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'The Day That Dr. Franklin Saved the U.S. Constitutional Process and the Nation' - "The American Miracle"

'Opponents of Thesis America began as a Christian Nation Generally Ignore this Speech' Insights from Michael Medved's "The American Miracle"

From the WND News Center to this writer for MHProNews and the "Reality Check" series for this Patch is the following provided in Part I on the headline topic. In Part II will be some reflections on the relevance and importance of faith and prayer in our modern world and everyday lives, plus other topics.

Part I

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

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The day Dr. Franklin saved the nation

'Opponents of the thesis that America began as a Christian nation generally ignore this speech'
By Jerry Newcombe | June 24, 2025

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We are often given the impression that the Founding Fathers intended a "strict separation of church and state" with no religious references allowed in the government.

But in reality, on June 28, 1787, during an impasse at the Constitutional Convention, one of the least orthodox of the founders – Dr. Ben Franklin – called on the convention delegates to pray to help break the logjam. This speech turned out to be a positive turning point in a convention that almost seemed doomed to failure.

The recent movie featuring Michael Medved, "The American Miracle," captures the tension quite well – conflicts between big states and little states and an enormous rift over slavery. The movie crescendos with Franklin's speech.

Said Dr. Franklin (as recorded by James Madison):

"The small progress we have made after four or five weeks close attendance … is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. …

"In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understanding?

"In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending Providence in our favor.

"To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?

"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?

"We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that 'except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.' [Psalm 127:1] I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. …

"I therefore beg leave to move – that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service."Wow. Here was one of the least religious of the Founding Fathers, a man whose beliefs were not orthodox, asking the delegates to remember God and seek His help.

Opponents of the thesis that America began as a Christian nation generally ignore this speech. But if they do mention it, they argue that the specific solution Franklin spelled out (that they bring in clergy for daily prayers) was not voted for. Nor was it voted against. Franklin felt his request seemed to fall on deaf ears.

But a variation of his request – that the framers pray together for God's help to finish the task – did happen.

What impact did Dr. Franklin's speech have on the Constitutional Convention? New Jersey delegate Jonathan Dayton tells us what it was like on July 2, when they reconvened for the first time since Franklin's speech: "We assembled again; and … every unfriendly feeling had been expelled, and a spirit of conciliation had been cultivated."

Then on July 4th, the entire convention attended a special church service, wherein Rev. William Rogers prayed for them: "We fervently recommend to the fatherly notice … our federal convention. … Favor them, from day to day, with thy inspiring presence; be their wisdom and strength; enable them to devise such measures as may prove happy instruments in healing all divisions and prove the good of the great whole; … that the United States of America may form one example of a free and virtuous government. … May we … continue, under the influence of republican virtue, to partake of all the blessings of cultivated and Christian society."

But didn't the Founding Fathers maintain the view that prayer in the public square was "unconstitutional"? Uh, these were the men who gave us the Constitution.

How low we have sunk in our secularism. We don't need less God today; we need more godly influence, even in our government – as Dr. Franklin well noted.

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Jerry Newcombe

Jerry Newcombe, D.Min., is the executive director of the Providence Forum, a division of D. James Kennedy Ministries, where Jerry also serves as senior producer and an on-air contributor. He has written/co-written 33 books, including (with D. James Kennedy), "What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?" and (with Dr. Peter Lillback), "George Washington's Sacred Fire."

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Part II

1) The documentary-drama Dr. Newcombe is referring to is teased in the video below.

2) “He saved others, but he cannot save himself. If he [Jesus] is the king of Israel, let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him." - Matthew 27:42 (NCB per Bible Gateway).

For almost 2,000 years, religious and secular leaders as well as everyday people have been asking, demanding, taunting, or effectively asking Jesus into 'coming down from the cross.' We want to be saved in a fashion that is easy and cheap, with little or no cost or effort.

3) Newcombe's column, shared above is insightful and potentially inspiring. It is an example of the importance of applying the ancient and Biblical principle separating the proverbial wheat from the chaff. We take what is good from whomever, and we sift out what is problematic and cast it aside.

4) There are areas in faith that this writer would respectfully disagree with Newcombe, but on what he wrote above in his column shown in Part I, he is largely quite correct. History largely supports his statements and quotes.

5) We live in a world that has made twisting the truth common. That has made half-truths, spin, or outright lies and deception all too common. In a secularized world, what is there to keep many people from lying, spinning, deception, or manipulating others? Not much. Laws exist against fraud and deception, and they can be useful. But the law itself is often a shield for the wealthy, connected, or otherwise powerful that can delay justice by 'using' the law. To the theme of Medved's movie, founding father and first U.S. President George Washington said the following in his farewell address.

6) Beyond weekly worship in church, this writer in short or longer prayers invokes God, the Creator's help and mercy multiple times every day. That’s not to brag, it is a statement of reality.

Understanding and seeking to sincerely live the Divine Will is the surest way for a person, family, community, nation, or the world to find the grace needed to navigate an often tough world. The following illustration was created not to make it sound like all religions are equal or the same, they are not. Rather, it is to show that even in a world of religious divisions, there are principles that are widely held to be true. Where does that similarity come from, if not some spark of insight from the Creator of all?

https://www.manufacturedhomepr...

https://patch.com/florida/lake...

There is always more to know. But sometimes what is necessary is to know that we don't know enough. That God doesn't want is to live in darkness, the Creator wants us to live in the light.

My family and I have experienced honest-to-goodness miracles. Events that doctors were not able to explain. That doesn't mean that every prayer gets a quick yes. Some of those prayers that were answered took time (months to years) before the 'yes' came. If we believe in Providence then we should believe that when God says yes, no, or later, it is always for our good and the good of others too.

There are demonstrably absolutes in life. There are truths that are timeless.

https://www.manufacturedhomepr...

Other topics follow and that's a wrap for today's installment of the "Reality Check" series for this Patch.

Remember: facts matter. Evidence matters. Reality matters. God is real. Prayer matters. Faith matters. On that, Dr. Newcombe and this writer agree.

The good Lord willing, more is coming in the days ahead to feast your eyes, mind, heart, and soul on. Thanks as always for checking in.

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L. A. “Tony” Kovach is a publisher who has earned multiple awards in history. He and his family live in a manufactured home on private property in Winter Haven, FL. He is the co-founder of Manufactured Home Living News.com (MHLivingNews.com) and Manufactured Home Pro News.com (MHProNews.com), trade publications serving segments of the manufactured home industry. Having worked in several segments of the manufactured home industry for over 3 decades, Kovach is a widely acknowledged and often praised expert on manufactured housing. ###

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'The Day That Dr. Franklin Saved the U.S. Constitutional Process and the Nation' - "The American Miracle"

'Opponents of Thesis America began as a Christian Nation Generally Ignore this Speech' Insights from Michael Medved's "The American Miracle"

L. A. "Tony" Kovach, Neighbor

Find out what's happening in Lakelandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Find out what's happening in Lakelandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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