By Marianne Mauti
Our Great Patriotic Pastoral Past
Whenever I go to antique stores, I love to look through old books, especially the ones pertaining to American History. Most of the time I end up buying them because I am passionate about preserving what is written within the pages. I love to read the firsthand accounts, portions of letters and diary entries written during seminal moments in time. Older historical accounts are always filled with interesting and revelatory stories that I, quite frankly, never learned about in school. Usually written from the deeply religious perspective of their time, most of these narratives were written by the very men and women who experienced it firsthand! You only have to read through a few pages to discover that these were men and women of tremendous faith and courage, who relied on the Word of God and believed there was a divine purpose and plan for their lives. It was, in fact, what gave them the strength to leave their homes, fortunes, families and friends to go to an uncivilized wilderness to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No sacrifice was too great, no task too difficult and no work too impossible because their mandate was divine. It was this kind of conviction that propelled this nation forward into becoming the single greatest force for Godliness, goodness, liberty and freedom the world has ever known! Between the musty pages of those old books, you will find a much different account of our nations history then you will read today. A faith filled perspective of early American life has been all but written out of today's current textbooks, biographies and accounts. And…. it has been done on purpose!
Because our nations early history is so intertwined with our Christian heritage, faith and doctrine, secular humanists have had to exclude most of these wonderful stories of faith, determination, courage and conviction. Even though these are the stories that made this nation what it is today, they have all but disappeared. Our Nations history has become a sterile narrative of events and facts, minus God! If you want to read the true accounts you have to either research the original writings , diaries or manuscripts written at the time or find, like I do, history books written before secular revisionism! Sadly most young Americans will never take the time to do that. Instead they rely on the conventional sources for their information.
Our Patriotic Past
One of the exceptional accounts of all but forgotten American history is the role of our colonial Pastors (or Clergy) in the war for our Independence, even more importantly their role in God's divine plan for America! While the early colonists were genuinely angry and upset with the taxation policy of the monarchy, the catalyst for a full national rebellion was formed by a far deeper and more spiritual nature that had to do with England's growing desire to establish a state religion in America! The 'state sponsored' Churches in America at that time were closely tied to the Church in England. While there were other religious groups and denominations in America, it was the British state sponsored Churches that had the most influence in the every day life of the colonists. Pastors and congregations who went along with the policies of the Church of England benefitted greatly from their alliance. While that may not seem important to us now, it was a source of great consternation that only exploded when a new wave of revival began to spread across America in the early 1770's. America was beginning to experience the single greatest, most transformational event in her short history and it was about to push the men and women who were changed by it, into publishing a document that would change everything.
America's Spiritual Awakening
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| George Whitefield |
A man of God committed to his calling and guided by the Holy Spirit forged the way of a 'Great Awakening' in America. This 'Awakening' was credited by our Founding Fathers as leading directly to writing and publishing the greatest document to be written on behalf of mankind. This document, the first of its kind in all of human history, was none other than, "The Declaration of Independence". This declaration proclaimed that all me are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that the purpose of government was to protect those God given rights. Our founding fathers claimed the authority to separate from English rule was granted to them by ,"the laws of Nature and Nature's God." That expression is not just flowery prose written by an eighteenth century gentleman, it is actually a defined legal term. The Blackstone Commentary on the Law (which was the standard for English Law in England and America ) defined the 'laws of nature,' as the will of God for His creation as revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures. In other words, our Founding Fathers claimed the authority and foundation of the United States of America rested on the Bible!
Our Patriotic Pastors
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| John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg |
Pastors had a tremendous influence on Sam Adams (who was called the father of the Revolution.) Adams wrote the following in an article titled 'The Rights of the Colonist as Christians':
"The right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, the rights of the colonists as Christians may best be understood by reading and carefully studying the institutions of the Great Law Giver and the Head of the Christian Church, which are to be found clearly written and promulgated in the New Testament."
Perhaps the most famous Patriot Pastor was the Reverend John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg. In January of 1776 after completing a message from the text, Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven," Pastor Muhlenberg stepped down from his pulpit and said, "In the language of the Holy Writ, there is a time for all things. There is a time to preach and a time to fight. And now is the time to fight." He then removed his clerical robe to reveal the uniform of a Colonial Army officer. That afternoon, he rode off leading 300 men from his congregation to join General George Washington as the Eigth Virginia Cavalry. Pastor Muhlenberg rose to the rank of Major General before the war ended.
The Black Robe Regiment
A struggle for political compliance, spiritual authority and fiscal control over the people was beginning and even though there was a wave of revival sweeping across the land, most colonists still considered themselves aligned with England. Many parishioners questioned the fundamental legitimacy of revolution, and of separating from Britain and the Church of England.So the clergy began to reassure the congregations of the need to separate from the Church of England and the British Monarchy. The British Government was so outraged by the clergy's interference and growing influence that they called the Pastors of that time the ,"Black Robe Regiment" because they ascended to their pulpits each week in their black, clerical robes and stirred the people's hearts to liberty.Winning and maintaining the support of the population was critical in the war for Independence. They helped to muster critical support, support the British begrudgingly acknowledged was vital to maintaining the colonists and frustrating resistance to their attempts to restore Parliamentary rule. According to John Adams, our second President, they were "the primary cause that resulted in America's independence." That is quite a statement! Success in the war for our religious and political independence from Great Britain brought together Americans of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and faiths, who united together effectively enough to defeat the world's strongest military power.
Christianity is at the Heart of Our Republic
Perhaps the most famous Patriot Pastor was the Reverend John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg. In January of 1776 after completing a message from the text, Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven," Pastor Muhlenberg stepped down from his pulpit and said, "In the language of the Holy Writ, there is a time for all things. There is a time to preach and a time to fight. And now is the time to fight." He then removed his clerical robe to reveal the uniform of a Colonial Army officer. That afternoon, he rode off leading 300 men from his congregation to join General George Washington as the Eigth Virginia Cavalry. Pastor Muhlenberg rose to the rank of Major General before the war ended.
The Black Robe Regiment
A struggle for political compliance, spiritual authority and fiscal control over the people was beginning and even though there was a wave of revival sweeping across the land, most colonists still considered themselves aligned with England. Many parishioners questioned the fundamental legitimacy of revolution, and of separating from Britain and the Church of England.So the clergy began to reassure the congregations of the need to separate from the Church of England and the British Monarchy. The British Government was so outraged by the clergy's interference and growing influence that they called the Pastors of that time the ,"Black Robe Regiment" because they ascended to their pulpits each week in their black, clerical robes and stirred the people's hearts to liberty.Winning and maintaining the support of the population was critical in the war for Independence. They helped to muster critical support, support the British begrudgingly acknowledged was vital to maintaining the colonists and frustrating resistance to their attempts to restore Parliamentary rule. According to John Adams, our second President, they were "the primary cause that resulted in America's independence." That is quite a statement! Success in the war for our religious and political independence from Great Britain brought together Americans of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and faiths, who united together effectively enough to defeat the world's strongest military power.
Christianity is at the Heart of Our Republic
We shouldn't be surprised that Christian Clergy have been at the center of our country's fight for continued religious freedom from the very beginning of our Declared Independence from the British. Our Patriot Pastors stand as a reminder of our obligation as Christians to continue to fight for our religious freedom and liberty today. With every passing day, the fundamental Christian principles and values our nation was founded on are slowly being eroded. A large part of the problem is that the account of America's spiritual awakening, the deeper spiritual reason for seeking our liberty and freedom and the wonderful stories of our courageous forefathers ( like the Patriot Pastors) have been written out of our modern secular textbooks! The majority of children and young adults in America today are completely ignorant of the connection between the faith of those who came to declare this land for the Kingdom of God and the subsequent success of America as a Nation! They simply and purposefully have never been taught about our country's rich Christian heritage. They don't recognize that our laws, our system of ethics and our moral code of conduct are founded on the 10 commandments and the spiritual principles of God's Holy Word! Biblical principles are continuing to be exchanged for a God-removed, secularized world view that not only disagrees with the Bible but has become increasing antagonistic towards it! As a nation we have slowly chipped away at the strong, principled foundation that made our nation great and changed the world!
Christianity is at the heart of our great Republic and we must be willing to take on the battle to keep it there. With such a great and rich heritage we cannot sit idly by and say nothing. Our forefathers had confidence in the power of faith to lead them to victory in the fight for freedom, we must too! Here are some important messages (also have been removed form our modern textbooks) that our forefathers shared with a new and young America. These words are as relevant to us today as they were over 200 years ago:
Christianity is at the heart of our great Republic and we must be willing to take on the battle to keep it there. With such a great and rich heritage we cannot sit idly by and say nothing. Our forefathers had confidence in the power of faith to lead them to victory in the fight for freedom, we must too! Here are some important messages (also have been removed form our modern textbooks) that our forefathers shared with a new and young America. These words are as relevant to us today as they were over 200 years ago:
President George Washington during his farewell address:
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness…. And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion."
Many have said that George Washington was so loved and respected by the American people after the war ended that the would have willingly made him King. But he was a man that believed that there was only one King and His name was Jesus . He believed America was worth the struggle and would stand as a symbol of hope for other nations all over the world!
Noah Webster wrote in the preface of his 1828 Dictionary:
Many have said that George Washington was so loved and respected by the American people after the war ended that the would have willingly made him King. But he was a man that believed that there was only one King and His name was Jesus . He believed America was worth the struggle and would stand as a symbol of hope for other nations all over the world!
Noah Webster wrote in the preface of his 1828 Dictionary:
"In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed… No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people."
While the world continues to defend religions that persecute and murder their own people, Christianity continues to affirm the reason it, and it alone brings liberty, freedom, hope and humanity to every culture that embraces it! He added this in the first public school history book titled "Republican Government" (America is Republic, not a Democracy): "It is the sincere desire of the writer that our citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct republican principles is the Bible, particularly the New Testament or the Christian Religion."
Conclusion
America was not going to be ruled by the religious restraints of the Church of England or the iron fist of the monarchy! Our American Republic was of the people, by the people and for the people. Our Founding Fathers knew that in order for this great experiment in government to work, a man had to be governed from within. The Bible was not only the cornerstone of the church, it was the cornerstone of our government!
The spirit of God moved across America and the fledgling Nation began to take shape and form. American was a grand experiment and the world was watching! Spurred on by the success in America, France's revolution unfolded within a decade of ours. They did not however understand the true spiritual significance of our revolution. They rejected God's spirit and chose to even deny the very existence of God, building a government on enlightened humanity (man was his own God). France began her calendar over again with year one, choosing to no longer recognize the birth of Christ. They implemented three ten-day weeks instead of the Biblically mandated seven-day weeks. By 1830 France was on her 9th Constitution. So French statesmen Alexis de Tocqueville came to tour America in hopes of finding why our America Constitution worked while France's failed. Here were the following observations he made:
1. Religion…. "must be regarded as the foremost of the political institutions of that country; for if it does not impart a taste for freedom, it facilitates the use of it. I do not know whether all Americans have a sincere faith in their religious belief, for who can search the human heart? But I am certain that they hold it to be indispensable to the maintenance of republican institutions. This opinion is not peculiar to a class of citizens or a party, but it belongs to the whole nation and to every rank of society."
2. Sovereignty…" In the United States the sovereign authority is religious….there is no country in the whole world where the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America, and there can be no greater proof of it's utility and of its conformity to human nature than that its influence is powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation on the earth."
3. Liberty… " Americans combine the notion of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other."
Alexis de Tocqueville would say in later manuscripts, that as long as America remained faithful to her spiritual convictions, she would remain the greatest nation in the world. He left America with a sense of awe and wonder and was deeply moved by what he witnessed. He finally understood what really made America's success possible and saw firsthand what men an women could accomplish when their faith and confidence rested in someone greater and higher than themselves. Gods plan for America came to pass despite every effort of man to stop and suppress it. Great Britain and the Church of England (the greatest single power in the world at that time ) soon discovered that not even they could hold back the move of God, the hand of God and the hearts of those who believed!
God Bless America
While the world continues to defend religions that persecute and murder their own people, Christianity continues to affirm the reason it, and it alone brings liberty, freedom, hope and humanity to every culture that embraces it! He added this in the first public school history book titled "Republican Government" (America is Republic, not a Democracy): "It is the sincere desire of the writer that our citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct republican principles is the Bible, particularly the New Testament or the Christian Religion."
Conclusion
America was not going to be ruled by the religious restraints of the Church of England or the iron fist of the monarchy! Our American Republic was of the people, by the people and for the people. Our Founding Fathers knew that in order for this great experiment in government to work, a man had to be governed from within. The Bible was not only the cornerstone of the church, it was the cornerstone of our government!
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| Alexis de Tocqueville |
1. Religion…. "must be regarded as the foremost of the political institutions of that country; for if it does not impart a taste for freedom, it facilitates the use of it. I do not know whether all Americans have a sincere faith in their religious belief, for who can search the human heart? But I am certain that they hold it to be indispensable to the maintenance of republican institutions. This opinion is not peculiar to a class of citizens or a party, but it belongs to the whole nation and to every rank of society."
2. Sovereignty…" In the United States the sovereign authority is religious….there is no country in the whole world where the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America, and there can be no greater proof of it's utility and of its conformity to human nature than that its influence is powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation on the earth."
3. Liberty… " Americans combine the notion of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other."
Alexis de Tocqueville would say in later manuscripts, that as long as America remained faithful to her spiritual convictions, she would remain the greatest nation in the world. He left America with a sense of awe and wonder and was deeply moved by what he witnessed. He finally understood what really made America's success possible and saw firsthand what men an women could accomplish when their faith and confidence rested in someone greater and higher than themselves. Gods plan for America came to pass despite every effort of man to stop and suppress it. Great Britain and the Church of England (the greatest single power in the world at that time ) soon discovered that not even they could hold back the move of God, the hand of God and the hearts of those who believed!
God Bless America
Let us continue to pray for Gods blessing on our Nation. Let us humble ourselves before God, repent for our sin, so he can hear us from heaven and bring spiritual healing to our land! I don't know about you but I feel blessed to part of such great and rich Christian Heritage. I am a Proud Patriotic American Christian, how about you?
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FORGING YOUR FAITH
To 'Forge' something, is to mold and shape something for suitable use. We believe that our lives are constantly being shaped and molded by the hand of God for His divine purpose! This publication strives to encourage believers who are beginning this process and those who are well into it! We also believe a truly successful life is a Christ-Centered Life! We hope you will join us and become a regular reader!
Thank You and God Bless,
Marianne Mauti
Founder and CAO
'Forging Your Faith' is the online Christian publication of 'Christ the King Church' in Bellevue, Pa.
About Marianne Mauti: Marianne is a writer and blogger as well as a Pastor at "Christ the King Church" in Bellevue, Pa. She is currently the Dean and Chief Operating Officer of "Christ the King Seminary" a full time Bible Institute. For more information about us please contact us at: crowncntr@aol.com
About Marianne Mauti: Marianne is a writer and blogger as well as a Pastor at "Christ the King Church" in Bellevue, Pa. She is currently the Dean and Chief Operating Officer of "Christ the King Seminary" a full time Bible Institute. For more information about us please contact us at: crowncntr@aol.com ***********************************************************
ARTICLE RESOURCES
ARTICLE RESOURCES
* The Bible
*Dr. George R. Beninate: Is Bishop of "Christ the King Church" in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A Doctor of Theology, Biblical Apologist, conference speaker, lecturer and my spiritual father.He is also the Author of several books including,"The Age of Glory", Thank you for your relentless pursuit of truth!
* "The History of Civilization" 1856 - "The Black Robe Regiment"
* "The Life of General Peter Muhlenberg of the Revolutionary Army" Carey and Hart 1849
*Thomas Paine, "The Book Of Common Sense" 1776
* "The American Crisis" R. Carlisle 1819
* "The Life of General Peter Muhlenberg of the Revolutionary Army" Carey and Hart 1849
*Thomas Paine, "The Book Of Common Sense" 1776
* "The American Crisis" R. Carlisle 1819
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