Posted on 07/08/2019 12:02:38 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
The Continental Congress in Philadelphia approved the final text of the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July, but it wasn't until July 8, 1776 that the historic document had been printed and could be publicly read. From the tower at Independence Hall the great bell rang out, summoning citizens to hear the new nation's proclamation of sovereignty. What we know today as the Liberty Bell had not yet acquired its iconic crack. But its noteworthy inscription was plain to see: "Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof."
Those words hadn't been drafted by one of the Founding Fathers. They came from the Hebrew Bible – specifically, Leviticus 25:10, where the ancient Israelites were commanded that at regular intervals, slaves must be freed and debts forgiven.
At the time of the Revolution, Jews were a minuscule fragment of the American population. Perhaps no more than 1,000 of the colonies' 2.5 million residents were Jews, or "Hebrews," as they were often called. But while the Hebrew presence in revolutionary America was microscopic, the Hebrew influence on revolutionary America's ideas – ideas about freedom, monarchy, and national destiny – was immense. The inscription on the Liberty Bell is just one of innumerable examples of how language from the Hebrew Bible stamped the nation's cultural and political vocabulary.
Many of those examples have been gathered in a new book, the title of which comes from the same biblical verse. Proclaim Liberty throughout the Land: The Hebrew Bible in the United States is a sourcebook spanning more than two centuries of American history, from the arrival of the Pilgrims through Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address.
(Excerpt) Read more at aish.com ...
Not to be argumentative, but the so-called “Hebrew Bible” is the Old Testament for Christians, and just a part of the Bible which was so influential in early America.
Calvinist theology—the most influential form of Christianity in early America— closely integrates Old Testament and New Testament teachings—which are interdependent on one another. The Old Testament though, is always seen through the lens of the New Testament—which is why we’ve never had laws requiring the death penalty for adultery, or blasphemy—among other sins—as the Old Testament civil law (for ancient Israel) requires.
To separate Old Testament teachings though, from those of the New Testament, does not accurately represent the Christian synthesis of the two, found in early America.
while the Bible’s role in the formation of our American Republic is very well known, and is extensively documented by the Founders of our republic themselves.........this seems to only further enrage the far far lefties (DNC-SorozNazi/commies/most of the current crop of D candidates).........
they’re mostly already anti-American and anti-Semitic ...
reminding them of the Christian faith of many of America’s founders only makes the lefties even more anti-American
(if this be possible)....
the leftwingers really wish they lived somewhere else, where there were no Bibles (and especially no moral teachings!)
ping
It was the Protestants that were the prime movers behind the ideas that became America.
“Dr. F. proposes a device for a seal: Moses lifting up his wand, and dividing the Red Sea, and Pharaoh in his chariot overwhelmed with the waters.”
I wish we had that instead of the stupid eye on top of a pyramid.
We can still change it — it just takes an act of Congress.
I know the American slaves really took to the Bible b/o the story of the Hebrew slaves. Several of their hymns were written from OT verses.
God works in mysterious ways.
Also, I saw on BBC history that great events always come out of chaos. Well, if that is true, we are in chaos now and so something good will come out of this, non?
Obammy said it was based on the Koran.
I agree!! It is so apparent to me. The Founding Fathers were very close to the OT and considered themselves to be Protestant or Deist, acc to what I have read.
I am old and don’t articulate well. Thoughts are just rolling around in my head.
The Catholics were very “close” to women. ie Mary MOther of God. And they did not separate men and women in worship to my knowledge. We can thank the Catholics for our respect for women.
Most of the kids of today have no idea. I pray for our world.
Look up the Black Robed Regiment.
Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield. David Brainerd.
An excellent book that I was recently made aware of is The New England Soul by Stout.
Quakers did separate men and women in services, IIRC.
Completely correct.
What is this but the preparing of once-Protestant America for the Noahide laws? America was founded by Christians - coming to these shores seeking religious liberty, fleeing the persecutions of the church of England...and before them, the Roman church. Now the powers that be are trying to turn all this on its head, intending to Judaize Christians?
I’m sure, it must have been Christian liberty that was meant, in using the passage from Leviticus inscribed on the Liberty Bell. The Christian religious liberty signified everywhere in the New Testament. Liberty through Christ, not Moses.
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
thank you for posting this!
The Old Testament would not have had that impact without first being joined with the New Testament.
The Founding Fathers were predominantly Christian, which is not the faith of Law, Prophets and Writings.
bump
Quite true. As much as the founders may have seen parallels between Israel and America, they often spoke of America as the “New Jerusalem”, which is a very New Testament reference, looking to the future prophetically, rather than looking to the old Jerusalem of the past.
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