“Does it not, then, highly concern us all to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Heaven hath made us free, and to strive to get the victory over the beast and his image--over every species of tyranny? Let us look upon a freedom from the power of tyrants as a blessing that cannot be purchased too dear, and let us bless God that he has so far delivered us from that idolatrous reverence which men are so very apt to pay to arbitrary tyrants; and let us pray that he would be pleased graciously to perfect the mercy he has begun to show us by confounding the devices of our enemies and bringing their counsels to nought, and by establishing our just rights and privileges upon such a firm and lasting basis that the powers of earth and hell shall not prevail against it.”

(Rev. Samuel West in a 1776 sermon “On the Right to Rebel Against Governors” delivered before the Massachusetts Council and House of Representatives)

As we celebrate another Independence Day, it is incumbent upon us to reflect on whether the act of separation from England was Biblically justified and historically defensible.  I urge you to read the article in this PastorGram by David Barton which, I believe, answers the first question very credibly.  Another outstanding resource I recommend for pastors and concerned citizens is “Defending the Declaration” by Gary Amos...

Was the American Revolution an act of rebellion against God and the Bible? Many today claim that it was. For example, John McArthur (Pastor of Grace Community Church and host of the national radio program “Grace to You”) asserts:

People have mistakenly linked democracy and political freedom to Christianity. That’s why many contemporary evangelicals believe the American Revolution was completely justified, both politically and scripturally. They follow the arguments of the Declaration of Independence, which declares that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are Divinely endowed rights. . . . But such a position is contrary to the clear teachings and commands of Romans 13:1-7. So the United States was actually born out of a violation of New Testament principles, and any blessings God has bestowed on America have come in spite of that disobedience by the Founding Fathers. ¹

Oklahoma church leader Albert Soto similarly claims:

The Colonists’ act of rebellion flies in the face of [Romans 13:1,2]. Did they overlook this verse? No, these were not men ignorant of Scripture. In fact, they used Scripture to support their cause in the most devious of ways. The deception that prevailed during this period of history was immense. God and Scripture was the vehicle of mobilization that unified the cause, gave it credence, and allowed the Deist leaders at the top to move the masses toward rebellion. Scripture was the Forefathers’ most useful tool of propaganda. ²

Others hold the same position.³ In fact, Dr. Daryl Cornett of Mid-America Theological Seminary maintains that the American Revolution occurred because . . .

Deistic and Unitarian tendencies in regards to religion. . . . were of such strength that even orthodox Christians were swept up into rebellion against their governing authorities. . . . Those Christians who supported physical resistance against the tyranny of Britain generally turned to Enlightenment rhetoric for validation, propped up by poor exegesis and application of the Bible.

While such charges certainly reflect the personal views of these critics, they definitely do not accurately reflect the extended theological debates that occurred at the time of the American Revolution...

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Pastors and Church Leaders Are Invited to a Special

Know the Laws, Know Your Rights:
Church Legal Issues Workshop

Featuring topics such as:

• Changes in IRS guidelines regarding employee policies
• Updates on financial accountability standards for 501 (c) (3) churches
• Taxing the Church - taxing jurisdictions looking for revenues
• Protecting and Planning - critical for every church
• Active citizenship equals responsible laws and government
   

Special Expert Speakers:

Hon. Paul Bettencourt, Paul Bettencourt & Associates
Mike Riddle & Karen Akiens, Riddle, Butts, & Akiens Law Firm
Dave Welch, U.S. Pastor Council

 Thursday, July 30
10:00 am - 2:00 pm (lunch included)
Grace Community Church 
24400 North Freeway, Spring, TX  77386

 Please RSVP  by July 23 to Montgomery County Pastor Council by phone to 832-688-9166,
by fax to 832-688-8484, email to info@uspastorcouncil.org, or at www.uspastorcouncil.org/houston