Is he or isn't he?

Before leaving the subject of Psalm 127, there was one additional insight made by James Montgomery Boice in Psalms: An Expositional Commentary that really captured my attention. I have read elsewhere, and it was confirmed in this article as well, that Benjamin Franklin was not a Christian, but did appreciate several of the doctrines and followers of historical Christianity. Boice says the following: "Franklin understood the futility of work without God and expressed it well in his 'Speech to the Convention for Forming a Constitution for the United States,' delivered in Philadelphia in 1787."

So here is the portion of the speech that refers to Psalm 127, and particularly verse 1: "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain."

"In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time (81 years) and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel."

Wow. If Benjamin Franklin really wasn't a Christian, then he certainly did a very good imitation of one.