This is a short post to consider the faith of one of our most controversial Presidents considered to be among the elite group called our Founding Fathers. Atheist claim him as an advocate for their side and offer many anti-religious quotes or statements made by him during his lifetime. The most general consensus is that he was a Deist. Yet, many Christians also claim him as their advocate and offer many favorable Christian statements uttered during his tenure.
So what was Presidents Jeffersons faith? I suppose if you were to ask him he would say something like: "My views . . . are the result of a life of inquiry and reflection, and very different from the antichristian system imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions. To the corruptions of Christianity I am, indeed, opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian in the only sense in which He [Jesus] wished anyone to be: sincerely attached to His doctrines in preference to all others." ~ Thomas Jefferson. (Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies from the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, editor (Boston: Grey & Bowen, 1830), Vol. III, p. 506, to Benjamin Rush, April 21, 1803.)
In trying to understand what Jefferson believed about God and religion we need to consider more than just the quotes offered by Atheist as well as those offered by Christians. We must understand like the rest of us, Jefferson was not born a Christian, he was born a sinner. Like the rest of us, he would have had to hear the Gospel and by a special work of the Holy Spirit become convinced of his sin and repent and believe by faith alone in Christ alone. However, even after such a profession, a time of growth must be allowed for that faith to mature. Also, one must consider the influences over the curse of his life that would hinder or strengthen that faith. Where ever we are in our Christian faith, if we have been a Christian very long we did not start where we are now. Our views and understanding of the Gospel have changed over the years. Depending upon the teachings we have received and the influences we have had in our life all affect the growth and understanding of our faith.
2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
Because of the sinfulness of men, Christianity has had those who for their own profit or pride bring un-sound or unbiblical teaching into the church. They all hold the Bible as their authority or claim they have discovered some new understanding of its contents. Many have been subjected to such teachings, some to their destruction. These unbiblical teachings range from doctrinal error to outright heresies. Jefferson's faith appears to have grown and become strongly rooted in the Reformed tradition and he held very Orthodox views within the Church. This is reflected in a national prayer he offered March 4th, 1805 stating:
"Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners.
Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues.
Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those whom in Thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth.
In time of prosperity fill out hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen." ` Thomas Jefferson, March 4th, 1805.
In this prayer, we see an understanding of the Trinity, of Gods Sovereignty, of his Providential workings in His creation and among the nations. We see the source of authority and our total dependency upon God to save us. We see the understanding of our responsibility to evangelize as a people true to God and to be thankful for that which we have been given and commissioned. And finally, we see his understanding that Christ is the source and the sustainer of our faith. All of the elements in this prayer are fundamental elements of Orthodox Christian beliefs and of sound doctrine. They most certainly are not the beliefs of a Deist or one with anti-christian views.
"The whole history of these books [the Gospels] is so defective and doubtful that it seems vain to attempt minute inquiry into it: and such tricks have been played with their text, and with the texts of other books relating to them, that we have a right, from that cause, to entertain much doubt what parts of them are genuine. In the New Testament, there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded from an extraordinary man; and that other parts are of the fabric of very inferior minds. It is as easy to separate those parts, as to pick out diamonds from dunghills."
~Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Adams, January 24, 1814
In the latter part of his life, he came to deny the doctrine of the Trinity and the divinity of Christ. This appears to be a result of a religious movement that influenced much of his area of Virginia. This movement was carried by men such as Thomas Campbell, Barton Stone, and a close friend of Jefferson a Reverend James O'Kelly as well as others. These men brought un-Orthodox teachings, advancing their personal views and proclaiming their sect as the group returning to true biblical teachings. It came out of what is known as the Cane Ridge Revival of Kentucky. They rejected traditional Christianity, the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus, the authenticity of the Bible, and many of the writings of the Apostles. They claimed that only certain parts of what we have as scripture now could be understood as true teachings. Of course, they were the ones who knew which parts were true. Jefferson became heavily influenced by these men and this movement. His faith was so troubled in the end it is difficult to say if his faith was a saving faith or a destructive heresy.
The lesson we learn here is not whether or not Jefferson was a Christian, but the importance of sound doctrine. Not everything that cries Christian is Christian. It may look good, sound good, and bear a very close resemblance to true Christianity, however, we must be very diligent in our study. We must test every doctrine against the scripture and the church's understanding of that scripture over history. For many have had their faith made shipwreck.
Tit 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Tit 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Tit 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
May the Grace of God be upon each of you,
David
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