25-0611wc - Detailed Summary

Scott begins by addressing a common claim: that the United States was not founded as a Christian nation but as a secular one, like others. He asserts that this narrative is false and promises that the lesson will provide evidence to refute it. The focus is on demonstrating the Christian roots of America’s founding through primary sources, particularly the words of the nation’s founding fathers.

This section delves into the core argument of the lesson: that America’s founding was deeply rooted in a Christian worldview. Dr. Tackett introduces Lesson 10, "The American Experiment: Stepping Stones," which remains in the "southwest sector" of the Truth Project’s conceptual compass, focusing on the design of the state. The lesson examines the biblical role of the state as a divinely appointed institution, drawing from Romans 13:4, which describes the state’s responsibility to administer justice, punish evil, and promote goodness.

Dr. Tackett establishes three ground rules for the study: (1) America will not be deified, (2) the founding fathers will not be deified, and (3) a final rule to be revealed later. He emphasizes the uniqueness of the American experiment, noting that it was a rare opportunity for people with a strong Christian worldview to design a government from scratch, aligned with biblical principles outlined in the previous lesson.

Historical evidence is presented through the New England Primer, a widely used colonial-era textbook second only to the Bible in popularity, which reflects the pervasive influence of scripture on early American life. Statements from key figures like Benjamin Rush, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, Charles Carroll, Noah Webster, and the founders of Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia Universities further illustrate this biblical worldview. Although not all were practicing Christians, these leaders agreed with John Adams that the success of America’s republican government depended on the virtue and morality of its people, rooted in Christianity. They believed the state must be accountable to a higher ethical standard, referred to as “natural law” or the “law of nature’s God,” to avoid the human rights abuses seen in Europe.

However, Dr. Tackett warns that America is drifting from these principles, partly due to the influence of Darwinian evolutionary theory in law and education. He cites Christopher Langdell, Dean of Harvard Law School in 1869, who argued that law is not based on a transcendent standard but is a fluid, evolving set of human ideas. Similarly, Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes described law as a reflection of society’s purposes at a given time, granting the state authority to define ethical norms. John Dewey, known as the architect of modern education, furthered this shift by rejecting God and traditional religion, claiming there is no soul or need for religious foundations. These developments, according to Dr. Tackett, have led to America forgetting its biblical roots and an expansion of state power.

Dr. Tackett frames the erosion of America’s Christian foundations as part of a broader “cosmic battle” most intensely fought in the social realm. He warns that the American experiment risks failure unless deliberate steps are taken to preserve its biblical principles. This responsibility, he argues, falls primarily on Christians, who must heed the call to prayer and repentance found in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14. The third ground rule is revealed here: Christians should not blame non-Christians for the nation’s drift but instead focus on their own role in salvaging the experiment. This section underscores the urgency of Christian engagement to maintain America’s founding ideals.

The final section reinforces the idea that the American experiment was initiated by Christians operating from a biblical worldview and must be sustained by believers who care deeply about their country. Dr. Tackett highlights that the structure of the U.S. government, with its three branches, is directly inspired by a passage in Isaiah 33:22, a point Scott notes as surprising and significant. Scott challenges the audience to consider whether they were taught about the Christian influences on America’s founding in school, asserting that claims denying the founders’ Christian intentions are false. He cites their explicit references to Christianity, refuting accusations that they were pagans or that their concept of “religion” was vague.

Dr. Tackett emphasizes that the American experiment’s success hinges on believers’ active participation. He encourages the audience to examine the founders’ actual words, which reveal their commitment to a government grounded in Christian principles. The lesson concludes with a call to action, urging Christians to recognize the truth of America’s founding and work to preserve it.