140-Year Old Book Challenges the ACLU
by Brandon Vallorani
7/13/2007

American Vision was an exhibitor at the 2007 International Christian Retail Show in Atlanta this past week. A 400 sq. ft. exhibit was constructed to showcase all of our resources—including the 1599 Geneva Bible and a remarkable book called, The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States of America.

The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States was originally published in 1864 and is packed with more than 1,000 pages of original source material making the case that America was founded as a Christian nation—the ACLU's worst nightmare. Gary DeMar states,

"I was debating an ACLU attorney at Christmas on an NPR station. I pulled out a photocopy of The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States and said to her: "Until you answer this book, the ACLU can't make a case against America's Christian founding." She was shocked when she saw it. She asked where I had gotten it. The only thing that gave her relief was the fact that the book was not in print. But now it is."

It has become so popular that it sold out in just 7 weeks and we're already back on the presses with the next edition.

While at the ICRS, Gary DeMar and I had the opportunity to meet with Tim LaHaye, Norm Geisler, and other Christian leaders to discuss America's future and rekindle our friendly debate over eschatology. Of course, we also met with Hank Hanegraaff, R.C. Sproul, R.C. Sproul, Jr. and several other Christian leaders who share our view of Bible prophecy.

Gary proposed to both Norm Geisler and Tim LaHaye that the time has come for Christian leaders to get together from all sides and hold a forum on eschatology. Gary gave them a copy of The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States of America as a token of our friendship.

It was a real treat to meet with Madalyn Murray O'Hair's son, William Murray. Unlike his militantly atheist mother, William is a die-hard Christian activist and the chairman of the Religious Freedom Coalition.

If we are going to win the culture war in America, we must educate Christians with the true history of America's Christian founding and liberate them from a paralyzing obsession with living in the Last Days. Knowing where we came from, where we are going, and how to get there is the key to victory.