The American Revolution – A Holy War?
Isn’t this country great, how we threw off the shackles of King George III to establish a government with principles inspired by God, securing God’s blessings and approval!
Is it?
I’ve been wrestling for some time with our revolution from a biblical perspective. Was it justified? Should we have rebelled in the first place?
If we look at Romans 13:1-7, maybe not. It begins:
King George the III was, without a doubt, an authority. And an authority, therefore, established by God. So wasn’t our revolution a rebellion against God?
I hear the objection (and I’ve said it myself), “But the king was a tyrant!”
If we accept that he was a tyrant, does that justify our rebellion? There were tyrannical Roman emperors, weren’t there? Paul and Peter were martyred under Nero’s reign, a well known tyrant.
And wasn’t there taxation without representation in the Roman empire? Is that enough of a reason to revolt?
In 1 Peter 2:13-14, we have a little different take on authority:
Interesting, isn’t it? A distinction is made about governors and their role as an agent of justice. But no mention is made of how to address an unjust governor.
Can anyone point me to a passage that proscribes our actions when governed unjustly?
The closest I can get is instruction on how to deal with taxation without representation:
Matthew 22:15-22 (New International Version)
But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
So, no call to rebellion there at all, is there? Quite the opposite.
Why are we special? Are we special?
Why does God’s word seemingly not apply to our nation?
At what point do we transcend rebellion and enter a state of being established by God?
p.s. And I didn’t even go near the hyperbole that Hitler and the holocaust would’ve introduced. I find it more interesting to explore the grey.
Wow. Some really interesting thoughts. Certainly puts a new spin on our City on a Hill philosophy.
Here’s a distinction I found interesting: The passages you quoted are directed to the church and individual believers.
The American Revolution was not started by the church but by a government. As I understand it, the Continental Congress was composed of governors and assemblies that were under the authority of King George. They sought proper representation and justice from the king and when they were denied, the rebellion started.
Sure there were Christians involved, and some Deists and probably some right-wing radio talk show hosts, but it was started by a government.
Governments are institutions distinct from the church and have a different purpose.
Now about Scriptural basis for governments and revolution. This I’ll have to percolate on and get back to you.
Good to read your thoughts Mr. Ness. Very thoughtful and great use of Scripture. A timely, timely word in our Americanized Christianity.