The American Revolution: Justified or Unjustified
Perhaps you have never stopped to think about whether the American Revolution against the British Crown was morally justified or unjustified according to Scripture.
We just celebrated 250 years of our founding and independence as a nation and it doesn't take much to recognize the many ways our Lord of the nations has clearly given us undeserved blessing (e.g., protected by more than 40 million Americans who have served in the armed forces, including 1.2 million who gave their lives, grown from 13 colonies with 2.5 million people to 50 states with more than 345 million. Its 1789 Constitution remains the world's oldest written national constitution still in force, while the Bill of Rights has safeguarded freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. The nation has witnessed 47 peaceful presidential transfers of power among 45 individuals, built the world's largest economy and strongest military, earned the most Nobel Peace Prizes, and maintained the U.S. dollar as the world's primary reserve currency since 1944. American innovation has transformed the world through advances such as the airplane, light bulb, phonograph, mass automobile production, air conditioning, the microprocessor, GPS, the internet, smartphones, and modern AI. The United States became the first nation to land humans on the moon, with 12 Americans walking on its surface, and its spacecraft have explored every planet in our solar system. Americans have also provided more international humanitarian aid and charitable giving than any other nation, sent as many as 1,000,000 missionaries worldwide since 1810, is home to many of the world's leading universities, fed hundreds of millions through American agriculture, and profoundly influenced global culture through the English language, music, literature, film, technology, art, and business).
But does all this blessing and more prove the Revolution itself was righteous? Here's some food for thought:
Some widely respected Christian leaders say YES, the revolution was justified (John Witherspoon, Charles Hodge, Robert Lewis Dabney, Francis Schaeffer, Al Mohler, Wayne Grudem among others). Read Was the American Revolution Justified? (David Guzik) to understand the scriptural arguments for the Revolution.
Some other widely respected Christian leaders say NO, the revolution was not justified (John Wesley, John Newton, Charles Simeon, R. C. Sproul, John MacArthur among others). Read Was the American Revolution Biblical and/or Just?(Gregg L. Frazer) to understand the scriptural arguments against the Revolution.
Whatever position you find most compelling, we do know that our God sovereignly rules over all and can and does providentially overrule (Psalm 103:19). He "reigns over the nations" (Psalm 47:8) and "all the nations serve Him" (Psalm 72: 11). The Lord "removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding" (Daniel 2:21). "The Most Highis ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes" (Daniel 4:17).
We also know as believers that government authority is from God and must be respected. This authority can and will be abused and we may have to suffer patiently under injustices as they did during biblical times. Christians are called to submit to governing authorities unless they are commanded to do what God forbids or forbids what God has commanded.
Let's pray that our governing authorities will be led by God's wisdom, come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and be thwarted when making decisions and legislation that would undermine the welfare of our nation "so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity" (1 Tim. 2:1–4).
Pastor Jeff
39: What guidance has God given us for our prayers? The whole Word of God is a guide and inspiration for our prayers and specifically the prayer Jesus taught His disciples (Matt. 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4).