Christmas And The Founding Fathers

“Christ entered the world to deliver us,

from our sins, despair, and strife,

and to teach us it’s not just a season,

Peace is a way of life.”

Christmas, the season of peace is with us. In the Christian faith, it is the season of Advent, when the faithful celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world. As we look forward and await the arrival of that special day, the music and jingle bells, streets adorned with festive lights, and the store windows colorfully decorated with Santas, reindeer, the elves, and the Christmas tree, many of us, especially in these turbulent times, reminisce, memories of the past come flooding back, when life seemed simpler and people less hardened by the times. 

Many people look for inspiration and encouragement, especially from clergy, and those in leadership. They seek statesman-like words, a message that conveys the meaning and reason for the season. But with few exceptions, if any, that kind of leader is rare today. So I thought why not travel back a couple of centuries, and the Founding Fathers, and their thoughts about Christmas. 

Samuel Adams: “Rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins. I conceive we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world bringing in the holy and happy period when the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and the people willingly bow to the scepter of Him who is the Prince of Peace. We may with one heart and voice humbly implore His gracious and free pardon through Jesus Christ, supplicating His Divine aid, and above all to cause the religion of Jesus Christ, in its true spirit, to spread far and wide till the whole earth shall be filled with His glory.” 

John Hancock: “That the spiritual kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may be continually increasing until the whole earth shall be filled with His glory.”

Benjamin Franklin: “How many observe Christ’s birth-day! How few, his precepts! O! ’tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.” “Let no pleasure tempt thee, no profit allure thee, no persuasion move thee, to do anything which thou knowest to be evil; so shalt thou always live jollity; for a good conscience is a continual Christmas.”

James Madison: “The most noble of all ambitions any government could have was to do what it could to promote peace on earth, goodwill to man.” 

Thomas Jefferson: “Christmas is the season of joy, of gift-giving, and of families united.” “Peace on earth will come to stay when we live Christmas every day." "He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree." “Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance - each beautiful, unique, and gone too soon.”

Try to imagine a politician today speaking words as those spoken by the Founding Fathers. In these post-modern times, such thoughts and expressions of faith and God would be met with ridicule, criticisms, and howls of laughter from the ruling class and those on left. 

But let it be said, I believe the greater majority of the American people, families, keep the spirit and sanctity of Christmas, and the Prince of Peace, in their minds and hearts.