A Moment With Pastor Fred

Happy July 4^th weekend! 

While many today are trying to rewrite or erase history it is important we remember it.  Yesterday we observed the 244^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Not all our founding fathers were Christians, many were deists. Yes, they held to a Judeo-Christian ethic; they had a respect for the Bible, but they weren’t believers. Of those that signed that historic document we know the names of Jefferson, Franklin and Adams. One of the signers you might not have heard before – Rev. John Witherspoon.     

John was a Scottish-American Presbyterian pastor and president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). He was the only active minister to sign the Declaration. He later supported the ratification of the US Constitution. Witherspoon and his wife had 10 children – 5 survived to adulthood. We are thankful for men such as John Witherspoon who advocated morality and decency in the public square.  But he also held firmly to the faith.

We have heard a lot of criticism about our nation in recent weeks. It has its faults and sins for sure. But I am thankful to be an American – grateful for my freedoms to live out my faith.