By Douglas V. Gibbs
The Foundations of Liberty reach back into history long before the arrival of the first English Colonists on the Atlantic Coast of the New World. The American System of governance, ultimately codified in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, did not emerge in a vacuum. It was the product of centuries of political development, drawing heavily from the Saxon System of governance. The Saxons established a framework of local self-rule, representative assemblies, and a respect for individual rights that later influenced the British System. This heritage provided the Americans with a model of ordered liberty, but they sought to refine it further by removing monarchy and the state church while preserving the principles of freedom, Christianity and self-government.
While the Saxon System provided the structural foundation, the moral and philosophical underpinning of the American System was deeply rooted in the Holy Bible. As historian David Barton has documented, the Bible was the most frequently cited source by the Founding Fathers in their writings. Its teachings on justice, morality, and the nature of man shaped their understanding of governance. The Bible provided a vision of a godly system, one that emphasized accountability before God, the dignity of the individual, and the necessity of virtue in public life.
Alongside the Bible, the Founders drew from Enlightenment thinkers. John Locke, whose writings on natural rights and government by consent were second only to Scripture in influence, providing a philosophical framework for liberty. Montesquieu, ranked third in influence, contributed the principle of separation of powers, ensuring that liberty would be preserved through checks and balances. Yet even these philosophical contributions were often interpreted through the lens of biblical morality.
The genius of the American Founders was their ability to synthesize these influences. They took the Saxon heritage of self-rule, the biblical vision of a godly society, and the philosophical insights of Locke and Montesquieu, and refined them into a system designed for liberty. By rejecting monarchy and a nationally established church, they ensured that faith would remain a voluntary and powerful influence rather than a coercive institution. Christianity was not excluded from public life; rather, it was allowed to inspire principles of justice, equality, and virtue without being imposed by the state.
As Christians, our duty is not to retreat from the political sphere but to engage it with faith and conviction. The Founders understood that liberty requires virtue, and virtue requires faith. The Bible calls believers to be salt and light in the world, and that includes the realm of governance. Our responsibility is to uphold godly principles in the public square, ensuring that the system of liberty entrusted to us remains aligned with the moral truths that gave it birth.
The American System is a unique blend of Saxon liberty, biblical morality, and philosophical refinement. It is a system designed not merely for governance but for the flourishing of a free and virtuous people. By remembering its roots in both the Saxon tradition and the Holy Bible, we can better understand our duty as Christians to preserve and promote liberty in our own time.
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
