WallBuilders’ goal is to exert a direct and positive influence in government, education, and the family by (1) educating the nation concerning the Godly foundation of our country; (2) providing information to federal, state, and local officials as they develop public policies which reflect Biblical values; and (3) encouraging Christians to be involved in the civic arena.

Educating the Nation

In the first part of this goal, we develop materials to educate the public concerning the periods in our country’s history when its laws and policies were firmly rooted in Biblical principles. As George Washington indicated in his famous “Farewell Address,” previous generations believed such elements were inseparable from America:

Of all the habits and dispositions which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.

For over three centuries, historians presented American history from a broad perspective, but in the 1960s historical writers widely embraced what today is called the “economic view of American history” whereby economic causes are the primary and almost singular emphasis of study. Consequently, students study only “taxation without representation” when they examine the Declaration of Independence rather than important civil, governmental, and moral principles addressed in that document.

WallBuilders returns to the historical approach long utilized by the nation’s pre-eminent historians. As Charles Coffin (a best-selling author of school history texts in the nineteenth century) reminded teachers in his text, The Story of Liberty:

You will notice that while the oppressors have carried out their plans and had things their own way, there were other forces silently at work which in time undermined their plans – as if a Divine hand were directing the counter-plan. Whoever peruses the story of liberty without recognizing this feature will fail of fully comprehending the meaning of history. There must be a meaning to history or else existence is an incomprehensible enigma.

This broad and thus much more inclusive approach to American history characterized the work of influential historians and educators from George Bancroft (“The Father of American History”) to Noah Webster (“The Schoolmaster to America”) to Emma Willard (“The Pioneer of Women’s Education in America”), John Fiske, and countless others. In fact, to exclude non-economic events and motivations is to present a biased view of history. As explained by U. S. Department of Education history researcher Dr. Paul Vitz:

Bias is primarily accomplished by exclusion. . . . Such a bias is much harder to observe than a positive vilification or direct criticism, but it is the essence of censorship.

WallBuilders presents an uncensored view of American history, thus not only giving meaning to history but also keeping it from becoming what Charles Coffin termed “an incomprehensible enigma.”Providing Information

In the second part of our goal, we believe that as citizens learn the truth about our nation’s past, they will be better equipped to help frame its future and to help shape the policies under which they will live. Toward this end, WallBuilders is an educational resource to those working toward improving federal, state and local policies. This is accomplished in part by providing direct assistance to our elected and appointed officials. This assistance takes several forms, including consulting with both legislators and judges, at their request, on legal and historical issues, testifying in state and federal hearings, providing research services, identifying and supporting sound legislation, and providing historical perspectives to current problems.

Encouraging Christians

Thirdly, we encourage people of faith to become involved in the civic arena, whether through prayer or direct involvement. As President and gospel minister James A. Garfield stated, “Now, more than ever, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. . . . [I]f the next centennial does not find us a great nation. . . . it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.”