I was sent a video about a man who has painted a beautiful painting depicting Jesus standing in the middle of our founding fathers, and other Americans, as if he was presenting our Constitution himself. I usually just delete such things, as they are only a false perception of "Christianity" being at our nation's roots. But today I had a fire consuming me from the message at church this morning, and I could not stay silent. So I responded to this wonderful young man the following:
Although this is a beautiful painting, it really doesn't due justice to our founding fathers, who were from varied belief systems themselves. They had all come from a country (countries) where religion was forced upon them, and they set forth to create a place where all could worship freely, regardless of their religion. That is why America is known as a free nation. There was to be no one religion associated with our government. If one does a true account of the beliefs of all the founding fathers one would realize that they held sacred their own beliefs (many of whom believed in God, just not the Christian one as organized religions set forth), and in holding their beliefs sacred, not wanting anyone to tell them how or what to believe...this is what their hope was for the Republic of America. Sadly, most Christian's believe that this country was built on Christian beliefs alone...and that all other belief systems are in the wrong. So, ironically we are back once again to be living in country where one religion wants to dominate all others.We are a country full of people from all races, all creeds, all countries....and we love it here because of our freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to be who we want to be. It is time for all of us to lay down our religious beliefs that point out our differences and join hands together, looking for the things we have in common, that we are all citizens of this great nation, America, and BE the peace and love we want to see...to unite for the betterment of our nation.
Unfortunately this painting has been used as a tool to once again state how horrible it is to be 'liberal', to be 'accepting of all', to really be as Christ himself wants us to be....loving to ALL.
Love and Blessings,
Rev. Charlotte
.