Christians in Politics: a Conversation with Samuel Adams and John Adams

September 4th, 2007 · No Comments · Politics

Samuel Adams: “He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man…”

Me: Hmmm…so, if we were able to flood our Congress with 535 Billy Graham clones, that might just fix our nation? Oops - sorry I interrupted you, Mr. Adams. Please do continue.

Samuel Adams: “…The sum of it all is, if we would most truly enjoy this gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people.”

Me: Ahhh…I see…so what you’re saying is that it takes more than just good Christian politicians to make an impact on America, right? Well, everybody knows our nation was founded as a Christian nation. Therefore, if we can just get back to the ideas you Founding Fathers had, the original form of government as you envisioned it, seems to me it’d fix everything. Why are you looking at me like that, Mr. President? Where am I going wrong here?

President John Adams: “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

All: Lord, help us.