The Untold Story of American Independence - Part 11

The following address was made by some Pennsylvania Quaker (Religious Society of Friends) leaders to a colonial assembly in early 1775. Once again we see another example of what steps and trials some take and go through to stand for the true gospel and teachings of the Holy Scriptures. Upon reading this address, notice the mention of the well-documented fact that the King of Great Britain was the true authority over the colonies, an authority of which the colonists had no biblical justification of overthrowing. In doing so, they were in disobedience to God.

"Having considered, with real sorrow, the unhappy contest between the legislature of Great Britain and the people of these colonies, and the animosities consequent therein, we have by repeated public advices and private admonitions, used our endeavors to dissuade the members of our religious society from joining with the public resolutions promoted and entered into by some of the people, which, as we apprehended, so we now find, have increased contention, and produced great discord and confusion.

"The Divine Principle of grace and truth which we profess, leads all who attend to its dictates to demean themselves as peaceable subjects, and to discountenance and avoid every measure tending to excite disaffection to the king as supreme magistrate, or to the legal authority of his government; to which purpose many of the late political writings and addresses to the people appearing to be calculated, we are led by a sense of duty to declare our entire disapprobation of them - their spirit and temper being not only contrary to the nature and precepts of the gospel, but destructive of the peace and harmony of civil society, disqualifies men in these times of difficulty for the wise and judicious consideration and promoting of such measures as would be most effectual for reconciling differences or obtaining the redress of grievances.

"From our past experience of the clemency of the king and his royal ancestors, we have grounds to hope and believe that decent and respectful addresses from those who are vested with legal authority, representing the prevailing dissatisfactions and the cause of them, would avail toward obtaining relief, ascertaining and establishing the just rights of the people, and restoring the public tranquillity; and we deeply lament that contrary modes of proceeding have been pursued, which have involved the colonies in confusion, appear likely to produce violence and bloodshed, and threaten the subversion of the constitutional government, and of that liberty of conscience for the enjoyment of which our ancestors were induced to encounter the manifold dangers and difficulties of crossing the seas and of settling in the wilderness.

"We are therefore incited, by a sincere concern for the peace and welfare of our country, publicly to declare against every usurpation of power and authority in opposition to the laws and government, and against all combinations, insurrections, conspiracies, and illegal assemblies; and as we are restrained from them by the conscientious discharge of our duty to Almighty God, “by whom kings reign and princes decree justice,”4 we hope, through his assistance and favor, to be enabled to maintain our testimony against any requisitions which may be made of us, inconsistent with our religious principles, and the fidelity we owe to the King and his government, as by law established; earnestly desiring the restoration of that harmony and concord which have heretofore united the people of these provinces, and been attended by the divine blessing on their labors."

The Untold Story of American Independence - Part 10

The following material excerpted from a fifth grade social studies course produced by Christian Light Publications shows some of the biblical stands taken by Christians during the American Revolutionary War. Like in most cases, a minority will truly take a stand for what is biblically right and not fall prey to pressure or to the popular movements of the time.

US Anabaptists during the Revolutionary War

Not Everyone Favors Independence

The Loyalists. Not all the people could say "Amen" to independence. A sizable minority stayed loyal to King George. These loyalists were called Tories by the revolutionaries.

Why did the Tories stay loyal? Some Tories supported the king because they thought the revolutionaries were rabble-rousers. In their minds democracy meant mob rule, tarring and feathering, and destruction of property. Other loyalists agreed with the patriots about "no taxation without representation." But they wanted to solve the dispute in such a way as to remain in the British Empire. Independence went too far for them. The patriots considered all loyalists traitors. Most of the new states passed laws taking away the loyalists' property. Patriot mobs attacked prominent Tories. Those found helping the British were imprisoned.

To escape mistreatment, many loyalists fled to areas held by the British army. Around 100,000 went to Canada. But most stayed and tried not to attract any notice. To uncover these secret Tories, the states required everyone to swear an oath of allegiance. Some angry loyalists served in the British army. The Revolutionary War was actually America's first civil war in which brother killed brother.

The Liberties of Nonresistant Christians. Some Americans supported neither side in the Revolution. Instead, as Mennonite and German Baptist leaders said in 1775, "We have dedicated ourselves to serve all men in everything that can be helpful to the preservation of men's lives, but...we are not at liberty in conscience to take up arms to conquer our enemies, but rather to pray to God, who has power in heaven and on earth, for us and them." Chief among these nonresistant Christians were the Quakers, Mennonites, German Baptists, Moravians, and Schwenkfelders.

Most nonresistant Christians were quite content with their lot as British subjects. As three Mennonite bishops in Pennsylvania wrote in 1773, "Through God's mercy we enjoy unlimited freedom in both civil and religious matters." Ironically, once the fight for liberty started, the freedom of nonresistant Christians became sharply limited. (Underline emphasis mine.)

Militia Duty. The first issue that peace-promoting Christians faced was militia duty. After Lexington and Concord, patriot committees called all able-bodied men to join a voluntary association "to learn the art of war." The associators noticed that the nonresistant Christians did not join in the drills. They demanded laws requiring everybody to serve.

In November 1775, Mennonite and German Baptist ministers sent A Short and Sincere Declaration to the Pennsylvania assembly. They suggested an alternative to militia duty. They would donate money to help poor families left destitute because their men were off fighting. Instead Pennsylvania passed a law levying a special war tax on all non-associators. Later it said nonresistant Christians could hire substitutes or pay a fine. Most nonresistant Christians refused to do either, because as the Short and Sincere Declaration stated, they found "no freedom in giving, or doing, or assisting in anything by which men's lives are destroyed or hurt." Therefore, Patriot officials confiscated their property to pay the tax and fines.

Free Quakers. A small number of Quakers abandoned their nonresistant convictions to fight for liberty. But most Quakers did not consider these to be real Quakers. They disowned any members who took up arms. In Philadelphia a group of disowned Quakers formed a new church, the Free Quakers.

Who is Caesar?

Independence created another problem for the nonresistant Christians. Was King George III or was the Continental Congress the Caesar they were to obey? Many of them had promised obedience to the king when they came to America. Breaking their word was seen as a serious sin. Also, the king had protected their liberties. Now the patriots were taking them away.

In the end the nonresistant Christians put their trust in the words of the prophet Daniel in the Bible, "He removeth kings and setteth up kings" (Daniel 2:21). They patiently waited for the outcome of the war to find out who God would set up as Caesar. In the meantime they followed a pattern of strict neutrality. They refused to help either side to fight.

However, when hungry, sick, or wounded soldiers, whether patriot or redcoat, needed aid, the nonresistant Christians gave it. As a Hessian officer said, "They are the most hospitable to us." The patriots did not understand this impartial love. They threatened men like Mennonite Christian Weaver with a whipping for feeding runaway British prisoners even though he had done the same for Continental soldiers. (Underline emphasis mine.)

The Test Acts. In 1777 most states passed Test Acts. They required everyone to take an oath of allegiance promising to defend the revolutionary cause with arms. Pennsylvania law decreed banishment and confiscation of all property for those who refused the oath.

Fanatical patriots used the Test Act against nonresistant Christians. In Northampton County, officials left "not a morsel of bread" for the children of ten Mennonite men who refused to take the oath. The authorities threw the men into jail at Easton. Two of the men's wives, Eva Yoder and Esther Bachman, appeared before the assembly and begged for mercy. Moved by the women's plight, the assembly revised its Test Act. It reduced the penalties to double taxation and loss of citizenship.

 

 

The Untold Story of American Independence - Part 9b

The truth, at times, can be like a good medicine and hard to swallow. However, in the end, it is healing and quite refreshing, quenching the thirst for real knowledge.

Watch this video on the real faith of the founding fathers of the United States of America. You won't hear this in any of your schools, colleges, universities or even churches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU24fJ4NQxo

The Untold Story of American Independence - Part 9

Did you know that:

- those loyal to the Crown  were called Loyalists, Tories, Royalists or King’s Men and those opposed to the Crown were called Rebels, Patriots and Whigs?

- plenty of evidence exists to show that the percentage of colonists opposed to the rebellion against the Crown was possibly as high as 40%, and if Indians and blacks were added that the percentage of those in the colonies, opposed would near 65%?

- those opposed to the war were mainly Christians/Bible believers (i.e. Anglicans, Moravians, Ana-Baptists, German Baptists, Quakers, Mennonites), whereas those for the war were mainly non-Christian, non-judgmental sects [i.e. Deists (i.e. Ben Franklin, possibly George Washington) and a liberal form of Presbyterianism]?

- Loyalists, for simply holding to their political beliefs and not for any wrong acts, were commonly mistreated by the Rebels? Mistreatment occurred in the forms of Loyalist homes and themselves being attacked by mobs or property confiscated; homes ransacked and personal belongings stolen; Loyalist printing presses being destroyed for printing Loyalist pamphlets; railings*; tar and featherings**; being hoisted up a “liberty pole” with a dead animal on it; being forced to ride with one’s head at a horse’s tail and coat turned inside out; forced sitting on lumps of coal; being placed in the stockades and other humiliations; whippings; ears being cropped; blackmail and threatenings; imprisonments; forced disarmament; excommunication from districts; and even being murdered, to name a few?

* A “railing” involved placing an individual on two sharp rails - one leg on each - with each rail being carried on the shoulders of two men. One such Loyalist who was railed was a Connecticut farmer (Seth Seeley) who in 1776 was punished in this fashion for signing a declaration supporting the King’s laws. He was “railed” through the streets, put in stocks, smeared with eggs, and robbed of his money.

** The tarring and feathering of an individual involved tar being heated up and poured on the head, shoulders, chest and back of a naked individual. The victim would be covered in feathers, placed in a cart, and paraded around the streets.

- although this was previously reported, the Boston Massacre was instigated by the Rebels and that future American president, John Adams, defended the British troops and basically won his case?

 - that General, George Washington approved mob persecution of the Loyalists? Upon meeting a procession of the Sons of Liberty humiliating Loyalists who have been “railed”, Washington reprimanded a general of his, Israel Putnam, for attempting to halt this procession by saying to him, “…to discourage such proceedings was to injure the cause of liberty in which they were engaged, and that nobody would attempt it but an enemy of his country." 

- Thomas Hutchinson, the Lieutenant (Acting) Governor of Massachusetts, attempted to enforce the Stamp Act of 1770 and had his home and library destroyed by a mob which included Samuel Adams? Hutchinson had his doors axed in, his furniture destroyed, money and jewelry stolen, and walls and roof dismantled. His family barely escaped with their lives.

- Test Laws were enacted after the signing of the Declaration of Independence which required colonists to swear allegiance to the state in which they lived and promising  not to aid or abet the British troops? Records were kept of those who took the oath. A certificate of taking the oath was issued to the colonists to prevent them from being arrested. Those caught without a certificate would be considered an outlaw and not even have the right of a foreigner in the courts of law; had no legal redress to obtain money owed to them by their neighbor; could leave an orphaned child to a friend or relative for guardianship; could not be the administrator or executor of an estate; could often be denied to practice their law or medical or other professional degree; could possibly have property taken, be imprisoned or even killed?

- that after the Test Laws were passed other laws were passed in states which included prominent Loyalists exiled (9 states), and in most states Loyalists expelled from all offices or professions and forced to pay double or more taxes?

- that between 1780 and 1781 the Province of New York required colonists to turn in the names of Loyalists or face being imprisoned? (Sounds like what I learned today in Obama requiring federal workers to report suspicious activity by other federal workers or face fines or imprisonment.)

- that in spite of the Treaty of Paris which officially ended the war in 1783, many Loyalists were still not treated equally or justly according to Articles within the Treaty? Many still had their property seized and sold. Many did not have their personal property restored or debts owed to them repaid.

- that many Indians and blacks also left the colonies during or after the war, one reason being the unfair treatment by the Rebels?

 

The Untold Story of American Independence - Part 8B

I just finished reading this eye opening book on early American history from God's perspective. Many of the things mentioned in my postings on American Independence -- postings which occurred before I even came across this book -- will be found in the pages of In God We Don't Trust.

This book is a must read for the history buff, especially for Christians who have not viewed American history from the proper perspective -- God's.

If you are completely honest with yourself and with God, you will never look at the American Revolution the same again.

The Untold Story of American Independence - Part 8

After 7 posts of well documented American history, keep in mind that the evidence is solid in proving that the colonists were not autonomous and that the Royal Crown (English government) had the final say so in how the colonies were to be governed as well as in what laws were allowed. With that said, let us now take a look in the Scriptures as to how God views the revolutionary (a.k.a. rebellious) actions of the colonists and the "founding fathers."

1. Colonists not considerate of the Indians and discontented with the Indians having much land dedicated to them from the Proclamation of 1763.

Exodus 20:17, “Thou shalt not covet...any thing that is thy neighbor’s.

Philippians 4:11, “...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have...”

2. Colonists disobeyed the Sugar (Revenue) Act of 1764 and ignored/defied the paying of taxes.

Romans 13:1-7, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation....Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also:...Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” 

Matthew 17:27, “Notwithstanding, lest we (Jesus speaking of himself and the disciples) offend them [those that received tribute (tax) money in Capernaum], go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take and give unto them for me and thee.”

Luke 20:22, 25, “Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?...And he (Jesus) said unto them (spies of the scribes and chief priests), Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.”

1 Peter 2:13-15, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God...”

(NOTE: Peter wrote this at a time in which Christians were being persecuted, tortured and killed by Nero.)

1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil:...”


3. Colonists constantly murmuring and complaining of new laws and taxes (Sugar Act, Quartering Act, Stamp Tax, etc.)

Philippians 2:14-16a, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life:...”

Luke 20:22, 25, “Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?...And he (Jesus) said unto them (spies of the scribes and chief priests), Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.”

1 Peter 2:13-15, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God...”

1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil:...”


4. Colonists (the Sons of Liberty) committed violent acts (burning property and ransacking house owned to Andrew Oliver, the burning of the British cutter Gaspee) and acts of agitation to the British.

Psalm 11:5, “The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.”

Ephesians 4:26, “Be ye angry, and sin not:...”

Luke 6:31, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."

1 Peter 3:9, “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing:...”


5. Disobedience of New York colony to enforce Quartering Act.

Romans 13:1-7, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation....Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also:...Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”

1 Peter 2:13-15, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God...”

Ephesians 4:26, “Be ye angry, and sin not:...”



6. Colonists protesting and boycotting the Townshend Acts.

Philippians 2:14-16a, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life:...”

Philippians 4:11, “...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

Romans 13:1-7, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation....Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also:...Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”

Matthew 17:27, “Notwithstanding, lest we (Jesus speaking of himself and the disciples) offend them [those that received tribute (tax) money in Capernaum], go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take and give unto them for me and thee.”

Luke 20:22, 25, “Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?...And he (Jesus) said unto them (spies of the scribes and chief priests), Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.”

1 Peter 2:13-15, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God...”

1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil:...”

Ephesians 4:26, “Be ye angry, and sin not:...”

7. Colonists taunting British soldiers and hitting them with snowballs – resulting in the Boston Massacre.

Psalm 11:5, “The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.”

Ephesians 4:26, “Be ye angry, and sin not:...”

Luke 6:31, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."

1 Peter 3:9, “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing:...”

1 Peter 3:11, “Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”

8. Colonists and the Sons of Liberty threatening merchants who sold tea and destroying merchants tea by throwing it into Boston Harbor.

Psalm 11:5, “The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.”

Ephesians 4:26, “Be ye angry, and sin not:...”

1 Peter 3:9, “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing:...”

1 Peter 3:11, “Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”


9. Colonists preventing judges from doing their duty in response to the Coercive Acts.

Colossians 3:17, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

1 Peter 3:9, “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing:...”


10. Thomas Jefferson (writer of Declaration) and those who signed it believing that God supports a rebellion like theirs and view their act as a righteous act.

Proverbs 17:11, “An evil man seeketh only rebellion:...”

1 Samuel 15:23, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft...” [Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines rebellion as “revolt” (revolution).]

11. Signers stating they are separating from Great Britain in the name of the people and not in the name of Jesus.

Colossians 3:17, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Some other verses which come to mind regarding those bent on separation include:

Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Proverbs 12:15, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.”

Proverbs 21:2, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.”

Judges 21:25, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Substitute “America” for “Israel”.)

I am proud to live in a country with abundant liberties and freedoms. So many others do not have nor can enjoy the privileges we have in America. However, after reading the verses and writings above and in spite of what you may believe about the “founding fathers” and their faith, there is no biblical justification for this colonial rebellion, an act which God views as being like witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23).

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God:..." (Romans 13:1-5)

“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God...” (1 Peter 2:13-15).

Addendum: It is this spirit of rebellion as seen in American independence which has permeated our society throughout the decades which followed. It is most recently seen in the American government's, Supreme Court's and so-called "Christians" which sanction and support reprobate and ungodly lifestyles and relationships -- things which God hates. These actions and those worse to come should not come as any surprise to those who follow God's word as well as view American history through His pages.

In following posts, we will see how some Christians were treated for viewing the American rebellion through God's word and took a stand against it.

 

 

The Untold Story of American Independence - Part 7

Let us review the previous six posts.

The colonists were tired of being told what to do by the British government (king) on the other side of the ocean. The English crown wanted the colonists to pay a large share of the costs incurred from and after the French and Indian War, so they put upon the colonists taxes like the Sugar Act of 1764, the Stamp Act of 1765 and others as a means to collect what they wanted. Other “burdens” (The Quartering Act, Townshend Acts, Coercive Acts) were also placed upon the colonists. At the same time, the colonists wanted a voice in British parliament or at least the ability to vote for a representative. But like with other British colonies, this did not happen. Through rally cries like “No taxation without representation”; incitement from men like Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine for the colonies to be independent and free from English rule; raids and other acts of violence akin to the Boston Tea Party; and other unlawful and disobedient acts, the Declaration of Independence was written and the Revolutionary War begun. The end result? The colonies became free and independent of British rule.
 

Most would say that the colonists had the right to rebel. They may even say that America was established by Pilgrims and others who wanted to be free by governmental control. On the surface, that may appear to be true. However, we learn the following from many sources, including The American Adventure: A History of the United States, Vol. 1 by David S, Muzzey (1927 - pps. 21-22), “In accordance with the accepted doctrine of the age of discovery, mariners and explorers were in the king’s service, and the lands which they might find were taken possession of in the name and for the use of the sovereign. So John Cabot’s discovery of Labrador in 1497 constituted the title of the English crown to the whole continent of America. During the seventeenth century the Stuart kings parceled out the American coast to various chartered companies or individual proprietors or boards of proprietors, granting them not only the right to the soil but also various powers of government.” Companies like the Virginia Company were given charters and patents to settle in the “New World.” This company was given one in 1606 by King James I and resulted in the establishing of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. The Pilgrims, who came over on the Mayflower and established Plymouth Colony in 1620, received a land patent from the London Company of Virginia in 1619 to settle in the Virginia territory.

What is interesting to note is that the charter for the Massachusetts Bay Colony was similar to the Virginia charter. The Massachusetts charter granted complete English citizenship to those born in the colony as well as to the settlers. It also gave the Massachusetts Bay Company and its members the authority to appoint a governor and a legislative assembly, an assembly which could pass any laws it wanted as long as they did go contrary to the laws and statutes of England.  

The article continues, “The king never meant that either soil or inhabitants should pass out of the control of the crown. Companies and proprietors exercised only a delegated authority. We have constant examples in the early history of the colonies of the interposition of the will of the king. He stopped emigrant vessels in the Thames, requiring the passengers to take the oath of allegiance before sailing to America. He repeatedly sent commissioners to the colonies to carry his royal commands and to conduct investigations of the government." Research shows that the 13 original colonies were considered to be "Crown colonies", colonies with the least autonomy and with a Governor over each that was appointed by the Monarch. However, when it comes to the American colonies, oversight "was far from perfect. Organs of administration were lacking both in the colonies and in England to maintain the authority of the crown.” This was due to several factors such as separation of the lands by the Atlantic Ocean as well as wars being fought by the British which took attention away from the colonies.

The British government’s void in governing the colonies naturally resulted in the colonies governing how they wanted. And when the British government began to realize even more their negligence in governing the colonies and started to organize proper governance of the them, the colonists natural reaction was to rebel, like when the parents of a teenager try too late to rein in a wayward child.

With that said, we will see from the Scriptures – the Holy Bible, God’s word – in our next post how God views their intentions and whether or not their acts leading up to and including the separation were righteous acts in His eyes.

The Untold Story of American Independence - Part 6

The Declaration of Independence (1776)

 

“From the moment hostilities broke out with the British, all of the members of the Continental Congress supported the Continental Army and their right to fight. However, the Congress was divided on whether the break with the motherland was permanent. Many of the more conservative members of the Congress believed it would still be possible to repair relations with the British. They pushed through the ‘Olive Branch Petition’, in the hopes that the British King would step in and repair the relationship. When the King refused to even accept their petition, it became clear to many colonists there was no chance of reconciliation. The feeling of irreconcilable differences between the British and the colonists was further strengthened when the British shelled and destroyed Falmouth. After the destruction of Falmouth, the Royal governor of Virginia offered to free any slave who helped the Crown.

“In January, Thomas Paine published ‘Common Sense’. The publication of ‘Common Sense’ had great impact on Americans, and as a result, on the Congress. Over 150,000 copies of Paine's ‘Common Sense’ were sold. The book was read by countless additional people. Paine succeeded in bringing to the forefront, a message that had to date only been whispered.-‘Americans want Independence’.

 

“Sentiments grew for independence from Britain. The sentiment for independence was strengthened by the need to receive aid from France. The colonies would only be able to receive French aid, once they were independent of British rule. In May 1776 the Congress instructed the individual colonies to establish independent governments. By June 1776 the sentiment for independence had hardened throughout the colonies.

 

“The most important colony at the time was Virginia. The Virginia Convention met in Williamsburg. The Virginia Convention delegates voted to instruct their representatives in Congress to declare the colonies ‘free and Independent states, absolved from all allegiances to, or dependence on, the Crown or the Parliament of Great Britain’.

 

“Following his instructions, Henry Lee introduced a resolution calling for immediate independence. Those who favored independence believed it was best to delay and allow the sentiments for Independence to continue to grow.

 

“The Continental Congress appointed a committee consisting of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Benjamin Franklin to draft a Declaration of Independence. The group tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence delegated the job to Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson based his declaration on the universal rights of men; the key being that the right to govern is based on the consent of the people.

 

“The Committee accepted Jefferson's draft almost in its entirety. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress accepted Lee's resolution calling for Independence. It then turned to the Declaration itself. They met as a committee for two full days. They made minor amendments to the draft of the Declaration. Finally, on the 4th of July the Congress approved the Declaration and signed it.”

 

The signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 is a pivotal moment in American history. Not only was this event instrumental in the colonists’ rebellion but the document itself was the framework for the Constitution of the United States, which was adopted on September 17, 1787. The Declaration of Independence begins, “When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

 

The writers of the document clearly state here that God sanctions rebellion against what is viewed as a repressive government. This view is reiterated in the documents next paragraph, “...That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends (life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness), it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. —Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.” (Note that the seeds are sown here to where a people can dispose of or alter any form of government which they no longer care for, that is any government which does not allow for "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" as the people determine to define it. This explains a lot of what has been taking place for many decades.) 

 

The document continues, “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.” From here, the writers list their grievances with Great Britain and reasons for separation. Many items listed can be seen in the prior five blog postings.

 

In the document’s closing, the writers proclaim, “We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.”

 

So it is in the name and authority of the people of the colonies (and not God) that the writers proclaim their independence, all the while appealing to God -- “the Supreme Judge of the world” -- to view what they are doing as the right and correct thing to do. Without saying more on the subject, the following postings will go into more detail on the biblical perspective of this document and of the acts and spirit of the colonists which lead to their rebellion.

 

 

 

(Note: Unless otherwise stated, the historical information presented in quotations comes fromwww.historycentral.com.)