What They Never Told You About America’s Christian Founders

Was America founded as a Christian nation, or has the role of faith in its history been misunderstood? In this episode of Faith Mobilized, David Blease sits down with Tim Barton, president of WallBuilders, to examine America’s founding and the influence Christianity had on the people, principles, and documents that shaped the nation. Tim challenges many of the common narratives surrounding the Founding Fathers and explains why he believes going back to original documents tells a different story. They explore the faith of figures like John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, the biblical influence found in early colonial laws, and whether America can historically be considered a Christian nation. They also unpack the separation of church and state, the First Great Awakening, and the role pastors played in shaping ideas about liberty leading up to the American Revolution. Throughout the conversation, Tim encourages Christians to look beyond modern interpretations of history and examine the original sources for themselves. --- CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 03:42 How America's History Has Been Reframed 11:49 Understanding Marxism and Its Influence 17:28 Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? 21:14 The Bible's Influence on America's Founding 27:09 Going Back to the Original Documents 28:42 The Faith of John Hancock 35:07 Why the Founders' Imperfections Matter 39:21 The Founding Fathers We Don't Hear About 44:21 Were Jefferson and Franklin Really Anti-Religious? 59:00 What Does Separation of Church and State Mean? 1:12:18 The Great Awakening and the American Revolution 1:15:39 The Role of Pastors in America's Founding 1:18:33 Why Christians Should Study America's History 1:24:02 Closing Prayer