July 1, 2026
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
Church in the Rotunda?
As we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday this week, it is good to be reminded that God created America for His purposes. It is clear that the motivation of the early settlers, long before we became a nation, included furthering the gospel of Jesus Christ. John Winthrop, an English lawyer and leading figure in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, led the first large wave of colonists from England in 1630 and served as governor for twelve of the colony’s first 20 years. On the voyage to America aboard the Arbella, Winthrop composed a lay sermon, “A Model of Christian Charity,” in which he pictured the Massachusetts colonists in covenant with God and each other, divinely ordained to build “a city upon a hill” in New England. He took this phrase from Christ’s message in Matthew 5:14.(1)
“On May 19, 1643, Winthrop organized the New England Confederation among the Colonists of New Plymouth, New Haven, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. They covenanted together under the Constitution of the New England Confederation. Here is a portion of the covenant:
“‘Whereas we all came to these parts of America with the same end and aim, namely to advance the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to enjoy the liberties of the gospel thereof with purities and peace, and for preserving and propagating the truth and liberties of the gospel.’”(2)
Just over 130 years later, following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a committee was appointed to design a seal for the newly formed United States to express the spirit of the nation. Thomas Jefferson, who penned the Declaration, suggested that it be “the children of Israel in the wilderness, led by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.”(3)
Wouldn’t that have given today’s Marxists, leftists, and secularists indigestion?!
Facts such as these infuriate the progressives and revisionists on the left, who want to distort America’s heritage and destiny. But the facts clearly reveal that our Founders knew the birth of America was orchestrated by God – not just for their benefit, but for His as well. No, they did not want to establish a national religion or favor one religious group over another. But did they know God was involved in our founding, and did they want His involvement to continue? Absolutely.
Satan certainly doesn’t want this, which is why he motivates individuals to try to transform us into a godless, secularist nation. One of his most successful campaigns to remove God’s influence from our government and our education system is the oft-repeated doctrine concerning “the separation of church and state.” This phrase is not in the Constitution, of course, but instead, in a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to assure one concerned religious group that there would never be a national religion, as there was in Britain.(4) The First Amendment prevents the government from establishing an official religion or interfering with the free exercise of religion. It was NOT about keeping God’s–or the Bible’s–influence out of government.
Just two days after writing this letter, Jefferson actually attended a church service in the rotunda of the Capitol! In fact, there was a church service in the Capitol rotunda every Sunday for the first 100 years of our nation!!!(5) Can you imagine?!
We have certainly defiled God’s plan for America at times throughout our history, polluting the nation with unrighteousness, selfish ambition, and greed. That, however, has not changed His plan. It simply means we must be revived in heart and mind, reconstituted in purpose, and restored to this destiny. This is occurring and is why the Rededication of our nation to God on May 17 of this year was so strategic and powerful. (You may have noticed that no liberals or leftists showed up at the Rededication events. They DO NOT want God’s influence in our nation.)
Thankfully, the praying church and God-honoring patriots are rising to the occasion in this season, just as Esther, Deborah, David, Joshua, Caleb, Nehemiah, Haggai, and many others did in Israel’s history. These people served God’s purpose in their generation (Acts 13:36). Now, it is our turn…and we WILL serve His purposes, as did our Founders, the spiritual warriors of the First and Second Great Awakenings, Lincoln and his generation, and the selfless heroes of two World Wars!
We are appealing to heaven for our help, just as the early patriots did, and we will persevere in doing so. Yes, these are trying times, but we are not “summer soldiers” or “sunshine patriots,” as Thomas Paine wrote in his book Common Sense in 1776, those who shrink from duty in times of crisis.(6) We are sons and daughters of the Most High God, constrained by His heart and committed to His cause here and around the world. We have knelt with Hunt at Cape Henry’s cross, embracing the covenant he declared and committing our lives to its fulfillment. In our hearts, we have signed the Declaration and pledged our allegiance.
Because we are partnering with the Supreme Owner and Ruler of the earth, who is the strength of this operation, we will not fail. America shall be saved. The harvest of the ages will be reaped because the Father promised it to His Son, and His Son has raised up a church over which the gates of hell cannot prevail. This is all guaranteed through the victory of the Cross, the covenant established through the shedding of Christ’s blood, and His overseeing of it (Hebrews 7:22). We, the church, are now spiritual enforcers of this victory, and we will continue to do so.
We will not be intimidated by any shaking, nor any uprising of demonic forces here and around the world. We can endure course corrections because we, like Christ, are looking at the joy set before us (Hebrews 12:2). We will not be intimidated by unprincipled and corrupt politicians, judges, dictators, or armies. We are more than conquerors and know that we cannot be separated from the love of Christ (Romans 8:37-39). We do not fear any evil, including death (Psalm 23:4).
Fly the flag this week. Keep your patriotism aligned with the cause of Christ, and make no apologies for it. Grab the baton from our Founders and press on. Continue daily in passionate prayer for America’s restoration, and align with others who do so.
Pray with me:
Father, we are so thankful for this great nation You raised up. We are jealous for Your Kingdom purposes here and around the world–we’re all in. Make this nation once again the trumpet You intended her to be, blasting the Jubilee message of the gospel to all the world. Change all that is needed to fully restore this destiny, then take it to the next level. Awaken and reform.
We pray for President Trump–keep him strong. Encourage him–do not let evil wear him down. We pray for our leaders in Congress as they legislate and as they investigate and uncover corruption. Lead them, give them wisdom, and protect them, their families, and staff. Give them boldness and tenacity, meekness and humility. May they have the anointing of Jeremiah to “root out, pull down, destroy, throw down, build and plant” (Jeremiah 1:10).
And we continue to pray for a spiritual harvest of millions in the Middle East. We ask You to continue the process of dethroning “the prince of Persia” (Daniel 10) and all of his allies, ending violence, destruction, and spiritual blindness. Turn the tables on them and end their terror. End the plans of other evil leaders around the world to steal, kill, destroy, rule unrighteously, and hinder Your great harvest. Show Yourself strong against them!
We commit to standing for these things, asking for and believing for them in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Our decree:
Just as the patriots of old, we appeal to heaven for God’s help and wisdom. He will give us victory.
Click on the link below to watch the the video.
Leo Godzich, Faith of Our Fathers (Phoenix, AZ: NAME Publishers), p. 33.
William J. Federer, America’s God and Country (Coppell, TX: FAME Publishing, Inc.) p. 322.