By the evening of July 2, 1776, the stark reality of what a few dozen men had just voted on was beginning to sink in. The old Philadelphia State House was quiet. According to witnesses, some of the men gazed out of the windows, some prayed, a few wept and others sat in silence. These men had just committed treason and sedition against their own government. Since they were representatives, it carried the weight of long imprisonment or death. They pledged their lives, their fortunes and their "sacred honor" to this rebellion.They were all in: they bet the whole pot so to speak and entrusted their decision and its out come to "Divine Providence" i. e. God.
Regardless of the opinion anyone may have of the Founding Fathers, you have to give them credit for being gutsy and displaying incredible courage. It also speaks to how fed up they were with the tyranny that they had been enduring for so long. They knew they had come to a point where it could not continue and the only remedy was to part company with their mother country's government. Very few in history ever succeeded in revolting from a superpower, so the odds were long they could even win. They were forming a new nation, "conceived in Liberty" that was claiming Divine Rights of the individual against a king who hid behind Divine Right of his own authority to get away with committing tyrannical acts. It is important to note that the Declaration of Independence mentions or alludes to God no less than 4 times (endowed by our Creator, nature and nature's God, Supreme Judge of the world, Divine Providence) making the document and its argument not just a legal one, but a spiritual one too.
On July 3, John Adams sent a letter to his wife Abigail and told her that Americans should remember this act with solemness and in essence turn towards God each time this holiday is celebrated. Of course now, we celebrate the 4th of July which is the actual date of the final draft and when John Hancock put his name to it along with the secretary as witness. It was also sent to the printer that day with the date of July 4 left on. It would be August 2 when most everyone else would sign it.
Nevertheless, our Founders meant for us to regard this holiday as not simply a time for revelry, but a time to give thanks to God for his blessings of liberty and freedom. Scripture declares that we have liberty in Christ Jesus and the gift of grace and salvation purchased by His blood. It was said at the time that many British authorities were frustrated by a motto of sorts that many of the patriotic colonists would quote: "No king but Jesus!"
The 4th of July was intended to be a spiritual holiday from the very start. Without the liberty from King Jesus, their would be no true liberty for anyone. He is its source. If we ever forget these truths as a nation, we're doomed to the absence of liberty which is slavery. Tyrants will again be our master. if we are not very careful. Liberty is seldom won or lost in a single day. It creeps by increments. The only way back form this slow creep of fading liberty is through Christ. I grow more convinced of this daily. He is our ultimate Declaration of Independence!
Richie L.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Mere Revival or Awakening
Something is in the air. Something is stirring. Demonic activity is increasing and this, I'm hearing, as experienced from all of my Christian sources including myself. I know many believers who are battling spiritual attacks from all sides and quarters. Something has the demons stirred. Actually, I take this as a positive sign that Heavenly forces are gearing up. The Holy Spirit is about to move in a fresh, strong way like we in this country haven't experienced. I believe a 'pure' revival or really more of an 'awakening' is taking place. It has been brewing for some time and little by little, it is gaining momentum!
Revival can be refreshing and even life altering. It can last for a season. I've been to tent meetings and anointed services that were refreshing like a cool rain on a hot, summer day. I have witnessed 'pep rallies for Jesus' if you will. These all have their purpose. Some come to faith and experience healings during these events and seasons. However, what I'm feeling in my heart and spirit is something more powerful and on a much broader scale.
Historically, there have been many, great revivals and awakenings in this country. A few decades before the American Revolution, there was one of the greatest. There were many in the early 1800's taking place on the frontier in Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee. Several camp meetings would go on at once with crowds divided into large sections and numerous preachers all preaching at once. Witnesses to these meetings would later describe standing ranks of believers being felled by the Holy Spirit like canon balls being fired at ranks of soldiers, knocking them down in massive rows.
Of course there was the Azuza Street Revival in Los Angles in the early 1900's where many spoke in tongues and miraculous healings and wonders took place, and launching a few denominations such as the Assemblies of God. Several decades later in the late 60's and early 70's, there was a similar revival that hit up and down the California coast from San Francisco to San Diego with an epicenter in Orange County. Hippies were becoming Jesus Freaks. The handful of brave pastors and evangelists that would dare reach out to these mop top, barefoot, dirty kids were practically ostracised from their respective denominations and fellowships. These guys were underground then such as, Jack Hayford, Chuck Smith, Josh McDowell, John MacArthur along with music artists like Larry Norman, Barry McGuire, Keith Green, Petra, etc. Now these folks are all household names in Christendom! Music played a key roll along with radical ministry.
As a program director of a Christian Music station in the Round Rock?Austin TX area about five years back, I noticed something curious one day on the Christian Music charts. There was an inordinate amount of bands and artist from Texas and the heartland states on the charts. It was strange. Suddenly, it hit me that in the Old Testament, God always had the children of Israel put the musicians out in front of the army. Praise always goes before the Lord. I noticed that nearly all of these artists either lived in cities along or near Interstate 35. This Highway is referred to as 'The main street of America' as it bisects the country from north to south. It wasn't long after this, 2 new Christian stations opened up in Austin and a revival of sorts was underway in Kansas City. This was another one of those 'hmmm' moments!
Could the Lord be opening up a fountain head of revival in these cities along the I 35 corridor? Yes. I believe He is!. But, not just ye old revival, but a 'pure water' revival not tainted by the hands of man or religiosity. Rather, I'm seeing an awakening. I'm noticing tell tale signs of a deep moving among Christians who are tired of Church as usual and are fed up with dead, religious programs, religiosity, denominational territorial attitudes, outmoded dogmas and watering down of orthodoxy. I see a hunger for the truth, spiritual maturity and love expressed in deeds of giving and service to others in need and not just pumping up the 'religious system.'
I am running into more believers who are either joining or launching very radical ministries to reach out to the hard to reach. They seem to posses a drive and a resilience that reminds me of the early Apostles. I'm also running into more Christians who are acutely aware that there is something very wrong with our nation and that our religious and political freedoms are rapidly vanishing. It's as if blinders are coming off the eyes to see the corruption in both the organized church and our political institutions as well as becoming aware of their own malaise and apathy. In short, Christians are starting to slowly wake up! There seems to be a Holy Frustration with the status quo and a sense that something has got to change and soon.
I believe the money problems we are experiencing in this nation bears the touch of the hand of God. Money is the last great idol to fall in America and in the church. Far too many ministries are built and make their decisions based on money. There is nothing wrong with money. We need it like water, air, or food. But, if a man worships food, he becomes a glutton, one of the seven deadly sins. Likewise, when we grow too dependent upon money and wealth, we become greedy. This is idolatry because we grow to depend upon mammon rather than God. 'On Christ the sold rock I stand' not the green paper with the face of 'Benjiman'!
Perhaps we have been in the dream castle of religious Disneyland for too long and like spiritual Cinderellas, the Lord is kissing us awake. The serpent is now taking off his Mickey Mouse mask and we are seeing him and evil on full display around the world. Christendom is feeling the sting of persecution like a mini-tribulation. We are groping around in this foretold Age of Apostasy like lost children in this sick amusement park looking for our parent. Now, the non-believers are seeing this and asking the tough questions. about the Bible, God, hell and heaven. Even they sense something is up.
Yes, AWAKE oh, sleeper. The days are short and numbered and the harvest is ripe and nearly rotting. Our money, our governments, our institutions are failing before our eyes. But, the Lord is still on the throne. He is mustering his army of Saints for great, spiritual battle; to love the un-lovable, clean the dirty, feed the hungry, nurse the sick, comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable, and boldly proclaim His Good News of Salvation to the lost. If you are reading this, I would encourage you to repent, re-dedicate, and reload your spiritual weapons. The captain of our faith is shouting to WAKE UP and MOVE OUT!!
Richie
Revival can be refreshing and even life altering. It can last for a season. I've been to tent meetings and anointed services that were refreshing like a cool rain on a hot, summer day. I have witnessed 'pep rallies for Jesus' if you will. These all have their purpose. Some come to faith and experience healings during these events and seasons. However, what I'm feeling in my heart and spirit is something more powerful and on a much broader scale.
Historically, there have been many, great revivals and awakenings in this country. A few decades before the American Revolution, there was one of the greatest. There were many in the early 1800's taking place on the frontier in Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee. Several camp meetings would go on at once with crowds divided into large sections and numerous preachers all preaching at once. Witnesses to these meetings would later describe standing ranks of believers being felled by the Holy Spirit like canon balls being fired at ranks of soldiers, knocking them down in massive rows.
Of course there was the Azuza Street Revival in Los Angles in the early 1900's where many spoke in tongues and miraculous healings and wonders took place, and launching a few denominations such as the Assemblies of God. Several decades later in the late 60's and early 70's, there was a similar revival that hit up and down the California coast from San Francisco to San Diego with an epicenter in Orange County. Hippies were becoming Jesus Freaks. The handful of brave pastors and evangelists that would dare reach out to these mop top, barefoot, dirty kids were practically ostracised from their respective denominations and fellowships. These guys were underground then such as, Jack Hayford, Chuck Smith, Josh McDowell, John MacArthur along with music artists like Larry Norman, Barry McGuire, Keith Green, Petra, etc. Now these folks are all household names in Christendom! Music played a key roll along with radical ministry.
As a program director of a Christian Music station in the Round Rock?Austin TX area about five years back, I noticed something curious one day on the Christian Music charts. There was an inordinate amount of bands and artist from Texas and the heartland states on the charts. It was strange. Suddenly, it hit me that in the Old Testament, God always had the children of Israel put the musicians out in front of the army. Praise always goes before the Lord. I noticed that nearly all of these artists either lived in cities along or near Interstate 35. This Highway is referred to as 'The main street of America' as it bisects the country from north to south. It wasn't long after this, 2 new Christian stations opened up in Austin and a revival of sorts was underway in Kansas City. This was another one of those 'hmmm' moments!
Could the Lord be opening up a fountain head of revival in these cities along the I 35 corridor? Yes. I believe He is!. But, not just ye old revival, but a 'pure water' revival not tainted by the hands of man or religiosity. Rather, I'm seeing an awakening. I'm noticing tell tale signs of a deep moving among Christians who are tired of Church as usual and are fed up with dead, religious programs, religiosity, denominational territorial attitudes, outmoded dogmas and watering down of orthodoxy. I see a hunger for the truth, spiritual maturity and love expressed in deeds of giving and service to others in need and not just pumping up the 'religious system.'
I am running into more believers who are either joining or launching very radical ministries to reach out to the hard to reach. They seem to posses a drive and a resilience that reminds me of the early Apostles. I'm also running into more Christians who are acutely aware that there is something very wrong with our nation and that our religious and political freedoms are rapidly vanishing. It's as if blinders are coming off the eyes to see the corruption in both the organized church and our political institutions as well as becoming aware of their own malaise and apathy. In short, Christians are starting to slowly wake up! There seems to be a Holy Frustration with the status quo and a sense that something has got to change and soon.
I believe the money problems we are experiencing in this nation bears the touch of the hand of God. Money is the last great idol to fall in America and in the church. Far too many ministries are built and make their decisions based on money. There is nothing wrong with money. We need it like water, air, or food. But, if a man worships food, he becomes a glutton, one of the seven deadly sins. Likewise, when we grow too dependent upon money and wealth, we become greedy. This is idolatry because we grow to depend upon mammon rather than God. 'On Christ the sold rock I stand' not the green paper with the face of 'Benjiman'!
Perhaps we have been in the dream castle of religious Disneyland for too long and like spiritual Cinderellas, the Lord is kissing us awake. The serpent is now taking off his Mickey Mouse mask and we are seeing him and evil on full display around the world. Christendom is feeling the sting of persecution like a mini-tribulation. We are groping around in this foretold Age of Apostasy like lost children in this sick amusement park looking for our parent. Now, the non-believers are seeing this and asking the tough questions. about the Bible, God, hell and heaven. Even they sense something is up.
Yes, AWAKE oh, sleeper. The days are short and numbered and the harvest is ripe and nearly rotting. Our money, our governments, our institutions are failing before our eyes. But, the Lord is still on the throne. He is mustering his army of Saints for great, spiritual battle; to love the un-lovable, clean the dirty, feed the hungry, nurse the sick, comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable, and boldly proclaim His Good News of Salvation to the lost. If you are reading this, I would encourage you to repent, re-dedicate, and reload your spiritual weapons. The captain of our faith is shouting to WAKE UP and MOVE OUT!!
Richie
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Letter to Congressional Representative
It has come to the attention of myself and many of your constituents that you represent, that President Barak Obama has gone to war without fullfilling his Constitutionaly mandated duty of allowing Congress to declare war or approve, or at the very least, pass resolution in favor of such an action.
Congress' powers to declare war and related military concerns are enumerated in the U. S. Constitution per Article 1, Section Eight: as follows:
" The Congress shall have power To... declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; To provide and maintain a Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces; To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
Founding Father James Madison reported that in the Federal Convention of 1787, the phrase "make war" was changed to "declare war" in order to leave to the Executive the power to repel sudden attacks but not to commence war without the explicit approval of Congress. One of the earliest Supreme Court cases on this subject (Talbot v. Seeman, 1801) states Congress alone, the court unanimously ruled, had the "whole powers of war," whether that meant authorizing "general hostilities" or "partial war." Much later, Justice Thurgood Marshall referred to this ruling and noted that "nothing in the 172 years since those words were written alters that fundamental constitutional postulate (Holtzman v. Schlesinger, 1973)."
Congress repealed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in January 1971 and as President Richard Nixon continued to wage war in Vietnam, Congress passed the War Powers Resolution (Pub.L. 93-148) over the veto of Nixon in an attempt to rein in some of the president's claimed powers. Today, Congress recognizes no claimed power of the president to wage war outside of the War Powers Resolution.
I could go into deeper analysis, study and proof texts than what the limited space of a letter could politely contain. So, I will simply state that this President, despite his claim of Constitutional scholarship and in disregard of his sworn oath to uphold, has violated our Constitution and snubed you as well as the other members of Congress, by this latest military engagement regarding Libya. The merits of the action, nor political ideology, nor the Presidents popularity, should have any bearing on a decision to formally impeach or at least censure the President for his unlawful action. The Executive Office does not reside above the highest law of the land.
I woulld also like to remind you, not in a scolding tone, but rather as a plea to your good conscience, that you also took a sworn oath to uphold, protect and defend our Constitution from all enemies, foreign or domestic. It doesn't matter where those enemies reside, whether in a mountain cave along the Pakistan border or in the Executive Mansion. Anyone who asserts himself against or assaults our Constitution should be held to account.
If you choose to remain silent or inactive on this, then the precedent will be set for further disregard of our Constititution by future elected officials to the larger danger of our Republic and our sacred liberties.
I thank you in advance for your attention to this grave matter and please feel free to correspond with me at anytime. Thank you for your valuable time and service! God Bless & protect America.
Regards,
Richie L.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
All Aboard!
I love trains. As a kid I loved to watch the trains go by the little day care house run by Mrs. Contreras in San Antonio, TX when I was a small child. The tracks were literally just a few feet from her back yard, chain link fence. When I went to school in Virginia, the campus sat alongside a spur of the then Southern Railroad line. I would watch the freight trains rumble by during lunch and waive to the engineers. It always gave me a thrill when they'd waive back. I would fantasize about driving or even "hobo-ing" a train and letting it take me wherever it was destined. On a visit to an Aunt and Uncle's in Southern California one summer, I rode on a passenger train from San Clemente to San Diego. It was a blast. No surprise, that I was hooked on electric trains and model railroading as a kid and teenager. Even my house in Austin where I live today, is less than 1000 feet from the Union Pacific rail line! So hopefully, you'll understand my reaching for the analogy of a train as I use it in regards to our national debt crisis, economic crisis, and the moral crisis hitting our nation.
As a student of both history and the Bible, I'm struck at how many themes or "lessons" repeat themselves. How many times did God punish the Israelites for their disobedience, over and over again. And, here we are a few millennia later and we are about to enter what the Old Testament prophecies refer to as the "time of Jacob's trouble." It's important to note that the Lord referred to Israel as "Jacob" whenever they were really messing up. The House of Israel is still in rebellion today and won't really wake up nationally or as a people until "they gaze upon him whom they pierced," Yeshua (Jesus).
If the Lord was this rugged with a people who claimed to be His and whom He called "chosen," how much less firm will He be with a people as blessed as we Americans who also proclaim nationally, "IN GOD WE TRUST?" We are so bold that in our Declaration of Independence, we claim our rights come from Him and we make reference to Him in that wonderful document no less than four times! Again, will He not hold us to similar account? I sometimes shudder at the thought.
We proclaim in song, "God shed His grace on thee..." and indeed, He has, without question. What other nation in history, but perhaps Israel, has witnessed supernatural intervention, providence and fate on our behalf at dramatic moments? What other nation in world history has prospered and created technologies as we have? Any student of American History must conclude this, or at least, conclude that America has the dumbest luck. Again, will He not hold us to a high standard of accountability? I believe that answer to be, yes!
Can a just and loving God hold back his indignation forever from a society that has murdered some 51 million children in the womb? Is the rampant perversion and homosexuality upon us really a form of judgement? What about the increases in child abuse and child porn? Is our bizarre weather and hard droughts of recent years part of a larger curse? Is some of the wrath of other nations against us, in some aspects, judgement too? Are we not reaping what we have sown as a society, with regards to our greed and materialism, by experiencing a floundering economy and astronomical debt? Again, I must admit the answer to be, yes!
If this is the case, and I suspect many of you would agree with the above analysis,, the next question that has to be begged is, is it too late? Can we still turn back to the Lord and have Him heal our land? If we turn to Him with broken spirits and contrite hearts, will He despise us? The God and Savior that I have come to know seems rather quick to forgive, is slow to anger, is astoundingly patient and long suffering. He proclaims that His mercies are everlasting! Wouldn't a Lord like this be quick to welcome a prodigal nation like ours back to His care? Again, I exclaim, yes!
However, I feel the unction to caution, not for much longer. We as Christians must hit our knees harder than ever. We must pray for the Lord not only to tighten up our loose ends as his elect, but to guide our seemingly clueless, political, leaders and wake them up from deadly slumber along with the rest of our nation. The train is still sitting at the station, yet it is blowing its mournful whistle. It will soon start to slowly pull out and away. If we abandon God nationally, sooner or later, He will abandon us nationally. We have kicked him out of the public square, our schools and to some extent our lives by our chasing after material things and money.
Look, I'm a huge capitalist pig, but we are talking priorities here. The Apostle Paul was a capitalist too. He was a tent maker and sold his tents in the market, not to start a Fortune 500 company (though he had at times some people who worked with him,) but rather to take care of himself, his ministry team and those fellow believers around him in need. He made it clear to the Ephesus Christians that when he was with them he "coveted no man's gold or silver..." He went on to say how hard he worked night and day to take care of himself and those with him. He set an example for the Ephesian Church that in like manner, they should do the same and save up a little for cases of urgent need. In other words, they weren't simply working for a living, but also for a "giving." There can be a fine line between a desire to better one's estate and raw greed. Often, it requires great spiritual maturity and honest examination of the heart to discern between the two. We can never trust in riches, only in the Lord.
Perhaps, the Lord is trying to teach us a lesson here. Perhaps, he has brought us to the Grace Station and is showing us that last train to Jordan. The engine is heating up and it won't be long till those drive wheels start turning. The conductor is shouting at the top of his lungs that final call. Will we as a nation heed the call? Or, will we wait instead for that train with the fine, luxury, passenger cars filled with tempting things and distractions, that is bound straight down the line to destruction? Will we ask Him to help us untangle this economic mess we've created and defuse the time bomb of our debt? Or, will we look for that engine of secular humanism, pulling the freight car loaded with the idol of money? I think money is the last idol to fall in our society, and in our churches, for that matter.
No, I don't feel the Lord has turned his back on us just yet. However, I think he is about to. I'm reminded of that line toward the end of the Don McLean song, "American Pie"; 'And the three men I admire the most, the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost, they caught the last train for the coast...' And, God is standing there on the platform with His suitcase packed giving us one last, longing, backward gaze at the Big American Girl that stole His heart, but has since broken it with her harlotry's.
The conductor is now shouting, "all aboard?" It's now or never.
As a student of both history and the Bible, I'm struck at how many themes or "lessons" repeat themselves. How many times did God punish the Israelites for their disobedience, over and over again. And, here we are a few millennia later and we are about to enter what the Old Testament prophecies refer to as the "time of Jacob's trouble." It's important to note that the Lord referred to Israel as "Jacob" whenever they were really messing up. The House of Israel is still in rebellion today and won't really wake up nationally or as a people until "they gaze upon him whom they pierced," Yeshua (Jesus).
If the Lord was this rugged with a people who claimed to be His and whom He called "chosen," how much less firm will He be with a people as blessed as we Americans who also proclaim nationally, "IN GOD WE TRUST?" We are so bold that in our Declaration of Independence, we claim our rights come from Him and we make reference to Him in that wonderful document no less than four times! Again, will He not hold us to similar account? I sometimes shudder at the thought.
We proclaim in song, "God shed His grace on thee..." and indeed, He has, without question. What other nation in history, but perhaps Israel, has witnessed supernatural intervention, providence and fate on our behalf at dramatic moments? What other nation in world history has prospered and created technologies as we have? Any student of American History must conclude this, or at least, conclude that America has the dumbest luck. Again, will He not hold us to a high standard of accountability? I believe that answer to be, yes!
Can a just and loving God hold back his indignation forever from a society that has murdered some 51 million children in the womb? Is the rampant perversion and homosexuality upon us really a form of judgement? What about the increases in child abuse and child porn? Is our bizarre weather and hard droughts of recent years part of a larger curse? Is some of the wrath of other nations against us, in some aspects, judgement too? Are we not reaping what we have sown as a society, with regards to our greed and materialism, by experiencing a floundering economy and astronomical debt? Again, I must admit the answer to be, yes!
If this is the case, and I suspect many of you would agree with the above analysis,, the next question that has to be begged is, is it too late? Can we still turn back to the Lord and have Him heal our land? If we turn to Him with broken spirits and contrite hearts, will He despise us? The God and Savior that I have come to know seems rather quick to forgive, is slow to anger, is astoundingly patient and long suffering. He proclaims that His mercies are everlasting! Wouldn't a Lord like this be quick to welcome a prodigal nation like ours back to His care? Again, I exclaim, yes!
However, I feel the unction to caution, not for much longer. We as Christians must hit our knees harder than ever. We must pray for the Lord not only to tighten up our loose ends as his elect, but to guide our seemingly clueless, political, leaders and wake them up from deadly slumber along with the rest of our nation. The train is still sitting at the station, yet it is blowing its mournful whistle. It will soon start to slowly pull out and away. If we abandon God nationally, sooner or later, He will abandon us nationally. We have kicked him out of the public square, our schools and to some extent our lives by our chasing after material things and money.
Look, I'm a huge capitalist pig, but we are talking priorities here. The Apostle Paul was a capitalist too. He was a tent maker and sold his tents in the market, not to start a Fortune 500 company (though he had at times some people who worked with him,) but rather to take care of himself, his ministry team and those fellow believers around him in need. He made it clear to the Ephesus Christians that when he was with them he "coveted no man's gold or silver..." He went on to say how hard he worked night and day to take care of himself and those with him. He set an example for the Ephesian Church that in like manner, they should do the same and save up a little for cases of urgent need. In other words, they weren't simply working for a living, but also for a "giving." There can be a fine line between a desire to better one's estate and raw greed. Often, it requires great spiritual maturity and honest examination of the heart to discern between the two. We can never trust in riches, only in the Lord.
Perhaps, the Lord is trying to teach us a lesson here. Perhaps, he has brought us to the Grace Station and is showing us that last train to Jordan. The engine is heating up and it won't be long till those drive wheels start turning. The conductor is shouting at the top of his lungs that final call. Will we as a nation heed the call? Or, will we wait instead for that train with the fine, luxury, passenger cars filled with tempting things and distractions, that is bound straight down the line to destruction? Will we ask Him to help us untangle this economic mess we've created and defuse the time bomb of our debt? Or, will we look for that engine of secular humanism, pulling the freight car loaded with the idol of money? I think money is the last idol to fall in our society, and in our churches, for that matter.
No, I don't feel the Lord has turned his back on us just yet. However, I think he is about to. I'm reminded of that line toward the end of the Don McLean song, "American Pie"; 'And the three men I admire the most, the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost, they caught the last train for the coast...' And, God is standing there on the platform with His suitcase packed giving us one last, longing, backward gaze at the Big American Girl that stole His heart, but has since broken it with her harlotry's.
The conductor is now shouting, "all aboard?" It's now or never.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
The Other Christmas Story
Everyone is familiar with the story of Christmas as expressed in song, Nativity scenes, pageants and those lovable TV Specials we all can't wait to watch. The most common image is of Mary, Joseph, shepherds and assorted livestock, the 3 wise guys (actually there may have been several more Magi) the guiding star, angels singing (theoretically, though the Bible doesn't say that) and last but. certainly not least, the most famous Jewish kid in the world, the Baby Jesus.
But, there is one set of folks you'll never see in any one's manger scene nor hear any yule tide refrains about; the ones who bore the wrath of the then Roman allowed Monarch of Judea/Palestine. I'm referring to the monster named King Herod I and the actions he took against the innocent that first Christmas.
As your Bible makes clear, the Magi and their entourage were looking for this new born King of Kings. He was the one their star charts and their study of Hebrew/Chaldean manuscripts indicated would be born at that time and place. It was natural for these out-of-towners to assume that the Nation of Judea would also be anticipating and awaiting and perhaps, celebrating. Though scripture doesn't say much about what these foreigners were thinking as they entered the Capital City, I suspect they were puzzled by the clueless-attitudes they observed among the majority of the people and their leaders as to what their own prophets and forefathers had predicted and yearned for. Sound familiar? These wandering astronomers and theologians were so excited, they traveled two thousand miles or more to catch a glimpse of this child king and honor him with their wealth.
Very little enthusiasm existed in Judea either among it's citizens, religious leaders, or corrupt political heads. According to Matthew Chapter 2, These wise "Kings" of the east were asking King Herod I where was this "King of the Jews?" Those ancient sages were excited, but Herod was troubled Scripture says. So was everyone else in town and according to the Bible he summoned the Chief priests, scribes etc. to figure out where the Scriptures said the Christ was to be born. Once he was told Bethlehem, he "secretly" summoned the wise guys (so much for your transparency in government) and charged them to diligently search for the child. If they found this Christ Child, they were to let him know so he could go himself to worship the child. Of course, as the story progresses, you see that Herod had ulterior motives. How often political leaders use the zeal of the faithful as a ruse to promote quite a different agenda!
As the story goes, after the Magi found, honored with gifts and worshiped the Baby Jesus, they were warned by God not to go back to Jerusalem or tell old Herod anything. God also told them to travel a different way home. God knew exactly what was in King Herod's heart. Herod was jealous of Jesus, was afraid of losing his throne and power base. He wanted to "off" this kid. Joseph was also warned by God in a dream and was told that King Herod wanted to find the Christ Child and destroy Him. So according to Scripture the little family slipped out of town and fled to Egypt. The valuable treasures that the Wise Men had given them would sustain them for several years while hiding in Egypt. Isn't it astounding how God provided for this poor carpenter and his young wife?!
Now, here is where the story turns ugly. Once Herod realized he had been "tricked" by the Wise Men, Scripture indicates he was enraged. He summoned his soldiers to go and kill every male child aged 2 and under who lived in Bethlehem and the entire region. This too was also prophesied in Scripture. Matthew 2:18 recounts: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation. Rachel weeping for her children, she refused to be consoled, because they were no more."
Dozens, perhaps hundreds of toddlers and pregnant mothers were butchered because an old King was jealous for power, wealth, status and personal glory. He was not going to submit any of this to any Christ even though Scripture made clear this baby Jesus was the Savior. He was, in reality, warring against God. Pure insanity was on full display!
In a Bible study/home church I attended a number of years ago, a young lady in our group was having trouble with this part of the Christmas story. Why would a loving God allow all of those innocent children to be murdered, she asked? I blurted out something to the effect that He still does. Ever heard of abortion? Yet that still didn't answer the heart of the question. The leader that night expounded upon it this way. In God's wisdom and mind, which none of us on this side of eternity can fully fathom, He apparently allowed, innocent blood to be shed to save the helpless Jesus and family and to buy freedom for them. Joseph, Mary and child escaped into Egypt eventually. Herod was probably convinced he had killed his rival for the throne and thus ended his search and efforts to destroy the Christ Child. After all, isn't that why Christ died for us? Are we not helpless to save ourselves? Are we not sentenced to death for our sins? Are we not facing the rage of this world and it's usurper "king," Lucifer?
Now, you may or may not accept the rationale of that Bible study leader. It seems plausible to me. Honestly, I don't 100% know why God allowed all of those children to be slaughtered. I know He is sovereign, but he allows man fee will.
Nevertheless, I believe there is a stark object lesson here that speaks to anyone who possesses a tender heart.
This too is a part of the Christmas story. No, I have never seen figurines of King Herod I, his soldiers, bloody toddlers and gouged open mothers as part of Nativity scenes sold in department stores or otherwise. I probably never will. It doesn't fit well with the Yuletide decor or the soothing Johnny Mathis Christmas Music wafting out of the store sound system. I suspect if somebody had the "juevos" to put something like that along side the manger scenes and call it "The Other Christmas Story" it would be met with more protests and horror than the ACLU or Atheist activists give regular manger scenes on Courthouse and Statehouse properties!
The fact is, a REAL Baby Jesus was born into an ugly, gritty, evil, world teaming with the naive and wicked. Most of the world then was not happy that Christ was born and most of it is still not. Just look at the dubbed "War on Christmas" that is still waged by all of the modern day "Herods" and their lawyers. Sadly, not much has changed overall with mankind, in over 2000 years.
A just God will eventually take His revenge on those who destroy the innocent, you can count on that like next December 25. He allows man to choose life or death; salvation or destruction.
We each have our own Christmas Story of sorts. Will we choose to honor, worship and trust this now grown up and resurrected Jesus, this God in the flesh? Or, will we be a Herod, rejecting His authority and living in rage or indifference towards God and hurting the innocent in the process? The choice is yours. Will you live like it's Christmas all year in giving to and serving others? Or, will you live a selfish life of destruction, hurting others or living in apathy? Which character in the Christmas Story will you choose to be? Like my old story telling Choctaw friend, Tim Tingle used to say in Choctaw- "Cha tah ha piah ho kay." Translated, "Now the Story...is yours."
Monday, November 8, 2010
The Attitude of Gratitude
On a fairly mild, autumn day in October, 1621, the surviving half of a Christian congregation we call "Pilgrims" (though they rarely referred to themselves as such for that was their state, not their name) displayed a tremendous amount of thankfulness to the Lord for his provision. Most of us in some way or another attempt to replicate this event the fourth Thursday of every November. Sure, we have the turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed and or sweet potatoes, corn and or cornbread, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, green bean casserole and all served with a generous side of parade coverage and football on TV. We will also pull up that same grid iron determination to bear with our family's dysfunctions, and perhaps, relatives we are thankful we only have to deal with once or twice a year. This is the typical Thanksgiving tradition as experienced by most Americans to a more or less degree. Oh yes, and we try to stir up within ourselves some form of gratefulness to God for all of it. Not exactly a Norman Rockwell scene or "The Walton's," yet about average.
It's easy to think of the first Thanksgiving participants as stoic, funny dressed, stern faced, Puritans sharing their corn, deer and pumpkin pie with a bunch of friendly yet naive Indians, then engaging in a dry, pious exercise of thanking "Ye Olde Man Upstairs." right there on Plymouth Rock. Then there was something about the Mayflower, a cool Indian named Squanto, a swashbuckler named Miles Standish and that about sums up most American's and even many Christian's understanding of those folks and their little feast. While the afore mentioned, cartoon image is what most of us walked away with from school, movies, and television commercials for crescent rolls, the kernels of truth are scant and warped at best concerning this caricature of those tried souls.
There is not enough space on this blog for me to even begin to attempt to dissect all of the things factually wrong with our myths about those people of Faith and that historic event. However, I will try to put in real world perspective as to what those first group of Reformer/Congregationalist Christians to this continent had endured just months earlier. And, how ironic and unlikely it would be for most people to even dredge up any sincere giving of thanks to God while not letting him have it with their anger, complaints and deep depression.
The previous winter was so unusually brutal, even the local native tribes, who were generally used to and usually prepared for such, barely hung on. These European sojourners in this hostile land were not very well prepared physically nor skilled to deal with such climes. They did the best they could. Yet with food scarce, and shelters barely adequate, they were fighting a losing battle.
One after the other of the just 100 or so settlers began to die off due to exhaustion, exposure, undernourishment and disease, the latter of which can spread rapidly in cramped quarters. Many of them were still weakened from the three month voyage at sea. Nearly each day, for several weeks, one of their number perished. Also, the Mayflower and its crew were still anchored in the harbor and even many of the sailors were becoming ill and dropping dead. The crew couldn't share much of their provisions with these pilgrims as they barely had enough for themselves and were simply waiting for the weather to turn so they could get out fast. At one point, there were only about a half-dozen men and boys who were well enough to engage in the daily chores of simply taking care of the rest of their fellow Plymouth settlers.
The nightmare continued as husbands lost wives, wives lost husbands, and some of the children literally became orphans. Graves were dug when the ground was soft enough to do so. Sometimes the corpses were simply left outside. Often, loved ones would stand guard to keep the wolves from devouring the dead. Cannibalism became a real temptation too. It was in these darkest hours as these "pilgrims" veered between despair and madness that they began to dig deep into their Christian faith. They went deeper than they had gone before or even knew they could. Some prepared themselves for death and relentlessly, it came. Yet, others were fated simply to watch death take their loved ones, powerless to stop it. They even mustered compassion for a young, dying sailor who had cursed and mocked them just weeks before. By the mid-March thaw, they had lost 47 of their original members and many were just barely clinging to life and faith. Miraculously, almost none of the children had died. Still, there were only three complete families left intact at Plymouth Colony by Spring.
A second miracle happened at this same time as well. His name was Squanto. He was a local native who had been captured a few years earlier by seamen and traders who eventually took him to England. There, the young Indian learned the language and customs of the English. In a fabulous story too long to relate here, the young brave made it back to find his own tribe had all died off from disease. Now he ventured into the shanty village of these desperate colonists. Speaking perfect English, Squanto taught these literal "babes in the woods" how to plant corn, gather eels from the shore and acted as an ambassador between them and the local Wampanoags under Chief Massasoit. Was this all just fantastic coincidence or Divine
Providence and answer to dark hour prayers? I am convinced it was the latter.
That spring and summer, the weather produced perfect growing conditions and the Plymouth Colonists had a bumper crop of corn and many other vegetables and fruits that they planted. Game was also plentiful and they learned to harvest a variety of seafood. Their continued reliance and strengthened faith in the Lord was paying off in spades...and they knew it. But let's be honest here, these were human beings who, while rather young and some just children, must have longed for the love, touch and assurances of parents and spouses. There must have been many hearts still riddled with the holes of loss. Nor can we discount the trials and awkwardness of now blended and adopted families as they sought some semblance of normalcy.
The last of the Fall harvest was still coming in as the leadership of the Colony, namely Gov. Bradford, William Brewster, Captain Standish etc., decided to set aside a day in October to feast and give thanks to the Lord for such a successful harvest, the completion of homes, store houses and the amazing friendship of Squanto and the Wampanoag Indians.
Now lets think about this a minute. Squanto was a man of faith, but not Massasoit and his bunch. These Indians witnessed what the colonists endured, mainly one of the worst winters the Indians had, themselves, ever seen. Plus, they watched the relationship between Squanto and these English settlers flourish. Next, they witnessed God's power multiply crops into bounty for the "Pilgrims." Finally, they observed the faith of the colonists grow in their Great God. And to top it all, these odd looking Englishmen wanted to throw a feast of Thanksgiving while staring at nearly fifty graves?
Make no mistake, these Indians were not stupid nor naive savages. On the contrary, they were well versed at the art of spying, gathering intelligence, stealth and observation. They must have watched this whole saga play out with intense curiosity and fascination. And now, they were being invited to feast with these strange Englishmen in honor of their God...to give thanks?? Massasoit must have responded in his own language with something like "Are you kidding me? You better believe I gotta see and be a part of this thing. These people lost half their community and they aren't packing and leaving or turning on each other? They got more graves than houses and they are THANKING their God? I have to know what's going on here. I have to see this and learn about this faith!"
In fact, Massasoit and company showed up a day early and unannounced with ninety some braves and their families in tow. The Plymouth colonists almost gave into despair, but eventually, some of the braves showed up with many deer, several dressed wild turkeys and other game as well as berries, pumpkins and baskets of corn...some of which they parched in earthen pots much to the "Pilgrim's" delight. In fact, according to diary accounts of the event, including a moving prayer by William Brewster, the Indians and their chief hung around for three days! They must have been touched by the love of Christ they saw flowing.
I admire and envy the faith of those old Protestant, Reformed Congregationalists. Not just their sense of family and community amongst themselves (the likes of which are sorely lacking in our churches these days) do I admire, but an astounding faith that allowed them to posses an attitude of gratitude in the face of so much death and heartache. Honestly, how many of us would have just thrown in the towel or perhaps drunk ourselves into a stupor or worse. There was no Prozac or grief counseling centers back then-no Oprah or Dr. Phil shows or self help books were available. All they had was the Holy Spirit, the Bible and each others love. They had come to realize that their life in this New World was unmanageable and they needed God's power, which was greater than themselves. While life for those colonists was never a bowl of cranberries, that community of Christians discovered they could have a life of not only political and religious freedom in the New World, but spiritual freedom as long as in all circumstances, they maintained an "Attitude of Gratitude."
It's easy to think of the first Thanksgiving participants as stoic, funny dressed, stern faced, Puritans sharing their corn, deer and pumpkin pie with a bunch of friendly yet naive Indians, then engaging in a dry, pious exercise of thanking "Ye Olde Man Upstairs." right there on Plymouth Rock. Then there was something about the Mayflower, a cool Indian named Squanto, a swashbuckler named Miles Standish and that about sums up most American's and even many Christian's understanding of those folks and their little feast. While the afore mentioned, cartoon image is what most of us walked away with from school, movies, and television commercials for crescent rolls, the kernels of truth are scant and warped at best concerning this caricature of those tried souls.
There is not enough space on this blog for me to even begin to attempt to dissect all of the things factually wrong with our myths about those people of Faith and that historic event. However, I will try to put in real world perspective as to what those first group of Reformer/Congregationalist Christians to this continent had endured just months earlier. And, how ironic and unlikely it would be for most people to even dredge up any sincere giving of thanks to God while not letting him have it with their anger, complaints and deep depression.
The previous winter was so unusually brutal, even the local native tribes, who were generally used to and usually prepared for such, barely hung on. These European sojourners in this hostile land were not very well prepared physically nor skilled to deal with such climes. They did the best they could. Yet with food scarce, and shelters barely adequate, they were fighting a losing battle.
One after the other of the just 100 or so settlers began to die off due to exhaustion, exposure, undernourishment and disease, the latter of which can spread rapidly in cramped quarters. Many of them were still weakened from the three month voyage at sea. Nearly each day, for several weeks, one of their number perished. Also, the Mayflower and its crew were still anchored in the harbor and even many of the sailors were becoming ill and dropping dead. The crew couldn't share much of their provisions with these pilgrims as they barely had enough for themselves and were simply waiting for the weather to turn so they could get out fast. At one point, there were only about a half-dozen men and boys who were well enough to engage in the daily chores of simply taking care of the rest of their fellow Plymouth settlers.
The nightmare continued as husbands lost wives, wives lost husbands, and some of the children literally became orphans. Graves were dug when the ground was soft enough to do so. Sometimes the corpses were simply left outside. Often, loved ones would stand guard to keep the wolves from devouring the dead. Cannibalism became a real temptation too. It was in these darkest hours as these "pilgrims" veered between despair and madness that they began to dig deep into their Christian faith. They went deeper than they had gone before or even knew they could. Some prepared themselves for death and relentlessly, it came. Yet, others were fated simply to watch death take their loved ones, powerless to stop it. They even mustered compassion for a young, dying sailor who had cursed and mocked them just weeks before. By the mid-March thaw, they had lost 47 of their original members and many were just barely clinging to life and faith. Miraculously, almost none of the children had died. Still, there were only three complete families left intact at Plymouth Colony by Spring.
A second miracle happened at this same time as well. His name was Squanto. He was a local native who had been captured a few years earlier by seamen and traders who eventually took him to England. There, the young Indian learned the language and customs of the English. In a fabulous story too long to relate here, the young brave made it back to find his own tribe had all died off from disease. Now he ventured into the shanty village of these desperate colonists. Speaking perfect English, Squanto taught these literal "babes in the woods" how to plant corn, gather eels from the shore and acted as an ambassador between them and the local Wampanoags under Chief Massasoit. Was this all just fantastic coincidence or Divine
Providence and answer to dark hour prayers? I am convinced it was the latter.
That spring and summer, the weather produced perfect growing conditions and the Plymouth Colonists had a bumper crop of corn and many other vegetables and fruits that they planted. Game was also plentiful and they learned to harvest a variety of seafood. Their continued reliance and strengthened faith in the Lord was paying off in spades...and they knew it. But let's be honest here, these were human beings who, while rather young and some just children, must have longed for the love, touch and assurances of parents and spouses. There must have been many hearts still riddled with the holes of loss. Nor can we discount the trials and awkwardness of now blended and adopted families as they sought some semblance of normalcy.
The last of the Fall harvest was still coming in as the leadership of the Colony, namely Gov. Bradford, William Brewster, Captain Standish etc., decided to set aside a day in October to feast and give thanks to the Lord for such a successful harvest, the completion of homes, store houses and the amazing friendship of Squanto and the Wampanoag Indians.
Now lets think about this a minute. Squanto was a man of faith, but not Massasoit and his bunch. These Indians witnessed what the colonists endured, mainly one of the worst winters the Indians had, themselves, ever seen. Plus, they watched the relationship between Squanto and these English settlers flourish. Next, they witnessed God's power multiply crops into bounty for the "Pilgrims." Finally, they observed the faith of the colonists grow in their Great God. And to top it all, these odd looking Englishmen wanted to throw a feast of Thanksgiving while staring at nearly fifty graves?
Make no mistake, these Indians were not stupid nor naive savages. On the contrary, they were well versed at the art of spying, gathering intelligence, stealth and observation. They must have watched this whole saga play out with intense curiosity and fascination. And now, they were being invited to feast with these strange Englishmen in honor of their God...to give thanks?? Massasoit must have responded in his own language with something like "Are you kidding me? You better believe I gotta see and be a part of this thing. These people lost half their community and they aren't packing and leaving or turning on each other? They got more graves than houses and they are THANKING their God? I have to know what's going on here. I have to see this and learn about this faith!"
In fact, Massasoit and company showed up a day early and unannounced with ninety some braves and their families in tow. The Plymouth colonists almost gave into despair, but eventually, some of the braves showed up with many deer, several dressed wild turkeys and other game as well as berries, pumpkins and baskets of corn...some of which they parched in earthen pots much to the "Pilgrim's" delight. In fact, according to diary accounts of the event, including a moving prayer by William Brewster, the Indians and their chief hung around for three days! They must have been touched by the love of Christ they saw flowing.
I admire and envy the faith of those old Protestant, Reformed Congregationalists. Not just their sense of family and community amongst themselves (the likes of which are sorely lacking in our churches these days) do I admire, but an astounding faith that allowed them to posses an attitude of gratitude in the face of so much death and heartache. Honestly, how many of us would have just thrown in the towel or perhaps drunk ourselves into a stupor or worse. There was no Prozac or grief counseling centers back then-no Oprah or Dr. Phil shows or self help books were available. All they had was the Holy Spirit, the Bible and each others love. They had come to realize that their life in this New World was unmanageable and they needed God's power, which was greater than themselves. While life for those colonists was never a bowl of cranberries, that community of Christians discovered they could have a life of not only political and religious freedom in the New World, but spiritual freedom as long as in all circumstances, they maintained an "Attitude of Gratitude."
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Response
The following is a response I recently sent somebody who e-mailed me after reading my face book profile and questioning my views on the Founding Fathers
On Tue, May 11, 2010 at 5:22 PM, I **** **** Town wrote:
Hi, your Facebook page says you believe the same as the founding fathers. So you don't want women or non-white men to own property or vote?
If you truly believe that about the Founders, I'll give you some slack and fault your educators. Put down the talking points and please READ for yourself what the Founding Fathers wrote and said. It is easy to fall into the trap of "presentism" when critiquing the past. By the way, not all of the founding fathers believed that either. Most did NOT own slaves nor supported slavery. Many felt Native Americans were getting a raw deal too. I will grant you that at the time, most men felt that women shouldn't vote. However, after the Revolutionary War, and with Great Britain out of the way, many property rights were conferred to women and on certain occasions, wives of legislators were allowed to vote as proxy for their husbands who were too ill to attend legislative sessions. Also, many free blacks living in the Northern Colonies and even some in the South owned property and could vote. African-American Crispus Attucks was the first person killed in the Boston Massacre in 1770. It was a Black Militiaman (Prince Estabrook) who was the first to fall wounded on Lexington Green April, 19, 1775 in the first Battle of the American Revolution. I would challenge you to learn about Bishop Richard Allen of Philadelphia who is considered by many historians to be a Black Founding Father.
The Founding Fathers (who believed our liberties and freedoms came from God) GAVE us an amazing Declaration of Independence which declared ALL men (people) are created equal. This was an astounding statement at the time given that so few ANYWHERE on the planet believed this. It is BECAUSE of the groundwork of this statement by the founders that women were ultimately given the right to vote, and that slavery was abolished in this nation and that property rights were extended to all law abiding persons! The Founders also gave us The Constitution, and the form of government that we have; a Democratic Republic, with its three branches of government. It was the legislative branch which passed a Constitutional Amendment to abolish slavery. It was the Legislative and the Supreme Court which proclaimed women the right to vote after years of struggle by women in the suffrage movement. Though it took many years, the system established BY OUR FOUNDERS worked.
It was to those words written by our Founding Fathers, that many oppressed in this country and around the world have pointed to in the assertion of their rights and liberties! In fact, it was Benjamin Franklin who exclaimed this separation from Great Britain was necessary since every attempt by many of the colonies to end slavery had been thwarted or reversed by the British Crown! Not to mention, the property rights of all Americans had been in many cases, trampled. Both Ben Franklin and Benjamin Rush founded an anti-slavery society in 1774. John Jay was president of a similar group in New York. Constitution signer William Livingston and later Governor of N. J. encouraged them in their efforts including allowances of full property rights and liberties. Rufus King (signer of the Constitution) authored a bill signed into law by then President George Washington, banning slavery in the "Ohio" frontier territories.
It was the Founding Fathers who started the Freedom Train down its glorious and sometimes bloody tracks. Yet, that freedom train still rolls. Had those few dozen or so brave men not met on that stormy eve of July 2, 1776 to plot sedition against their government (a crime punishable by death at the time) by declaring themselves free, and ultimately all of us free, you and I might not be having this conversation. We may still be saluting a King or some other Tyrant. Jesus Christ never directly spoke out against slavery either. Nor did he campaign for women's right to vote. Should I quit following Him??? I'll let the Founders respond to your question:
"Proclaim Liberty throughout the land and to all the inhabitants thereof."-Leviticus 25:10 The above verse is inscribed on the Liberty Bell.
"Why keep alive the question of slavery? It is admitted by all to be a great evil."-Charles Caroll (signer of The Declaration of Independence)
"We recognize no sovereign but God, no King but Jesus."-John Adams &; John Hancock, April 18, 1775
"That men should pray and fight for their own freedom and yet keep others in slavery is certainly acting a very inconsistent as well as unjust and perhaps, impious part."-John Jay, President of Continental Congress.
"I can only say that there is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the abolition of it [slavery]."-George Washington
"My opinion against it has always been known. Never in my life did I own a slave."-John Adams
On Tue, May 11, 2010 at 5:22 PM, I **** **** Town wrote:
Hi, your Facebook page says you believe the same as the founding fathers. So you don't want women or non-white men to own property or vote?
If you truly believe that about the Founders, I'll give you some slack and fault your educators. Put down the talking points and please READ for yourself what the Founding Fathers wrote and said. It is easy to fall into the trap of "presentism" when critiquing the past. By the way, not all of the founding fathers believed that either. Most did NOT own slaves nor supported slavery. Many felt Native Americans were getting a raw deal too. I will grant you that at the time, most men felt that women shouldn't vote. However, after the Revolutionary War, and with Great Britain out of the way, many property rights were conferred to women and on certain occasions, wives of legislators were allowed to vote as proxy for their husbands who were too ill to attend legislative sessions. Also, many free blacks living in the Northern Colonies and even some in the South owned property and could vote. African-American Crispus Attucks was the first person killed in the Boston Massacre in 1770. It was a Black Militiaman (Prince Estabrook) who was the first to fall wounded on Lexington Green April, 19, 1775 in the first Battle of the American Revolution. I would challenge you to learn about Bishop Richard Allen of Philadelphia who is considered by many historians to be a Black Founding Father.
The Founding Fathers (who believed our liberties and freedoms came from God) GAVE us an amazing Declaration of Independence which declared ALL men (people) are created equal. This was an astounding statement at the time given that so few ANYWHERE on the planet believed this. It is BECAUSE of the groundwork of this statement by the founders that women were ultimately given the right to vote, and that slavery was abolished in this nation and that property rights were extended to all law abiding persons! The Founders also gave us The Constitution, and the form of government that we have; a Democratic Republic, with its three branches of government. It was the legislative branch which passed a Constitutional Amendment to abolish slavery. It was the Legislative and the Supreme Court which proclaimed women the right to vote after years of struggle by women in the suffrage movement. Though it took many years, the system established BY OUR FOUNDERS worked.
It was to those words written by our Founding Fathers, that many oppressed in this country and around the world have pointed to in the assertion of their rights and liberties! In fact, it was Benjamin Franklin who exclaimed this separation from Great Britain was necessary since every attempt by many of the colonies to end slavery had been thwarted or reversed by the British Crown! Not to mention, the property rights of all Americans had been in many cases, trampled. Both Ben Franklin and Benjamin Rush founded an anti-slavery society in 1774. John Jay was president of a similar group in New York. Constitution signer William Livingston and later Governor of N. J. encouraged them in their efforts including allowances of full property rights and liberties. Rufus King (signer of the Constitution) authored a bill signed into law by then President George Washington, banning slavery in the "Ohio" frontier territories.
It was the Founding Fathers who started the Freedom Train down its glorious and sometimes bloody tracks. Yet, that freedom train still rolls. Had those few dozen or so brave men not met on that stormy eve of July 2, 1776 to plot sedition against their government (a crime punishable by death at the time) by declaring themselves free, and ultimately all of us free, you and I might not be having this conversation. We may still be saluting a King or some other Tyrant. Jesus Christ never directly spoke out against slavery either. Nor did he campaign for women's right to vote. Should I quit following Him??? I'll let the Founders respond to your question:
"Proclaim Liberty throughout the land and to all the inhabitants thereof."-Leviticus 25:10 The above verse is inscribed on the Liberty Bell.
"Why keep alive the question of slavery? It is admitted by all to be a great evil."-Charles Caroll (signer of The Declaration of Independence)
"We recognize no sovereign but God, no King but Jesus."-John Adams &; John Hancock, April 18, 1775
"That men should pray and fight for their own freedom and yet keep others in slavery is certainly acting a very inconsistent as well as unjust and perhaps, impious part."-John Jay, President of Continental Congress.
"I can only say that there is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the abolition of it [slavery]."-George Washington
"My opinion against it has always been known. Never in my life did I own a slave."-John Adams
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