THE CHRISTIAN ANTHEM

Written by Lee Behnken

 

The Christian Anthem was written in 1997. It was inspired by Christian educator and historian, David Barton, who proclaims, “The United States of America was founded as a Christian nation”. He disputes the “wall of separation between church and state” which was a term used by Thomas Jefferson in 1802 to ensure the Baptists that the U.S. federal government would not establish “one Christian denomination” over another. At the time of America’s founding, most of the colonies had an established, state supported Christian denomination as their official religion. In his January 1, 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, Thomas Jefferson promised them the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution would uphold religious freedom and would not establish an official United States “denomination”.

 

The recent film, “A Great Awakening” beautifully presents the spirit of Christian unity that was behind the American Revolution. Our founding fathers established a government “for a Christian people” specifically. Historians document how the Declaration of Independence was heavily influenced by 18th-century Christian sermons. The Bible heavily influenced the writing of United States Constitution. These documented facts inspired the chorus to these lyrics for The Christian Anthem:

 

“The Bible is our Constitution and the Word of God is our Decree (Declaration). We stand upon the rock of the truth that set us free and proclaim the law of love and liberty”. The Christian Anthem (© 2000)

 

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious (“Christian”) people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other”. U.S. President John Adams

 

“God makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations then disperses them” (Job 12:23). God has made the United States of America a great nation, a Judeo-Christian nation, established as “one nation under God” that we may be a blessing to Israel and the nations, and especially to the many republics who have modeled their constitutions after the U.S. Constitution.

 

America is in need of a spiritual awakening to lead our nation in repentance and to turn us back to God. There will always be political progressives set on undermining morality and America’s godly heritage. The Christian Anthem music video was produced especially for our children in the public schools where progressives have fought to remove school prayer and Bible reading. The anthem video begins in a 1962 setting with elementary school children saying the end of the pledge, “One nation under God”… followed by the school teacher explaining to the children why they will no longer be having their class prayer time. We need to remember and return to the proper role of Christian principles being taught in our schools and practiced in our government, businesses, families, churches, arts, entertainment and in our media.

 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ; to the Jew first, then to the Gentile. Romans 1:16 (amplified)

 

Now is the time for America to remember and return to Christ, to do the things we used to do and to live a bold life for the God of Israel, the God of the USA, our beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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The Christian Anthem

Words and music by Lee Behnken

Produced by Jason Webb

 

Chorus:

 

The Bible is our Constitution

The Word of God is our Decree (declaration)

We stand upon the rock of the truth that set us free

And proclaim the law of love and liberty

 

The first verse are the words to the official “state” prayer in New York public schools that was judged to be unconstitutional in the early 1960s which then set the legal precedent to remove prayer from America’s public schools. Here is that official school prayer:

 

First verse:

Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee

And we beg Thy blessing upon us, upon our parents,

Upon our teachers and upon our country

 

Chorus repeats

 

The first part of the second verse is taken from a United States Supreme Court ruling in the 1890s... which was given just before the beginning of the 1900s progressive movement here in the USA.

 

Second verse:

Our laws and schools must be based to hold the teachings of the One who redeems all mankind...

 

The second part of the second verse is inspired by a quote from President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War:

 

Second verse continued:

Our constant prayer is that we and our nation be on the Lord’s side... We cannot be otherwise.

 

Chorus repeats twice