The Reformed Analysis
 
"For the Commandment is a lamp; and the Law is light; and reproofs and instruction are a way of life."
 Proverbs 6:23
An Analysis Newsletter for the Serious Christian Educator

 
October 2000

 

In Defense Of Jefferson

 

     And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout [all] the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.

(Leviticus 25:10 AV)

 

LIBERTY THE CENTRAL THEME

     Liberty was, and still is now, the central theme of the Republic of America. Moreover, it is the essence of Biblical Truth. Mankind, created in the image of God, fully set at liberty to serve and enjoy the Creator forever, abandoned his natural estate to establish himself as God. Thus, mankind, by his own rebellious action against the Almighty King and Lawgiver, brought himself into the bondage of sin and depravity. From that moment forward, mankind was hopelessly lost and destined to eternal doom and destruction. Yet God, who is rich in mercy, chose from all eternity a people for Himself to redeem from this bondage of sin and death. This liberation would be brought about by the WORD of God, even Jesus Christ, the Savior.

     The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;

(Isaiah 61:1 AV)

     Throughout the whole of the Scriptures, the central theme is “Liberty from the bondage of tyranny.” Yet, we must be careful not to “spiritualize away” the basic, practical application of this concept of liberty. It was not only a liberty of souls from the bondage of sin and death, but a liberty of nations and peoples from the tyranny of sinfully oppressive man. It was upon this premise that the Founding Fathers set the precept of the American nation.

   

THE STRENGTH OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE

Fathers of America were dramatically influenced by the Holy Scriptures and had severe reverence for the Sovereignty of God Almighty. If we carefully reconstruct the progression of Biblical influence in political and social thought, we would be immediately brought back to the period of the European Reformation of the Sixteenth Century. It was principally from this era that the Founders of America were influenced. Men like Martin Bucer (1491-1551) who dramatically impressed the principles of practical political and social Biblical truth on men such as John Calvin of Geneva and John Knox of Scotland. Still others, such as Urich Zwingli of Switzerland, would also be monumental in influencing American political thought.

If we were to trace back the practice of the American Republic, we would be forced to call these Christian Reformers the Founding Great Grand-fathers and forerunners of men such as Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Henry.

 

THE GREAT AWAKENING OF THE 1730’s

During the time of the American colonies there erupted a wave of Christian revival which broke out across Europe, and quickly spread to the colonies of America into New England. One historian called this Divine Providence, “the foremost social episode of pre revolutionary America.” It was this Divinely orchestrated revival that set the stage for the liberation of the American people. The Great Awakening had a dramatic democratic character upon the society’s traditional hierarchy.

The Scriptures were expounded in a practical fashion to include all areas of life. Religion and the personal pilgrimage of the soul were no longer the only focus in the preaching. A broader scope was presented. It was a scope which included the pragmatics of economics, politics, government, welfare, crime, and the duty of the civil magistrate before God and the people. No longer was there a “monastic” thrust of “religiosity” but rather an applicable, everyday series of directives and applications of God’s truth concerning all life. Consequences for sin against God were stressed in such a way as to indict whole nations and peoples. God’s anger and Judgment was paraded before the people as an event which takes place “in real time”, not simply in a far off place in eternity. Finally the “whole counsel of God” was faithfully expounded and applied to all events of time and history.

 

continued...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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01/19/02