Customer Reviews

The Role of Pastors and Christians in Civil Government

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Brings out something that has been forgotten in our history. In early America, Christian Pastors were often political and government leaders. This short booklet provides and overview of their role from a historical and Biblical perspective with a view towards what role they should play today.

A great book on the history of our nation and the role that Christians played in the past in forming this great land

This book, by David Barton, while a bit short, remains a powerful reminder of how far our nation has strayed from the original intent of the founders. Barton, through character sketches and historic examples, reminds us of our responsibility as believers to live out our faith in each aspect of our lives. It also provides largely forgotten perspectives on aspects of our nation's history.This is a great asset for christian students, churches, and small groups, or any individual seeking to learn more about the ties between America and Biblical Christianity. This book is highly recommended.

I enjoyed the information provided in this book"let" so much I ordered more to give to friends. It set the history that I had been taught straight. Required reading for my kids!

This book covers the untold and un-taught American History that is critical inorder to understand the truth of this country.

and many are not doing that. They're hiding behind excuses like "we're not supposed to get involved in politics". That is not true. Politics is just living in society. You can't be lazy and shirk your duties as a citizen. Look what has happened to our country since the 60s when America's citizens bought the lies of "Progressives". Look at the data charts in David Barton's, "Our Godley Heritage". Shocking...yet it makes perfect sense. Our pastors will be held accountable one day by God for shirking their responsibility. And we, as a people, will be held responsible for not learning what is available right under our nose.

I was so excited to receive this book! It is very easy understood and so interesting. Should be required reading for all pastors and
Christians, but is good for every American. The constitutional view
is explained very clearly and without political opinions. This is a
good read for the upcoming election.

How wonderful it is to discover what the founding fathers did and meant in their efforts to start a Christian nation! This is very readable and an outstanding compliation of the words of those who had a vision for the strength of the USA.

Barton makes the bold assertion that the founders never really intended for there to be a hard separation between church in state. Instead, Barton argues that the country was founded as a Christian nation, and that the framers meant to establish a government where government leaders would continually consult Christian leaders (presumably people like Barton).

Barton also makes the odd claims that most of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were clergymen. Only one of the 56 was an active clergyman, and that was John Witherspoon. Witherspoon was a Presbyterian minister and president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University).

Only 1.79% of the signatories to the Declaration of Independence were clergy. Does Barton actually think that 1.79% qualifies as most?

Or is Barton (as so many REAL historians have judged him) a historic revisionist and shameless liar?

It is ironic that the author chose to open the book with a quote from President Woodrow Wilson stating that "A nation which does not remember what it was yesterday, does not know what it is today, nor what it is trying to do." Ironic indeed considering the role Wilson and his chief aide Col. Edward Mandel House played in promoting foreign policies and procedures such as the Federal Reserve and League of Nations that Mr. Barton would use this quote from this man.

Certainly when Mr. Barton chides the "Christian" for embracing "a compartmentalized view that allows them to express faith and values in church but then divorce those same faith and values from the civil arena," he realizes that he is running the risk of having his own actions monitored and questioned in a manner that raises some disturbing questions about the man and the agenda. Now I most certainly believe every "Christian" so long as he is a loyal and devoted citizen has not only a right, but a responsibility to speak out and act whenever and where ever they see an injustice being carried out so long as they do so in accordance with the actions of the one in whom they profess to believe and not the one whose words and actions promote an economic or political agenda.
If you judge these men based not on the supposition that they were well intentioned yet flawed men who were shaped by the attitudes of the day and more accurately as the economic opportunists whose Christian values conflicted not at all with their pursuit of wealth and power then you gain a keen understanding of the distrust many feel toward the backers of these types of teaching tools which is the religious right.

Mr. Barton attempts to build a case that "other more important issues motivated most individuals," to participate in the sessions that resulted in the Declaration of Independence. Laughingly the chartering of "The Society to Propagate the Gospel among Indians and Others in North America," and anti-slavery efforts are stated as prime motivators. Mr. Barton completely ignores the fact that the move to civilize the Indians "and others" was undertaken toward the end of a long and protracted campaign of genocide had greatly reduced the number of American Indians to a pittance of what they had been prior to the establishing of colonies.

Without running through the length of this title and detailing each and every contradictory example stated, I'll end this review by warning again that the danger of allowing zealots be they Christian, Muslim, Liberal or Conservative, Black or White to openly misrepresent the truth for the purpose of promoting an agenda cannot be allowed to occur. Protect yourself from all forms of propaganda by familiarizing yourself with all facets of history. Be it political, economic or other, it is the best defense against indoctrination.