Did you know that in early America, some elected officials couldn’t take office unless they publicly professed faith in Jesus Christ? When the American colonies first became independent states, several of them wrote constitutions that required public officials to affirm Christian belief.

One of the clearest examples comes from the Delaware Constitution of 1776. Anyone elected to public office in Delaware had to take an oath that included this declaration:

“I profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed forevermore…”

Officials also had to affirm that the Holy Scriptures were given by divine inspiration.

Another piece of American history many people have never been told. History becomes a lot more interesting when you read the original documents!