The America of the
Pilgrims, of Washington, of Jefferson, of Lincoln, and of your parents and
grandparents is at stake on November 8. It is that serious!
Sadly, many evangelical
Christians are emotionally reacting to personalities and letting their feelings
get in the way, rather than considering the policies of the different
candidates and their respective parties. The question every Christian should
ask before going into the voting booth is, “Which candidate is most likely to implement
policies that are friendly to Christians and accommodating of the vision of America's Founders?"
The Growing Hostility Toward Faith in
America
America’s Founders
envisioned this land as a place where they could live out their Christian faith
without interference from government authorities. They also envisioned this new
land as a place from which the Gospel would freely spread into all
the world.
But in the last eight
years, we have observed a growing hostility toward Bible-believing Christians
by the Obama/Clinton administration with Christians being fined, jailed, and
court-martialed for refusing to violate their consciences and sincerely held religious
beliefs.
Showing her disdain for evangelical
Christians and their beliefs about life, marriage, and homeland security, Hillary referred to you
and me as “irredeemable” and belonging in her “basket of deplorables.” Her
audience laughed and cheered
The Vision of America’s Founding
Fathers
In sharp contrast to
Hillary’s vision for America, the nation’s Founders
envisioned this land, not only as a land of freedom, but as a bastion of Christian
missionary activity from which the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be taken into
all the world.
Even before the English
settlements on the east coast, Spanish Catholic missionaries brought
Christianity to the southeast and southwest areas of America. In fact, by 1630 the Spanish-Catholic
missionary responsible for an area that encompasses present day New Mexico,
Alonso de Benavides, reported that eighty thousand Native Americans had been
baptized.
This missionary vision for
America was continued by the English Protestants who settled the eastern seaboard
and brought this nation into existence. This is obvious from the following quotes
from America’s Founders.
“From these very shores the Gospel
shall go forth, not only to this New World, but to all the world.”
Rev.
Robert Hunt, April 29, 1607, as he and the Jamestown settlers gathered in
prayer around a large oak cross they had brought from England.
“Having undertaken for the glory of
God and the advancement of the Christian faith . . . a voyage to plant the
first colony in northern Virginia.”
From
the Mayflower Compact, the governing document of the Pilgrims who formulated it
upon their arrival in the New World in November of 1620.
“Whereas we all came into these parts
of America with one and the same end and aim, namely to advance the kingdom of
our Lord Jesus Christ and enjoy the Liberties of the Gospel in purity and
peace.”
Opening
statement of the Articles of Confederation for "The United Colonies of New
England,” dated May 29, 1643.
“Might it not greatly facilitate the
introduction of pure religion among the heathen, if we could, by such a colony,
show them a better sample of Christians than they commonly see.”
Benjamin
Franklin in a 1756 letter to
George Whitefield, the most famous preacher of the Great Awakening, in which
Franklin proposed that they partner together in founding a Christian colony on
the Ohio frontier.
“If
you ask an American who is his master, he will tell you he has none, nor any
governor but Jesus Christ.”
Jonathan Trumbull, Governor of Connecticut, 1769-84
“That
all nations may bow to the scepter of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and
that the whole earth may be filled with his glory.”
John Hancock, Founding Father and President of the Continental
Congress. This statement was part of a call for prayer he issued while serving as Governor
of Massachusetts.
“The philosophy of Jesus is the most sublime
and benevolent code of morals ever offered man. A more beautiful or precious
morsel of ethics I have never seen.”.
Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of
Independence and America’s third president, who took money from the federal
treasury to support missionaries to the American Indians.
“Bless, O Lord, the whole race of mankind, and
let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son, Jesus Christ.”
From a public prayer, prayed by George Washington, America’s first president.
Here’s Why I Voted for Trump
In
I Timothy 2:1, Paul instructed Timothy, who did not have the privilege of
voting, to pray for kings and all who are
in authority with two specific goals in mind. These stated goals can also
serve as guidelines for voting in this election.
First
of all, Paul wants government leaders who will not be hostile to Christians, so
that, he says, We may lead a quiet and peaceable life
in all godliness and honesty. Secondly, he wants
there to be a freedom to preach the Gospel without opposition, because God, he
says, Desires all people to be saved and
come to the knowledge of the truth.
Those
who have examined and compared the platforms of the two parties agree that
their visions for America are as different as day and night. For example, whereas
the Republican platform affirms Biblical values of life and marriage, the
Democratic platform is adversely opposed to such values.
In
addition, the Republican candidate has surrounded himself with good, conservative
Christians such as Mike Pence, Dr. Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee, and others, and has stated
that he will defend Christianity at home and abroad. No such words or actions are forthcoming from
the other side.
I
am not a politician and my vision is not tied to a political party. My goal is
to see His kingdom come and His will done in earth (that includes America)
as it is in heaven. I voted for Donald Trump because I am convinced that he and Mike Pence will do the best job
of creating a Christian friendly environment that will accommodate the
preaching of the Gospel in this land and to the ends of the earth, which is precisely what America's Founders envisioned for this land.
Quotes in this article are drawn primarily from Eddie Hyatt's latest book, Pilgrims and Patriots, available from Amazon and and also from his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.
This article expresses my (Eddie Hyatt's) personal opinions and is not related to any nonprofit/religious organization with which I am associated. I am here exercising my First Amendment right of free speech as a citizen of these United States of America.
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