Was the American Revolution contrary to scripture?

[Kokopelli]

Had an interesting discussion with my Pastor last week. We were discussing 1 Peter 2 about obeying those in leadership and authority. He asked me if I thought the American Revolution was a sinful thing. I told him we have a right to defend ourselves, our families and our countrymen from tyrrany and abuse. Then he shared 1 Peter 2:13-17

13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,[b] whether it be to the emperor[c] as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[d] of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

What do you think? Was the American Revolution contrary to the will of God? Was it sin, or was it divinely appointed?

[TrailerparkTrash]

This topic was hashed out before as I recall and ran itself into the ground. Kinda like the topic on Romans 13:1-7.

[Volksgrenadier]

Depends on which side of the bridge at Concord you were on.

[RandyD]

I have given this a lot of thought. God was clearly involved in the revolution. We had many losses, which put a higher value on the freedom that we achieved. We had some tenuous situations that turned into victories, which shows the hand of God was with us. This country has provided its citizens with freedom, including the ability to worship God. This country has stopped oppression and provided the freedom of people throughout the world. This country has provided assistance to so many countries. We did all of this with the help of God.

If our revolution was contrary to the Bible, I don't believe God would have blessed us as He has.

[damon1272]

[CaliforniaCowboy]

Mosques outnumber churches in the UK now, Would be the same here no doubt. Would have been a sin not to.

[socal m1 shooter]

This topic was hashed out before as I recall and ran itself into the ground. Kinda like the topic on Romans 13:1-7.

Yup.

Had an interesting discussion with my Pastor last week. We were discussing 1 Peter 2 about obeying those in leadership and authority. [...]

What do you think? Was the American Revolution contrary to the will of God? Was it sin, or was it divinely appointed?

At the end of Joshua 5, the Angel of The Lord-- very possibly the pre-incarnate Christ Himself-- appeared to Joshua, who asked Him "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" What does the reply Joshua received suggest to you? To me, it suggests that the answer is more complex than the binary "us or them" choice Joshua presented. The modern equivalent would be like meeting The Angel of The Lord today and asking Him if he supports Trump or not.

God has raised up countless peoples, tribes, cities, and nations throughout history, according to the good purpose of His will. America is one of those nations, but at the time of the revolution there were Christians on both sides of the debate.

Gotquestions offers a pretty good brief overview; for a more in-depth look at the various sides, Christian History has a whole issue devoted to the American Revolution.

The many pieces in that issue look at various aspects of the war, many of which are very thought-provoking, even when we view the war in hindsight. For example:

In July 1775, as tensions with the British rose, the Continental Congress called for a day of prayer and fasting. Most ministers used the occasion to preach for the colonial cause, but Anglican clergyman Jonathan Boucher spoke instead on the need to obey constituted authority. Concerned about his safety in proclaiming such an unpopular view, he carried into his pulpit not only his sermon manuscript but also a loaded pistol.

The Reverend John Witherspoon

This provides a taste of what they offer there, in this issue originally published back in 1996.

I thought the following was important:

Now we turn to the next question, How did the war influence the American church? And where do we see its impact still today? To help us think about these questions, Christian History spoke with Mark Noll, professor of history at Wheaton College (Illinois).
[...]
?

The American Revolution remains a signpost, even a foundation, for contemporary discussion about the American experiment, the American way of life. So there is almost always contemporary political interest in historical discussions about what ideas influenced the American Revolution. Modern Christians want to find a specifically Christian root; modern communitarians want to find a communitarian root; modern liberals want to see an individualistic orientation, and on it goes. The historical question is intimately bound up with the contemporary search for a better American way of life.

Where do you stand in these debates?



How has studying the Revolution for some 25 years made a difference in your personal faith?

What I am trying to say with the Joshua 5 reference is that believers have to keep first things first. I am privileged to be American, but a hundred years from now I will not care about the kingdom of America at all, because I will be living in the Kingdom of God.

[Harry Ono]

Yup.

God has raised up countless peoples, tribes, cities, and nations throughout history, according to the good purpose of His will. America is one of those nations, but at the time of the revolution there were Christians on both sides of the debate. .

Only one side had the King as the Head of the Church. The other side followed the WORD of God only. There is your difference.

[socal m1 shooter]

Only one side had the King as the Head of the Church. The other side followed the WORD of God only. There is your difference.

Sorry to say, but that is very much oversimplified. You ought to have a look at some of the links I posted.

[The War Wagon]

What do you think? Was the American Revolution contrary to the will of God? Was it sin, or was it divinely appointed?

The Colonials REPEATEDLY asked the crown, to UPHOLD British law with the colonists (they didn't). Overly taxed, and common law protections DENIED, the FINAL straw happened, when the British marched against Lexington & Concord, to confiscate their arms - ownership of which was protected under British Common Law of 1681 (the citizenry shall be permitted arms the equivalent to those of the standing army).

The American Revolution was, more accurately, the American RESTORATION, and thus did NOT violate the spirit of Romans 13, but rather UPHELD it.

[billvau]

Had an interesting discussion with my Pastor last week. We were discussing 1 Peter 2 about obeying those in leadership and authority. He asked me if I thought the American Revolution was a sinful thing. I told him we have a right to defend ourselves, our families and our countrymen from tyrrany and abuse. Then he shared 1 Peter 2:13-17



What do you think? Was the American Revolution contrary to the will of God? Was it sin, or was it divinely appointed?

It was contrary to the will of God. We're fortunate that God has blessed us in spite of our sinful beginning. Rom 13, 1 Peter 2, Christ in the Gospels, etc. Everyone who says the American Revolution was biblical has to take Bible verses out-of-context. There's a great chapter by Geisler in his Christian ethics book that explains how Christians are to respond to government.

Not worth fighting over, as that would be sin too.

Just praise the Lord for what He has allowed us to have in this country. We're not a "Christian" nation anyhow, so why would anyone have expected the revolutionists to have obeyed God!

God bless,

[Garand Hunter]

It was not contrary to the will of God. Take another look at The Mayflower Compact and Jeremiah ch 1 vs 1-10. The english king did everything he could to trash it. It works for me, maybe not for you.

Psalm 1

[billvau]

It was not contrary to the will of God. Take another look at The Mayflower Compact and Jeremiah ch 1 vs 1-10. The english king did everything he could to trash it. It works for me, maybe not for you.

Psalm 1

Interesting. I didn't know that Jeremiah was on the Mayflower and was called by God to minister to the pilgrims. IOW, that passage is WAY out of context and not applicable. Sorry.

[Paul_R]

The American Revolution was fomented in churches regardless of what King James said in his bible.

Nowdays it depends on how bad a church wants to keep it's tax exempt status.

[TrailerparkTrash]

^^^ Agreed.

God only cares about one thing... That is, people finding and accepting Him alone for our salvation. Everything else in this world is a distraction (temptation) presented by Satan.