of the difficulties experienced in importing Bibles from Europe, Congress approved and recommended an edition of the Bible printed by Robert Aiken of Philadelphia. Congress called it a "neat edition of the Holy Scriptures for use in schools." "Whereupon, RESOLVED THAT the United States in Congress assembled . . . recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States, and hereby authorize him to publish this recommendation in the manner he (Robert Aiken) shall think proper." The United States of America Christian From Its Beginning! The United States was founded by Christians as a Christian nation. The vast majority of its citizens are Christian. Our national motto is, "In God We Trust," our national hymn is, "God Of Our Fathers." The fathers are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob of the Bible. We Christians pledge allegiance to the United States of America as One Nation Under God. Our Constitution begins with, "We the people of the United States . . ." Article Seven mentions, "the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred Eighty seven . . ." Who is our Lord mentioned by "we the people?" Few people know, and it is no longer taught in our public schools, that eleven of the thirteen original colonies gave religious tests for public office. These State governments required faith in Jesus Christ and the Bible as a basic qualification for holding public office. MASSACHUSETTS required this declaration: I believe the Christian religion and have a firm per suasion of its truth. NEW JERSEY declared "that no Protestant inhabi tant of this colony shall be denied any civil right merely on account of his religious principles, but that all persons professing a belief in the faith of any Protestant sect, who shall demean themselves peacefully under the government as hereby estab lished, shall be capable of being elected into any office of profit or trust, or being a member of either branch of the legislature."

Ten Commandments Bible Law Course

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Sovereignty Education and Defense Ministry (SEDM), http://sedm.org