What if much of what you believe about America is not true? That is a serious question, but it deserves to be asked. Because when you look at the original historical documents, it becomes obvious that many Americans have been given a distorted version of our own story.  

I’ve often said it’s like a person with Alzheimer’s. If someone loses their memory, they can still be alive, but they can’t function the way they should. In many ways, our nation has lost its memory of who we are, how we were formed, and what made this country different. When a nation forgets its history, it loses its way. 

Recently on my Gospel Truth program, I sat down with my good friends David and Tim Barton of WallBuilders.com. They are a national treasure. They have one of the largest private collections of early American documents in the nation—letters, proclamations, handwritten records, Bibles, and writings from the Founding Fathers themselves. What I really appreciate about them is that they don’t ask people to accept opinions; they point them back to the source. And when you go back to the source, the story of America sounds very different than what many have been taught. 

When a Lie Is Taught Long Enough 

David shared how, ironically, when he was growing up, he didn’t want anything to do with history. That started after he was told things about George Washington that made him despise him and the other Founding Fathers. But later in life, he came across original documents, including George Washington’s Farewell Address, and realized what he had been told didn’t match the record. That happens more than people realize. 

I tell you, the claims today that America was founded as a secular nation and that Christianity was something added later by tradition just fall apart when examined honestly. 

Tim mentioned that the authors of a book often used to argue for a secular nation, The Godless Constitution, actually admitted they left out the normal scholarly footnotes and documentation. That alone should tell you something. Truth does not need to hide from examination. The problem is that people have been taught a lie for so long, they believe the lie is truth. And when you tell them the truth, they think it’s a lie. That is exactly where many people are today. 

What Really Shaped America 

One of the most revealing studies examined thousands of writings from the Founding Fathers to see who influenced them most. The number-one cited source was the Bible. Not a philosopher. Not a politician. Not a European thinker. The Bible. 

Researchers found that around 34 percent of direct quotations in the Founders’ writings came from Scripture. And even that likely understates the case, because many biblical references were so familiar they didn’t bother using quotation marks. 

Think about that. The men who framed this nation thought in biblical terms. They understood human nature, justice, liberty, morality, and government through a scriptural lens.  

That doesn’t mean every Founder was perfect or that they all agreed on every doctrine. But it absolutely means the moral and intellectual framework of this nation was deeply shaped by the Word of God. That should not be controversial. It is historical fact. 

Why the Colonies Matter More than You Think 

Another important point David and Tim made is that people often lump all early colonies together as if they were the same. But they were not. Jamestown was largely a political and commercial venture tied to the king’s system. The Pilgrims were very different. They were people seeking freedom to worship God and order their lives according to Scripture. 

Before they even got off the Mayflower, the pilgrims established self-government through covenant agreement. They believed in law, responsibility, and accountability under God. Their founding purpose was stated plainly: for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith. 

Those are not modern words imposed on history. Those are their own words. The Pilgrims suffered greatly. Many died that first winter. But from that sacrifice came principles that would greatly shape America—self-government, religious liberty, education, covenant community, and moral responsibility. Their influence on America’s future was far greater than many people realize. 

The Bible Was Their Textbook 

Early Americans based their education system on the Bible. The New England Primer, one of the earliest and most widely used schoolbooks, taught children to read the Bible. Students learned letters, language, and morals together right out of Scripture. Imagine that compared with many classrooms today. 

There were also laws requiring literacy so people could read the Bible for themselves. They believed ignorance made people vulnerable. And they were right. Many of the legal principles Americans treasure today—fair hearings, witnesses, the right to answer accusations—did not appear out of thin air. They were rooted in biblical justice. When people remove Scripture from history, they don’t realize they’re also getting rid of the roots of many freedoms they still want to keep. 

Why This Matters 

I’m not suggesting the people who founded this nation were flawless. Human beings never are. But you can’t focus only on their failures. For example, if all you knew about Noah, Abraham, Moses, or David were their failures, then you wouldn’t know their stories very well. It’s the same thing with nations. When a country forgets its foundations, it often misdiagnoses its problems. And when you misdiagnose the problem, you usually apply the wrong solution. 

Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Freedom does not come from pretending truth is flexible. Freedom comes from knowing truth. 

I’ve only scratched the surface here. There’s much more to explore, and I encourage you to dig deeper into this history using the resources we’ve provided.