Avowal of Religious Life

First Prayer of the Continental Congress 1776

Edward F. Lundwall, Jr.

Historically, a nation’s religion has been whatever it’s citizens have practiced and/or what their governing body or leader have dictated. The religion of the people is evident in national symbols, churches, public monuments, etc.

From its founding, the United States identified as a God-fearing people.The Declaration of Independence asserted that the creator God had given “inalienable” personal and collective rights. I don’t think anyone would question that this was the “God” of the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Before the Constitutional Convention ended, Ben Franklin exhorted the members that they should be consistent with their past religious heritage and pray as they did in the Revolutionary Congress. The historical painting above of the Constitutional Convention shows the members at prayer led by a clergyman. Several members are on their knees. The prayer was recorded as follows:

O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on these our American States, who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only on Thee. To Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support, which Thou alone canst give. Take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care; give them wisdom in Council and valor in the field; defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their Cause and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, of own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle!

Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior.

Amen.

Reverend Jacob Duché
Rector of Christ Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 7, 1774, 9 o’clock a.m.

Public avowal is the starting point for identification. Soldiers and police wears uniforms so they can be identified. Some clergy wear collars that identify them in public. Christians often wear crosses to identify themselves as people who have vowed to follow Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus made it clear that avowal or confession are essential to our identification as Christians: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32 KJV). 

Related reading: We the People Sovereign Under God