The Eric Metaxas Show #58 - Jerry Newcombe
Feb 17, 2026
Jerry Newcombe, executive director of Providence Forum and author focusing on faith and the American founding. They explore why America 250 matters. They trace the founders’ Christian and Lockean roots. They spotlight Samuel Adams’ central but quiet role. They link Lincoln’s Gettysburg remarks back to the founding vision.
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God As The Source Of American Liberty
- The American revolution and its success are deeply rooted in a Christian worldview and appeal to God.
- Founders drew on John Locke and biblical concepts to ground rights as God-given, not human grants.
Appeal To Heaven As Revolutionary Rationale
- Early revolutionary slogans and symbols invoked divine authority, e.g., 'appeal to heaven.'
- John Locke's work provided theological-political justification for resisting exhausted human appeals.
Founders Were Largely Christian
- Eric Metaxas emphasizes the undeniable Christian basis of the founding, from language to leaders.
- He argues many founders were devout Christians, not merely Enlightenment deists.
