Skip to content

Saturday, June 14, 2025

  • Donate
The Foundation for American Christian Education

The Foundation for American Christian Education

Resolute in teaching Biblical principles that sustain liberty

  • Home
    • About Us
    • Our Mission
      • A Three-Part Plan to Stop America’s Decline and Restore our Biblical Heritage.
    • Our Founders
    • Our Board of Directors
    • Our Staff
    • How to reach us
    • Follow Us
  • Learn
    • Principle Approach® Master Teacher Certification Program
      • The Foundation Course
      • The Application Course
      • The Exhibition Course
      • The Foundation Course Independent Study
    • Lessons in Liberty 2024-25 Series
    • The Principle Approach®
    • Renewing the Mind for Teaching and Learning Online Course
    • Teaching Resources and Tools
    • Principled Studies Groups
      • Principled Studies Group Directory
      • Principled Studies Group Essential Resources
      • Principled Studies Group Additional Resources
    • The Hall-Slater Library and Teaching Center
    • Commonwealth Community
    • Leading Schools Program
      • Leading Schools Program Inquiry
      • Demonstration Schools Directory
      • FACE Marketing Bootcamp
    • Schoolhouse Tutors
  • Ministry
    • Ministry Overview
    • Christian Home
    • Christian Church
    • Christian School
      • StoneBridge School
      • Dayspring Christian Academy visit
    • International
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Namibia
      • Uganda
      • AECEP Sao Paulo, Brazil
      • Mazatlan, Mexico
    • Christian Education Initiative
    • Luminaries
    • Like-minded Ministries
  • Giving
    • Donate now
    • FACE Reports and Fundraising Letters
    • Partner with us
    • The impact of your generosity
  • Events
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
    • Store
    • Order FREE Resource Catalogue
    • Homeschooling Resources
    • Curriculum Guides
    • Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language
      • Should I be teaching more?
    • The Red Books
    • Principled Studies Group Essential Resources
    • Self-Teaching Courses in the Principle Approach
    • Every Child a Promise
    • Webliography for Historical Research
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

How the seed of local self-government is planted (Part I)

Author Amy GreenPosted on May 7, 2019May 7, 2019Categories Discerning Moment

Samuel Adams*—The Father of the Revolution—reminds us that the art of self-government is learned through “the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system …”

Let [pastors] and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age, by impressing the minds of men with the importance of educating their little boys and girls, of inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and love of the Deity and universal philanthropy, and, in subordination to these great principles, the love of their country; of instructing them in the art of Self-Government, without which they never can act a wise part in the government of societies, great or small; in short, of leading them in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system.

At the age of 28 years, writing in the year 1750, Samuel Adams had already perceived that man’s political liberty relates to spiritual freedom under the law of God. Like Paul, he recognized that sin enslaves man and does not permit him to be “subject to no other control” and “commanded by no other power than the laws and ordinances of the great Creator of all things.”

Teach the Children

  • Our nation is a Republic of self-governing people.
  • Man’s sinful nature prevents him from saving himself, therefore God gave his Word to guide us in how to practice the gift of self-government under Christ our Savior.
  • To sustain American liberty and the privilege of self-governing, we must individually choose to be self-governed under Christ.

Paul defines virtue: as “the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” He admonishes us to “add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge … knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Peter: 1:5, 8

The tendency of the true Gospel principles is to bring the most absolute despotism under the limits of law.

 *Hall, V. M. (2006). The Christian History of the Constitution of the United States of America. Christian Self-Government (Founders Edition, Vol. 1, p. xiv). San Francisco: Foundation for American Christian Education.

Post navigation

Previous Previous post: Praying for our youth and the nation
Next Next post: The Declaration of Independence says we have the right to overthrow the government and instill a new one by the people for the people of the people. How could someone do that?
  • The Principle Approach - Biblical-Classical Education, the Principle Approach, America’s historic method of Biblical reasoning, places the Truth of… Read More
  • Order FREE Resource Catalogue - The FACE Resource Catalogue is your definitive guide to the proven Biblically-based curriculum for grades… Read More

Upcoming Events

Jun 5
June 5 - August 7

Renewing the Mind Online Course

Jun 23
June 23 - June 27

The Foundation Course

Jul 7
July 7 - July 11

The Application Course

Jul 21
July 21 - July 23

Principle Approach Exhibit

Aug 11
August 11 - October 17

Renewing the Mind Flexible Online Course

View Calendar

Primary Resources

  • Bonding Parents to Your Mission
    Open a “Red Book” on nearly any page and you will be Read More
  • Renewing the Mind for Teaching and Learning
    The thirst for learning is so apparent in young Read More
  • Nation Makers holds the secret for America to endure as a self-governing nation.
    Nation Makers: the Art of Self-Government and Teacher Read More
  • The Only Biblical Worldview Dictionary
    Webster’s 1828 Dictionary is a unique and essential Read More

Our Mission

The Foundation for American Christian Education publishes and teaches America’s Christian history and method of education by Biblical principles to restore Christian self-government and character to the individual, to families, to the church and to the nations.

  • Our Mission
  • About Us
  • How To Reach Us
  • The Principle Approach®
  • Noah Plan®
  • Commonwealth Community
  • FACE News
  • Discerning Moment
  • Lessons in Liberty
  • Order FREE Resource Catalogue
  • PEERS Test
  • Legal
  • Guidelines
  • Store
  • Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language
  • Partner with us
  • 800-352-3223
  • Home
    • About Us
    • Our Mission
      • A Three-Part Plan to Stop America’s Decline and Restore our Biblical Heritage.
    • Our Founders
    • Our Board of Directors
    • Our Staff
    • How to reach us
    • Follow Us
  • Learn
    • Principle Approach® Master Teacher Certification Program
      • The Foundation Course
      • The Application Course
      • The Exhibition Course
      • The Foundation Course Independent Study
    • Lessons in Liberty 2024-25 Series
    • The Principle Approach®
    • Renewing the Mind for Teaching and Learning Online Course
    • Teaching Resources and Tools
    • Principled Studies Groups
      • Principled Studies Group Directory
      • Principled Studies Group Essential Resources
      • Principled Studies Group Additional Resources
    • The Hall-Slater Library and Teaching Center
    • Commonwealth Community
    • Leading Schools Program
      • Leading Schools Program Inquiry
      • Demonstration Schools Directory
      • FACE Marketing Bootcamp
    • Schoolhouse Tutors
  • Ministry
    • Ministry Overview
    • Christian Home
    • Christian Church
    • Christian School
      • StoneBridge School
      • Dayspring Christian Academy visit
    • International
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Namibia
      • Uganda
      • AECEP Sao Paulo, Brazil
      • Mazatlan, Mexico
    • Christian Education Initiative
    • Luminaries
    • Like-minded Ministries
  • Giving
    • Donate now
    • FACE Reports and Fundraising Letters
    • Partner with us
    • The impact of your generosity
  • Events
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
    • Store
    • Order FREE Resource Catalogue
    • Homeschooling Resources
    • Curriculum Guides
    • Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language
      • Should I be teaching more?
    • The Red Books
    • Principled Studies Group Essential Resources
    • Self-Teaching Courses in the Principle Approach
    • Every Child a Promise
    • Webliography for Historical Research
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Copyright ©2025 The Foundation for American Christian Education
P.O. Box 9588, Chesapeake, Virginia 23321-9588