Times Are New, Yet They Are The Same

By Chuck Ness

Many Christians are unaware of the fact that it was the Great Awakening of the 18th century that brought about a climate which made the American Revolution possible. The message that, “Ye must be born again”, resonated resonated with Colonists, making them realize that it was not church membership, but a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that made you a Christian.

After a couple generations of this mindset, the Colonists came to realize that political power did not reside in the hands of the English monarch, but rather in their own desire will for self-governance. As evidence, I offer you these words from the Declaration of Independence,

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"

When the colonialists heard of a rumor that King George was planning to establish the Church of England as the official religion over the colonies by outlawing other religious denominations, the clergy began riling up the colonialists with sermons that sounded more like political speeches.

Thanks to the Great Awakening, the colonists were uniting under Christ when King George began tightening his grip by stripping them of their liberty. Their response was to become united against him. Instead of being 13 very divided entities, they became one nation under God.

Today, history is repeating itself, as we are again being forced to accept things we know God is against. It is time for the clergy in American pulpits to speak out against this outrage, and awaken the sheep by calling them to take a stand and fight for Christ at the ballot box. If they remain silent, because of a tax write off, then our slavery should be upon their conscience.