A Constitution Day Message (091326)

September 17th of each year is celebrated as “Constitution Day” in order to commemorate the signing of the United States’ Constitution in Independence Hall in Philadelphia by 39 delegates.

The Constitution was eventually ratified by all thirteen of the original colonies. Deleware was the first to ratify it on December 7, 1787 and the last to ratify it was Rhode Island on May 29, 1790. (South Carolina ratified it on May 23, 1788 and North Carolina ratified it on May 29, 1790.)

Between September 12, 1790 and November 5, 1790, Samuel Adams and John Adams (cousins) exchanged letters.

Hebrews 11:4 KJV 1900

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

John Adams was the first to write to Samuel Adams (and you can still read these letters online) and asked, “What? My old friend is this world about to become?”

The colonies had thrown off the shackles of Great Britain and had emerged as the United States of America. (The United States Constitution had become the official governing document when, on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the 9th state to ratify it.)

The French Revolution had begun just the year before although it had not yet devolved into the Reign of Terror (which was still several years away).

These four letters between these men are quite interesting to read because put together they reveal an extraordinary debate over Christianity, human nature, education, republican government, the French Revolution, and what they believed was necessary to preserve American liberty.

In the second letter, Samuel Adams’ response to John Adams, he stated:

The best formed constitutions that have yet been contrived by the wit of Man have, and will come to an End—because “the Kingdoms of the Earth have not been governed by Reason.”

In Samuel’s thinking, as you can gather from reading these letters and other of his writings…

Reason is the God-given ability of the human mind to recognize and follow truth, justice, and moral law, rather than being ruled by passion, prejudice, pride, or self-interest.

Immediately, Samuel Adams writes:

What then is to be done?

Let Divines, and Philosophers, Statesmen and Patriots unite their endeavours to renovate the Age by impressing the Minds of Men with the importance of educating their little Boys, and Girls—

I will come back to Samuel Adams full statement in a moment but I want to point out what Samuel Adams stated was the purpose of education (which he wrote in the fourth of these letters):

Education inures Men to thinking, and reflection, to reasoning and demonstration. It discovers to them the moral and religious duties they owe to God, their Country and to all Mankind.

Inure: to habituate; to accustom

Proverbs 22:6 KJV 1900

Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 KJV 1900

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Psalm 78:5–7 KJV 1900

For he established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; Who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep his commandments:

2 Timothy 3:15 KJV 1900

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Education begins at home with mom and dad.

The church and Christian school can and should reinforce the education being received at home.

It should not be the other way around.

Now, back to Samuel Adams’ full statement…

What then is to be done?

Let Divines, and Philosophers, Statesmen and Patriots unite their endeavours to renovate the Age by impressing the Minds of Men with the importance of educating their little Boys, and Girls—

Divines: Preachers

Philosophers: Educators

Statesmen: Politicians

Patriots: Those who love their country

We need preachers and educators, and politicians, and those who love their country challenge parents with the importance of educating their children to discover the moral and religious duties they owe to God, their Country and to all Mankind!

of inculcating in the Minds of Youth the fear, and Love of the Deity, and universal Philanthropy; and in subordination to these great principles the Love of their Country—

Inculcating: Impressing or enforcing by repeated instruction

of instructing them in the Art of self government, without which they never can act a wise part in the Government of Societys great, or small—

in short of leading them in the Study, and Practice of the exalted Virtues of the Christian system; which will happily tend to subdue the turbulent passions of Men,

This was Samuel Adams’ prescription for renovating the age - to bring our country back to where it used to be.

1) We ourselves should fear God and teach our children to fear God.

Proverbs 1:7 KJV 1900

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV 1900

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Honor, respect, reverence

Where does that begin?

Ephesians 6:1–2 KJV 1900

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

If children are not taught to “fear” - honor their parents in the home, there is not going to be much hope of them truly “fearing” God!

2) We ourselves should love God and teach our children to love God

3) We ourselves should love others and must teach our children to love others

Matthew 22:36–40 KJV 1900

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

4) We must love our country and we must teach our children to love of their country

Psalm 33:12 KJV 1900

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; And the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Proverbs 14:34 KJV 1900

Righteousness exalteth a nation: But sin is a reproach to any people.

No, our country is not perfect but our country - the United States of America - has been singularly blessed by God. Why? Because our country was built upon the solid principles of God’s Word!

Our love of country should drive us to our knees!

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV 1900

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

5) We must exercise self-government and we must teach our children self-government

Galatians 5:22–23 KJV 1900

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Let’s be reminded of what self-government is.

Self-government is an individual being internally governed by God’s Word.

2 Timothy 2:22 KJV 1900

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Follow Righteousness

According to Webster’s 1828 dictionary, Righteousness is defined as “conformity of heart and life to divine law.” That is self-government.

We must conform our heart and life to God’s Word; not to the world!

Romans 12:1–2 KJV 1900

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Then, we must lead young people to do the same; not to conform their heart and life to OUR law but to God’s law!

1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV 1900

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

6) We must grow in Christian virtue and we must teach our children Christian virtues

Turn to and read 2 Peter 1:1-8.

We must practice those Christian virtues and then expect our children to practice those virtues

Pastor Campbell, this seems so simplistic. Can this really “renovate the age?” Yes! And allow me to give you an example:

Daniel 1:8 KJV 1900

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

The young man, Daniel,