As the fireworks fade, it is fitting we reflect on America’s founding and future. For the theologically inclined, you will not find any traces of chosen nation status or manifest destiny in this essay. Biblically, there is one chosen nation/people: ancient Israel liberated under Moses and the expanded Israel of the Church established by Messiah Jesus. (See Exodus 19:6 and I Peter 2:9-10). We can, however, reflectively see the hand of divine providence in the affairs of nations. If we were to tour the globe and speak with Christians of all classes, cultures, and communities, we would hear stories of grace and discipline, amazing miracles from God and serious consequences of human rebellion.
America is a unique historical experiment in virtue-based liberty, sharing much in common with other nations, but bringing unique ideas and interventions to our world. In a spirit of gratitude and humility, here are some moments of blessing and tragedy that will help us pray and prepare for a preferred future.
Blessing: In 1620, the passengers of the Mayflower disembarked and discovered an indigenous man who spoke English and knew the Christian faith – his name was Squanto. His story of captivity, Christian instruction, and return to his land over a 15-year period is a drama all by itself. His skills enabled these pilgrims to survive and there was peace for half a century.
Tragedy: Alas, a year earlier (1619) in the Virginia colony, the first African slaves were brought ashore, beginning 246 years of chattel slavery on the North American continent. The need for strong labor to cultivate tobacco overtook any notions of justice and equality. Ironically, it will be several Virginians (Jefferson, Madison, Washington) that composed the finest writings on human liberty and best governance practices!
Blessing: In the 17th century, several colonies were sanctuaries for religious freedom, welcoming people of all backgrounds. Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams for the expressed purpose of freedom of conscience and faith. Maryland, established by Lord Baltimore, was a haven for Catholics – and all others. Delaware had settlers from Scandinavia, Germany, Wales, and other locales. William Penn’s “Noble Experiment” establishing a sanctuary for Quakers and people of all faiths, was a special moment of divine blessing. Penn’s treaty with the indigenous tribes was the only one not broken by White settlers!
Blessing: Before the American Revolution, there were a series of religious revivals in the 1740s called the First Great Awakening that saw almost an eighth of the colonial population experience conversion. These moments of religious enthusiasm also stated a century of new missionary and social justice movements that would influence many important causes in the 19th and 20th century. Abolition of slavery, universal education, child labor reforms, women’s suffrage, and many other noble causes arose from deeply religious people joining with other people of conscience.
Blessing and tragedy: The Founders of our nation and Framers of our Constitution were a brilliant, idealistic, and wise group of leaders. They created an unprecedented government rooted in freedom of conscience, individual liberty, decentralized governance, and rights bestowed by God and protected by the Bill of Rights. Extraordinary work! But. In the interests of forming an improved national government for a fledgling nation, the Framers failed to inaugurate a plan for emancipation of the slaves. All but a few of these great thinkers knew in their hearts that slavery was unjust, and this failure harmed the integrity of the American vision.
As we will see in Part Two, it will take a Civil War to end slavery, and a century later, Civil Rights to end discrimination based on race. This does not invalidate the greatness of the American experiment, but it reveals the hardness of the human heart and the need for divine mercy. As we look at the second half of our kaleidoscopic history, we will notice more moments of blessings and judgment, all of which are designed to move us toward humility, holy love, and dedication to the common good.