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Chuck Norris Praises George Washington’s Faith, Shares President’s Passionate Prayer

Chuck Norris Praises George Washington’s Faith, Shares President’s Passionate Prayer

By Movieguide® Contributor

In a new essay, actor Chuck Norris shared his research into President George Washington’s strong Christian faith. 

Norris wrote about Washington’s accolades as a soldier, leader and president, adding that he was a “constant” attendee at church throughout his life. 

The actor also cites a video presentation at Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, that details his faith. An excerpt from the video shares:

Washington believed that political and religious freedom went hand-in-hand, and he encouraged the new republic to embrace religious tolerance: “[For you, doubtless, remember that I have often expressed my sentiment, that] every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshiping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience.”

It is clear in Washington’s writings that he was a deeply spiritual man, with a strong belief that a benevolent power was acting in his life and in the founding of the United States: “Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.”

“Wow!” Norris marveled. “Does all that sound like it could have come from a deist, who didn’t believe God intervened in the affairs of men? Just the opposite. If only today’s presidents and government officials were as religiously devoted as Washington!”

He shared Washington’s devotion to praying every day, and Dr. George Tsakiridis, Ph.D, professor of religion at South Dakota State University, even said that Washington did “personal devotions” every morning and evening. 

Norris then encouraged his readers to pray the prayer Washington wrote for our country and that Americans still read every day at Mount Vernon’s public wreath-laying ceremony at his tomb:

I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have the United States in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation. Amen.

“Washington’s heart and passion still pours out for his country as ours does even now as we pray what he penned 240 years ago,” Norris concluded.

Movieguide® previously reported on Norris and the impact prayer has had on his life:

Hollywood legend Chuck Norris praised his 100-year-old mother ahead of Mother’s Day for the profound, faith-filled influence she has on his life.

“My mother has prayed for me all my life, through thick and thin. When I was born, I almost died from complications. When nearly losing my soul to Hollywood a few decades ago, she was back home praying for my success and salvation. She even prayed for me to find a woman to change my life, and it worked,” Norris said.

Norris shared some of his mother’s biographical information to highlight the seemingly insurmountable challenges she overcame:

My mom, Wilma Norris Knight, was born in 1921 in rural Wilson, Oklahoma, where I grew up, too. I think its population peaked back then with a whopping 1,800 people.


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