Resource 1776 CELEBRATE FREEDOM

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Three Inside Panels feature a field of stars in the background. If you look closely you can see a subtle reverse image of the constitution faded in the background and featuring the words "We the People."

One more inside panels, back panel and front panel. The last panels feature the gospel presentation in the words of our founding fathers. The attractive front panel with the title "Celebrate Freedom" makes this tract easy to distribute, especially during July Fourth Celebrations and other patriotic events. Christians are proud to give it away and Americans are happy to receive it.

Following is the actual text from "Celebrate Freedom."

From the Mayflower Compact to the Constitution and beyond, the Christian faith has been the source of inspiration upon which the greatest country in the world was established.

The success of the Constitution of the United States highlights the influence of Christianity on American freedom. It almost failed ratification. The pivotal voice in favor of the Constitution was its architect, James Madison. Today we celebrate him as the Father of the Constitution. However, he nearly lost the opportunity to lead his home state of Virginia to vote in favor of it. It wasn’t until he garnered the support of the well respected Baptist preacher, John Leland, that Madison gained enough support to maintain his seat. Without his influence Virginia would not have ratified it. Neither would he have had sufficient influence to help Hamilton lead New York to ratify the Constitution.

Aware that the survival of the Constitution was at stake, James Gordon Jr. wrote to Madison urging him to confer with Leland and other influential preachers who opposed the Constitution. Madison heeded this advice and promptly met with Pastor Leland who expressed his concern for religious liberty. In many localities preachers had been beaten and imprisoned because they had not submitted their consciences to the locally established religions. There were no guarantees in the proposed Constitution that the religious persecutions already experienced on a local level would not grow worse under a federalized government. Madison agreed. The proposed Constitution did not have sufficient safeguards in place. He would advance the cause of a Bill of Rights.

Madison later stated, "It is my sincere opinion that the constitution ought to be revised. It should contain all essential rights, particularly the rights of conscience in the fullest latitude…". Leland threw his support to Madison. Others followed suit. Madison retained his seat and was able to advance the cause of the new Constitution. Both Virginia and New York narrowly ratified it by a favorable vote of 53%. A National Archives article entitled "A More Perfect Union" gives Madison credit for saving the Constitution from certain demise.

"[T]hanks largely to the efforts of Madison and Hamilton in their own states, Virginia and New York both ratified while adding their own amendments....By the fall of 1788 Madison had been convinced that not only was a bill of rights necessary to ensure acceptance of the Constitution but that it would have positive effects….Madison’s support of the bill of rights was of critical significance....By December 15, 1791, three-fourths of the states had ratified the 10 amendments now so familiar to Americans as the "Bill of Rights."

If it were not for the Christian influence of James Madison and a Baptist preacher’s concern for religious liberty the Constitution would never have been ratified. Neither would we have the First Amendment guarantee:

Although Leland was concerned about the freedom of American citizens, he was even more concerned about their souls. Listen to him express his passion to reach the lost.

"Now, for the first time, I knew what it was to travail in birth for the conversion of sinners. The words of Rachel to Jacob were the words of my heart to God; ‘Give me children or else I die.’ One night, as I lay on my bed weeping and praying, I thought if it was spring instead of autumn, I would spend all my time at the feet of Jesus in prayer, and at the feet of sinners, praying them to be reconciled to God."

Preachers weren’t the only ones whose faith was important. The majority of our founding fathers themselves, like Madison, had faith in Jesus Christ. Their faith was the foundation upon which all their values were built. They often spoke of their personal faith in Jesus Christ.

They Believed The Gospel.

"Our Redeemer commanded his apostles to preach the Gospel to every creature: to that end it was necessary that they should be enabled to understand and to preach it correctly, and to demonstrate its Divine origin and institution by incontestable proofs." ~ JOHN JAY

They Knew the Sinfulness of Man

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

"The history of the world is little else than the history of human guilt….Nothing is more plain from scripture, or better supported by daily experience, than that man by nature is in fact incapable of recovery without the power of God specially interposed." ~ John Witherspoon

They Recognized the Cost of Sin

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." Revelation 20:14

"See thy fellow-creatures pale and lifeless; their bodies mangled-their souls snatched into eternity-unexpecting – alas! Perhaps unprepared!" ~ Alexander Hamilton

They Believed Salvation was a Gift

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

"I believe that God…did send his own Son to become man, die in the room and stead of sinners, and thus to lay a foundation for the offer of pardon and salvation to all mankind, so as all may be saved who are willing to accept the gospel offer." ~ Roger Sherman

They Believed in the Resurrection

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10

"The resurrection of the Savior of mankind is commemorated by keeping the first day of the week not only as a certain memorial of His first coming in a state of humiliation but the positive evidence of His future coming in glory."

~ Elias Boudinot

They Called on Jesus to Save Them

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13

"I have called on Thee for pardon and forgiveness of sins…accept and answer for the sake of Thy Dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen." ~George Washington

The freedoms enjoyed in America are a direct result of the faith of our founding fathers. Those freedoms are best enjoyed when we accept God’s gift of freedom from the guilt of sin. If you believe these fundamentals of the faith, I urge you to call on God in prayer and receive His forgiveness, accepting His Son, Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.

"Unto Him who is the author and giver of all good, I render sincere and humble thanks for his merciful and unmerited blessings and especially for our redemption and salvation by his beloved Son." ~John Jay