Largely speaking, the Founding Fathers held to orthodox Trinitarian Christianity. Collectively, they sought to build a nation under the God of the Bible. The notion that the Founding Fathers were a gang of deists, or that they would tolerate allegiance to a God other than the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is obliterated by their formal Thanksgiving proclamations. Under their leadership and direction, the United States government proposed, passed, and implemented laws calling for civil holidays which officially called for Americans to give thanks and worship the Lord, and named Him as Jesus Christ.

United States Congress Tells Americans to Repent of Their Sins; Urges All Americans to Worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

You did not read about it in government school (or even in your local church), but Vision Forum is pleased to offer you some of these thanksgiving proclamation quotes. Below are a few:

Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with gratitude their obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such father blessings as they stand in need of...it is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive powers of these United States to set apart Thursday the 18th day of December next, for Solemn Thanksgiving and Praise; that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their Divine Benefactor; and that together with their sincere acknowledgments and offerings, they may join the penitent confession of their manifold sins, whereby they had forfeited every favor; and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance; that it may please him graciously to afford his blessings on the Governments of these States, respectively, and prosper the Pubic Council of the whole; to inspire our Commanders, both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude, which may render them fit instruments, under Providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all blessings, independence and peace...virtue and piety, under his nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion, for the promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom which consisteth in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. And it is further recommended, that servile labour and such recreation as, though at other times innocent, may be unbecoming the purpose of this appointment, be omitted on so solemn an occasion.

—Henry Laurens, President of Congress, 1777

The Chaplains of Congress were, on the November 7, 1778, ordered to prepare and report a recommendation to the several States to set apart the 30th day of December following as a day of General Thanksgiving throughout the United States. On the 17th of November, the recommendation was submitted, which being amended, was as follows:

It having pleased Almighty God, through the course of the present year, to bestow many great and manifold merices on the people of these United States; and it being the indispensable duty of all men gratefully to acknowledge their obligations to him for benefits received;

Resolved, That it be and hereby is recommend to the legislative or executive authority of each of the said States to appoint Wednesday, the 30th of December next, to be observed as a day of public Thanksgiving and praise; that all people may with united hearts, on that day express a just sense of his unmerited favour; particularly in that it hath pleased him by his overruling providence to support us in a just and necessary war, for the defense of our rights and liberties, by affording us seasonable supplies for our armies; by disposing the heart of a powerful monarch to enter into an alliance with us, and aid our cause, by defeating the councils and evil designs of our enemies, and giving us victory over their troops; and by the cotinuance of that union among these States which, by his blessings, will be their future strength and glory...

And it is further recommended, that, together with devout Thanksgiving, may be joined a penitent confession of our sins, and humble supplication for pardon, through the merits of our Savior, so that, under the smiles of heaven, our public councils may be directed, our arms by land and sea prospered, our schools and seminaries of learning flourish, our trade be revived, and our husbandry and manufactures increased, and the hearts of all impressed with undissembled piety, with benevolence and zeal for the public good...Done in Congress this 17th day of November, 1778, and in the third year of Independence of the United States of America.

Editor’s Comment: These Thanksgiving proclamations are mini-theology lessons. Fathers, read them to your children. What do these proclamations reveal about the theology of the Founders? What do they reveal about the Congress’s view of the Sovereignty of God? Of sin? Of Providence? Of redemption? Of law? Is your pastor as theologically orthodox as the congressmen of this day?