Deism or Providentialism
I wish to show how the ideas of Deism are completely incompatible with the framework of which the Founding Fathers worked within. That the idea of Divine Providence severely contradict the outworkings of Deism.
Deism - the belief that God created the world but does not interact with His creation.
Providence - the protective care of God
These two dictionary definitions is easily seen to be direct oppositions. If Deism says that God does not intervene in the workings of the universe, then there is no protective care coming from God towards His creation. Thus one excludes the capacity of the other to exist.
“The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.” ~George Washington
George Washington is one whom many claim as no Christian, in fact a common argument is that he never spoke about Jesus, not even once. I do not know if that is true, but I do know that George Washington did speak quite often of Christianity as being of the highest priority and of the Sovereign Lord and Almighty God and by far his favorite description of God, in particular, God’s handiwork, is in reference to Providence.
“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.” ~George Washington
“The signal instance of Providential goodness which we have experienced and which have now almost crowned our labors with complete success demand from us in a peculiar manner the warmest returns of gratitude and piety to the Supreme Author of all good.” ~George Washington
“But by the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me!” ~George Washington
The voice of George Washington, our first President, the man of integrity who helped form and protect our Democracy and even rejected the power for which he held. For he stepped down after two terms even when pressured to continue and denied the office of monarchy when the people offered it up to him. This man saw and gave thanks to Providence. To God for His Divine Intervention. And all the founders knew of this.
The greatest story of this is found in remembrance of the Constitutional Convention. For many days the convention had moved with slow gradients and conflicting controversies. The convention was getting no where but through bickering and bitter arguments. Until Benjamin Franklin, old and most revered among the Founders, stood up and spoke. His speech silenced the bickering and the convention moved on and quickly gained momentum from that speech. How? What was said? What was proposed?
Rely on Providence.
“Mr. President:
“The small progress we have made after four or five weeks close attendance and continual reasonings with each other - our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ayes, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfections of the Human Understanding.
“We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which, having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution, now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all around Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.
“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 our 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, and 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 - 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.’ 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.
“And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.
“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.”
Franklin’s speech reminded those present of what God had done for them in the past. That God indeed works; “that God governs in the affairs of man”. ~Benjamin Franklin
This request to pray before every session was passed unanimously.
These men were not deists.
Jared Williams
Deism - the belief that God created the world but does not interact with His creation.
Providence - the protective care of God
These two dictionary definitions is easily seen to be direct oppositions. If Deism says that God does not intervene in the workings of the universe, then there is no protective care coming from God towards His creation. Thus one excludes the capacity of the other to exist.
“The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.” ~George Washington
George Washington is one whom many claim as no Christian, in fact a common argument is that he never spoke about Jesus, not even once. I do not know if that is true, but I do know that George Washington did speak quite often of Christianity as being of the highest priority and of the Sovereign Lord and Almighty God and by far his favorite description of God, in particular, God’s handiwork, is in reference to Providence.
“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.” ~George Washington
“The signal instance of Providential goodness which we have experienced and which have now almost crowned our labors with complete success demand from us in a peculiar manner the warmest returns of gratitude and piety to the Supreme Author of all good.” ~George Washington
“But by the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me!” ~George Washington
The voice of George Washington, our first President, the man of integrity who helped form and protect our Democracy and even rejected the power for which he held. For he stepped down after two terms even when pressured to continue and denied the office of monarchy when the people offered it up to him. This man saw and gave thanks to Providence. To God for His Divine Intervention. And all the founders knew of this.
The greatest story of this is found in remembrance of the Constitutional Convention. For many days the convention had moved with slow gradients and conflicting controversies. The convention was getting no where but through bickering and bitter arguments. Until Benjamin Franklin, old and most revered among the Founders, stood up and spoke. His speech silenced the bickering and the convention moved on and quickly gained momentum from that speech. How? What was said? What was proposed?
Rely on Providence.
“Mr. President:
“The small progress we have made after four or five weeks close attendance and continual reasonings with each other - our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ayes, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfections of the Human Understanding.
“We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which, having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution, now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all around Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.
“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 our 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, and 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 - 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.’ 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.
“And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.
“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.”
Franklin’s speech reminded those present of what God had done for them in the past. That God indeed works; “that God governs in the affairs of man”. ~Benjamin Franklin
This request to pray before every session was passed unanimously.
These men were not deists.
Jared Williams
