HOW A DIVIDED AMERICA CAN ONCE AGAIN BE "ONE NATION UNDER GOD"

Perhaps the greatest challenge facing Donald Trump will be to somehow unify a deeply divided America. The already existing moral and cultural divisions were greatly exacerbated by a volatile election season wherein the hatred and animosity reached levels unseen in my lifetime.

Only two times in history has America been as divided as it is today: (1) At the time of the Civil War and (2) the early 1700s before the Great Awakening in the thirteen colonies. The answer for both situations was the same, and it was not a political answer.

In this essay, I will address how the Thirteen Divided Colonies became the United States of America and fulfilled the prayer of George Whitefield that they would become "one nation under God."

The Deep Divisions of Colonial America

Most do not realize the deep divisions that existed in colonial America between the Anglicans who settled Virginia, the Puritans who settled New England, the Baptists who settled Rhode Island, the Quakers who settled Pennsylvania, and so on.

In the Old World, Anglicans (as the state church) had imprisoned Puritans, even putting some to death. They had also persecuted Baptists and Quakers. In the New World, Puritans had persecuted Quakers and Baptists, banning them from their colony and even putting some to death. Anglicans in Virginia jailed Baptists preachers who came into their colony to preach the gospel. Baptists and Quakers did not get along and considered Puritans and Anglicans to be part of the false, harlot church of Revelation.

It seemed that these groups could never reconcile. Their history was too long and their pain too deep. God, however, had an answer. His answer was a great, spiritual awakening based on the preaching of the gospel wherein Jesus was presented as the central object of faith.

God’s Instrument for Change

God’s instrument to ignite this Awakening and carry the revival flame from Georgia to New Hampshire was a 25-year-old Oxford graduate who had just been ordained with the Anglican Church. At Oxford, George Whitefield had been part of the Holy Club (Methodists) and had experienced a radical conversion to Jesus Christ. After his ordination, he ignited great revival in England while John and Charles Wesley were away on a mission to Georgia.

Although ordained with the Anglican Church, Whitefield did not have a denominational bone in his body. He freely fellowshipped with all true believers, including Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Quakers, and any who honored God and confessed Jesus Christ as the true Lord of the Church.

Whitefield came to America on his first of seven visits in 1738. He came with a burden for the colonists and a prayer that they would no longer live as thirteen divided colonies, but as “one nation under God.” (Hyatt, America's Revival Heritage (Second Edition), 59).

His impact on America was astounding. Most of his meetings were in the open air because there were no buildings large enough to accommodate the thousands that came to hear him. In his Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin tells of the incredible change that came over his hometown of Philadelphia when Whitefield came there on his second of seven visits to America. He wrote,

In 1739 there arrived among us from Ireland the Reverend Mr. Whitfield who made himself remarkable there as an itinerant preacher. The multitudes of all sects and denominations that attended his sermons were enormous, and it was a matter of speculation to me, who was one of the number, to observe the extraordinary influence of his oratory on his hearers. From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, it seemed as if all the world were growing religious so that one could not walk through the town in an evening without hearing psalms sung in different families of every street (Hyatt, America's Revival Heritage (Second Edition), 59-60).

Although accounts of his meetings often describe the multitudes as standing and listening in rapt silence, accounts also reveal intense emotional responses at times, as things eternal were made real to their hearts and minds. On one occasion, after preaching to a huge throng gathered outdoors, Whitfield surveyed the crowd and noted the amazing response. He wrote in his Journal;

Look where I would, most were drowned in tears. Some were struck pale as death, others wringing their hands, others lying on the ground, others sinking into the arms of their friends and most lifting up their eyes to heaven and crying out to God (Hyatt, America's Revival Heritage (Second Edition), 62).

Whitefield Confronts the Divisions

Whitefield addressed the divisions of the colonists head-on. In one of his sermons, for example, as he was preaching in the open air to several thousand, representing various sects and denominations, he pretended to converse with Father Abraham, whom he pictured as looking over the banister of heaven at the gathered multitude.

Whitefield cried out, “Father Abraham, are there any Anglicans in heaven?”

The answer came back, “No, there are no Anglicans in heaven.”

“Father Abraham, are there any Puritans in heaven?”

“No, there are no Puritans in heaven.”

“Are there any Methodists in heaven?”

“No, there are no Methodists here either.”

“What about Baptists or Quakers?” 

“No, there are none of those here either.”

“Father Abraham,” cried Whitefield, “What kind of people are in heaven?”

The answer came back, “There are only Christians in heaven, only those who are washed in the blood of the Lamb.”

Whitefield then cried out, “Oh, is that the case? Then God help me, God help us all, to forget having names and become Christians in deed and in truth!” (Hyatt, America's Revival Heritage (Second Edition), 60-61).

Sectarian Walls are Broken Down

In Boston, when the population was around 17,000, an estimated crowd of 20,000 gathered on the Boston Common to hear Whitfield preach. Differences were melted, denominational walls were broken down, and for the first time, the colonists began to see themselves as a single people with one Divine destiny, “One Nation Under God,” as Whitfield had prayed.

By his incessant travels, Whitefield made the Great Awakening America’s first national event. It was the first time the scattered colonists of various denominational and theological persuasions had participated together as one people in a single event.

Historian, Benjamin Hart, points out that when Whitefield visited America for the final time in 1770, even the Episcopal (Anglican) churches, which had initially rejected him, opened their doors to him. He goes on to say,

The true Spirit of Christ had dissolved sectarian differences. America considered itself to be a nation of Christians, pure and simple, as Whitefield noted with satisfaction. “Pulpits, hearts and affections,” he said, were opened to him and any preacher of whatever denomination who had a true Christian message to share (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 87-88).

The late Harvard professor, Perry Miller, surely had Whitefield in mind when he wrote, “The Declaration of Independence of 1776 was a direct result of the preaching of the evangelists of the Great Awakening.” Through Whitefield’s ministry the Divided Colonies of America became the United States of America.

We Hold the Key

In Ephesians 2:14, Paul says of Jesus, For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one and broken down the middle wall of separation. For Paul, the greatest gulf in first century humanity was the one between Jew and Gentile. He was convinced, however, that Jesus, and only Him, could span that gulf and bring the two together.

This is what brought the divided thirteen colonies together--the Christ-centered preaching of Whitefield and others of the Great Awakening. This happened to such an extent that a British-appointed governor in Connecticut wrote to his superiors in England, “If you ask an American who is his master, he will tell you he has none, nor any governor but Jesus Christ” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 81).

They answer for a deeply divided America is not political. We, as the church, hold the only message that can restore civility and harmony to this nation. We, therefore, must not allow ourselves to be intimidated by the anti-Christian rhetoric of the modern world.

We must be bold! We must preach Jesus! And we must pray for the rain of the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon this nation once again. 

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's books America's Revival Heritage (Second Edition) and 1726: The Year that Defined America, both available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com. He is the creator of the "1726 Project" with the goal of educating America in her Christian roots of Faith & Freedom and igniting another Great Awakening across the land.

ELECTION 2024

Who Will Do the Best Job of Carrying Forward the Original American Vision of Faith and Freedom?

  

America was founded by devout Christians who were willing to leave family, friends, and their homeland in search of a land where they could freely live out their faith without the interference of a tyrannical government. Ronald Reagan was right when he said,  

It’s always been my belief that by a Divine plan this nation was placed between the two oceans to be sought out and found by those with a special brand of courage and love of freedom.

Indeed, America's founding generation believed that the nation had come forth in the plan and purposes of God to be a land of Faith and Freedom. Samuel Adams (1722-1803) expressed this in a 1794 Proclamation for a Day of Fasting and Prayer while serving as governor of Massachusetts. He opened the proclamation by saying, “The Supreme Ruler of the Universe, having been pleased, in the course of His Providence, to establish the independence of the United States of America . . . “

Even those who have suffered at the hands of those who did not understand the original American vision, have been convinced that there was something unique and special about America’s birth. This was true of the former slave, Frederick Douglass, who in an 1852 speech, called the U.S. Constitution “a glorious liberty document,” and then declared,

Fellow Citizens, I am not wanting in respect for the fathers of this republic. The signers of the Declaration of Independence were brave men. They were great men too—great enough to give fame to a great age. It does not often happen to a nation to raise, at one time, such a number of truly great men.

In his fight for Civil Rights, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. understood that the nation, especially the Jim Crow South, had departed from the original American vision of Faith and Freedom. Writing from the Birmingham City Jail, where he had been incarcerated, he declared his confidence that his efforts would succeed because of the “will of God” and America’s “sacred heritage.”

The “sacred heritage” of which he spoke was the vision of America’s founding generation that this would be a land characterized by Faith and Freedom.

The Original American Vision of Faith &Freedom

Indeed, the original American vision was for a land of individual liberty where people would live out their faith without government interference and be free to spread their faith in Jesus to the ends of the earth.

This was the vision expressed by the Jamestown settlers who disembarked at Cape Henry, VA on July 29, 1607. Their first act was to gather around a 7-foot oak cross they had brought from England and dedicate the land of their new home to God. In his dedicatory prayer, their chaplain, Rev. Robert Hunt, declared, “From these very shores the gospel shall go forth, not only to this New World, but to all the world” (Hyatt, 1726:The Year that Defined America, 370).

Thirteen years later, the Pilgrims landed at Cape Cod in New England. Before disembarking from the Mayflower in their new home, they formulated the Mayflower Compact in which they stated their two reasons for coming to America: (1) for the glory of God and (2) for the advancement of the Christian faith.

Twenty-three years later, with thousands of new immigrants arriving and new towns springing up, the United Colonies of New England was formed. In their founding document they clearly stated why they had come to America. Dated May 19, 1643, the opening statement reads,

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 (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 31).

Pennsylvania was founded in 1682 by the Quaker, William Penn, and it became a haven for people being persecuted for their faith. In his Fundamental Constitution of Pennsylvania (1682), Penn guaranteed freedom of worship for all, but in it, he laid out the following conditions of that freedom:

So long as every such person does not use this Christian liberty to licentiousness, that is to say, to speak loosely and profanely of God, Christ, or religion, or to commit any evil in their lifestyle (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 39).

America’s Founders Impacted by the Vision of Faith & Freedom

America’s Founders were not shy in expressing this vision for they believed real freedom could only be realized through faith in Jesus Christ.

For example, in 1756, Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to George Whitefield, the most famous preacher of the Great Awakening, and proposed that they partner together in founding a new Christian colony in the area of present-day Ohio. In his proposal, Franklin presented a missionary motive for such a colony, saying,

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 (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 137).

In a prayer journal George Washington kept in his twenties, are found many devout prayers expressing praise and honor to God. One entry reads, “Bless, O Lord, the whole race of mankind, and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son, Jesus Christ” (1726:The Year that Defined America, 132).

During the Revolutionary War, Washington wrote a letter to General Nelson in which he alluded to the numerous amazing circumstances, which he recognized as the hand of God, giving the colonial armies victories over the superior British forces. He then said,

The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations—but it will be time enough for me to turn preacher, when my present appointment ceases.

This link between Faith and Freedom was expressed by America’s second president, John Adams, just two weeks before the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. In a letter to his cousin, Zabdiel Adams, a minister of the Gospel, Adams wrote,

Statesmen, my dear sir, may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion [Christianity] and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles, upon which Freedom can securely stand” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 164).

John Hancock (1737-1793), President of the Second Continental Congress (1775-1781) and signer of the Declaration of Independence, wanted the entire earth to hear and embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ. He expressed this in a Prayer Proclamation he issued while Governor of Massachusetts (1780-1785; 1787-1793). In the 1793 Proclamation, he declared,

I do hereby appoint Thursday the eleventh day of April next, to be observed throughout this Commonwealth, as a day of solemn fasting, humiliation, and prayer . . . that with true contrition of heart we may confess our sins, resolve to forsake them, and implore the Divine forgiveness through the merits and mediation of JESUS CHRIST our Savior . . . and finally, to overrule all the commotion in the world, to the spreading of the true religion of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, in its purity and power, among all the people of the earth (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 173).

Samuel Adams, Founding Father and signer of the Declaration of Independence, also served as governor of Massachusetts. During his tenure as governor, he proclaimed a “Public Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer” for April 2, 1795. In this proclamation, he said,

Calling upon the Ministers of the Gospel, of every Denomination, with their respective Congregations, to assemble on that Day, and devoutly implore the Divine forgiveness of our Sins, To pray that the Light of the Gospel, and the rights of Conscience, may be continued to the people of United America; and that his Holy Word may be improved by them, so that the name of God may be exalted, and their own Liberty and Happiness secured. And finally, that He would overrule all the commotions in the earth to the speedy establishment of the Redeemer’s kingdom, which consists in Righteousness and Peace (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 104).

No Real Freedom Without Faith

It is obvious from the mere sampling of above quotes that America’s Founders believed Freedom and Christian Faith to be inextricably linked. They believed so strongly in faith in God as the basis of human freedom that they unashamedly prayed and publicly expressed their desire to see it spread throughout the earth.

This is why the first two rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights are for religious liberty and freedom of speech. Faith and Freedom were at the top of their list of freedoms that must be protected. This is why George Washington, in his Farewell Address, warned the fledgling nation that two things must be guarded if they were to be a happy people—Christianity and morality, which he called “indispensable supports” for political prosperity (Hyatt, Pilgrims and Patriots (Second Edition), 168-69).

Who Will Carry Forward the
 Original American Vision of Faith  Freedom?

We are now in the midst of one of the most important elections in America’s history, which will have a profound bearing on whether the original American vision will continue for another generation. We must, therefore, ask ourselves, “Who will do the best job of carrying forward the original American vision for a land of Faith & Freedom?” 

No politician or political party is perfect, but after reading the platforms of the two parties and listening to their declarations and speeches over the past several years, it is clear to me that Trump and Vance are the only choice for those who truly care about the continuation of the original American vision and the passing on of Faith and Freedom to the next generation.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is the founder of the "1726 Project" whose purpose is to educate the American public, beginning with the Church, about the nation's birth out of a Great Spiritual Awakening in Faith and Freedom. This article is derived from his books, 1726: The Year that Defined America and Pilgrims and Patriots (Second Edition), available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

The opinions expressed by the author are his own and are not tied to any organization of which he is a part.

WHY WE MUST MAKE A STAND BOTH ON OUR KNEES AND AT THE BALLOT BOX

If America's constitutional freedoms are to be enjoyed by another generation, we must make a stand on both our knees and at the ballot box. We must make a stand on our knees because the root cause of the moral confusion and societal chaos all around us is that our culture has forgotten God. There must be a national return to the God of the Bible.

We must also make a stand at the ballot box because one political party has rejected the God of the Bible and is not committed to America's constitutional freedoms. Such a party must not be allowed to gain power.

Why Harris and Walz Are Bad for America

When she served as a senator, Kamala Harris was ranked as the most liberal person in that body, even to the left of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Her oft quoted phrase, "unburdened by what has been,” has roots in Marxist ideology. This should not be surprising since her father was a Marxist professor of economics at Stanford University.

The phrase means that nothing of the past should hinder the pursuit of a new Marxist, socialist utopia. For Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, who has expressed great admiration for the Chinese communist system, this means that nothing in America’s past is sacred.

In their thinking, there is nothing sacred about the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution and they should not be burdened by them as they forge a new future for America. Neither should they be burdened by the Bill of Rights.

They should not be burdened by the First Amendment that guarantees religious liberty and freedom of speech. Neither should they be burdened by the Second Amendment and its guarantee of the right of American citizens to bear arms. They should be free to dispense with these archaic 250-year-old documents as they advance their utopian, socialist vision for America.

Dr. King Saw it Differently

This is such a contrast to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who based his fight for racial equality on "God's will" and America's "Sacred Heritage" (Hyatt, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, 60). Writing from the Birmingham City Jail, where he had been incarcerated, he declared that the nation’s “sacred heritage” to be a reason for his confidence. He wrote,

We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham, and all over the nation, because the goal of America is freedom. Abused and scorned though we may be, our destiny is tied up with the destiny of America . . . We will win our freedom because the SACRED HERITAGE of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands.

Dr. King was very aware of America’s flawed and sinful history, but he also saw that there was something sacred and of God in her founding in FAITH AND FREEDOM. In this same letter he spoke with pride and respect for the Pilgrims, Thomas Jefferson, the ‘majestic” Declaration of Independence, and Abraham Lincoln.

America's founders were far from perfect, but they established a nation on Judeo/Christian principles that they believed would serve as a moral compass to guide the nation through any difficulty or crisis she might encounter. Dr. King understood this. Harris and Walz do not.

Our Freedoms are One Generation Away from Extinction

The mindset of Harris and Walz is diametrically opposed to that of Dr. King and America’s founding generation. If Harris and Walz gain power and have their way, the America of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Douglass, Lincoln, and King will be no more. If Harris and Walz gain power, this generation will likely see the warning of Ronald Reagan fulfilled, wherein he said,

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States when men were free.

It's Time to Make a Stand

It is time for every freedom-loving American of every political persuasion to make a stand for America. Democrats, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard understand this. 

It is also time for every person who names the name of Christ to fall to their knees and ask God to save America, not only at the ballot box, but with another great, national spiritual awakening that will transform the culture and alter the course of the nation. 

America can be saved and freedom preserved for the next generation, but we must make a stand. We stand the tallest when we are on our knees. We must make a stand both on our knees and at the ballot box. Only then will America be saved.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an author, historian and Biblical scholar. He has documented the "sacred heritage" of which Dr. King spoke in his books Pilgrims and Patriots (Second Edition), 1726: The Year that Defined America, America's Revival Heritage (Second Edition), and other books that are available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com. This article is his personal opinion and is not related to any organizations of which he is a part.

WHY PERSONAL PROPHECY MUST NEVER BECOME A SUBSTITUTE FOR BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT

Sue and I were driving across the parking lot of an Albertson’s having just picked up a few grocery items. Suddenly and unexpectedly, Sue broke forth with an utterance in tongues. I had the interpretation and said aloud, “The time is approaching when you will be going to England.”

We found this prophecy interesting for we had never ministered in England and had no contacts in England. Knowing, however, that if this was of God, He would open the doors, we went about our business and did not try to make it happen.

A short time after this, a friend emailed and invited me to accompany him to England where he had been invited to speak at a large conference. I prayed about it but had no sense in my spirit that I was to accept his invitation, so I politely declined.

A few weeks later, I received a totally unexpected invitation to participate in a panel discussion on the Holy Spirit at Oxford University and to present a 90-minute lecture based on my book, 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity, which is published by Charisma House. I immediately knew in my spirit that this was the fulfillment of the prophetic word we had received in the Albertson’s parking lot. 

We spent two days at Oxford, and it was a wonderful experience. The panel discussion and my lecture took place in the very same hall where John and Charles Wesley formed the Holy Club, which gave birth to the great Methodist Revival. After my lecture, in which I explained how God has visited His people again and again throughout history with Holy Spirit revival, we laid hands on students and guests to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and some broke forth speaking in tongues. 

God also used the open door at Oxford to open another door to preach in a Sunday morning service in London, which turned out to be an incredible blessing. All in all, it was more than we could have ever imagined but it required being led by the Spirit each step of the way.

In over 50 years of ministry in Pentecostal and charismatic circles, I have encountered similar situations where it was obvious that personal prophecy could not be substituted for being led by the Spirit. Here are two important lessons I want to leave with you from these experiences.

First, never run out and try to make a prophetic word happen. This is what Abraham did and he produced an Ishmael.  If God has truly spoken, He knows all the details of how that word is to unfold, and you must be guided by His Holy Spirit to see it fulfilled according to His plan.

Secondly, never assume that the first opportunity that presents itself is the one God was speaking of. When my friend invited me to accompany him to England, I could have jumped at it and said “yes,” based on the prophetic word I had received. By this time, however, I had learned better and chose to pray, listen, and wait upon the Lord. I am so glad I did.

In conclusion, God may providentially bring a personal prophecy our way to affirm, alert, or encourage, but we must never seek to be led by prophecy. That is not God's plan for the New Covenant believer. We are to be led by the Holy Spirit, as Paul said in Romans 8:14, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is on a mission to help "Save America" by directing her back to her founding roots of faith and freedom, which he has documented in books such as America's Revival Heritage (Second Edition), Pilgrims and Patriots (Second Edition) and 1726: The Year that Defined America. These books are available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

 

HAS GOD SPARED DONALAD TRUMP FOR A REASON?

Is Donald Trump being shielded and protected by God? Many believe he is, and so does he. In a recent speech, he said, “And God has spared my life." He then paused and looking heavenward said, "It must have been God; thank You, not once but twice.” 

It is not far-fetched to think that God has spared Trump from the assassins’ bullets. If God does have a strategic role for Trump to play in America at this time, then we should expect both a demonically inspired hatred toward him and God’s providential protection.

The Bible is filled with accounts of God delivering his people from those who would do them harm. History is also filled with accounts of people praising God for providentially sparing their lives. One of those was none other than George Washington, America’s first president.

Washington Providentially Protected

As a young man of 23, Washington was recruited by the British General Braddock to be a guide for the British in their trek through the wilderness to take Fort Duquesne from the French and Indians. Braddock recruited him because of his knowledge of the ways of the wilderness and the American Indians.

Washington had acquired this knowledge in his work as a surveyor of wilderness territory. However, he found his advice for traveling through the wilderness and dealing with the Indians ignored by Braddock who considered him a young, upstart colonist.

But when an ambush occurred and Braddock himself was wounded, Washington took charge and organized an orderly retreat while at the same time putting his own life at risk, rescuing the many wounded and placing them in wagons.

During this time, two horses were shot out from under him and his clothes were shredded with bullets. He emerged unscathed and gave glory to God, saying, "I was saved by the miraculous care of Providence that saved me beyond human expectation."

God’s Protection Confirmed

Fifteen years later, in 1770, Washington had a cordial visit with an old Indian chief who was on the opposite side in that battle. In the meeting, the old chief told Washington and those present how they were supernaturally thwarted from killing him. Gesturing toward Washington, he said to those present,

Our rifles were leveled—rifles which, but for him, knew not how to miss. Twas all in vain; a power far mightier than we shielded him from harm . . . The Great Spirit protects that man and guides his destinies. He will become chief of nations, and a people yet to be born will hail him the founder of a mighty nation (Hyatt, America’s Revival Heritage (Second Edition), 73).

Indeed, there were so many providential incidents of protection surrounding Washington that his reputation in this regard was spread abroad. For example, the Lutheran pastor, Henry Muhlenberg, whose church was situated next to Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War, said of Washington,

It appears that the Lord God has singularly, yea marvelously, preserved him in the midst of countless perils . . . and hath hitherto held him in His hand as His chosen vessel (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 115).

God is Not Finished with America, with Donald Trump, or with You

Only God can save America, but He uses people, and I am convinced that He has a strategic role for Trump to play in this regard. The Church must play the primary role for only an Awakened Church can restore morality, reason, and common sense to our corrupted culture. “If My people . . .” is still Heaven’s condition for national healing.

Trump is important in a secondary political role for he is probably the only politician at this time with the courage to stand up to the woke mob and Marxist radicals who are bent on fundamentally transforming America. I will, therefore, continue to pray for Divine protection for Trump and I will vote for him in November. 

Not only Trump, but God has spared all our lives in ways we do not know, because He still has need of us. Let us, therefore, stand strong in our faith and continue to pray for another Great Awakening to roll across this land like a giant tsunami wave. He has spared us all for a reason--His reason! America's future is at stake and I am convinced that we have come to the kingdom for such a time as this. 

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is the founder of the "1726 Project," which is dedicated to educating America about the nation's Christian birth out of a great, spiritual awakening. This article was derived in part from his books, 1726: The Year that Defined America and America's Revival Heritage (Second Edition) available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

WHAT IF EVERY PASTOR IN AMERICA PREACHED AN "ELECTION SERMON" THIS SUNDAY?

Every pastor and minister of the gospel should present an “Election Sermon” leading up to the November 5 election. The purpose is to bring the principles and values of heaven into the political realm. If we do not bring heaven’s values to the political arena, we leave it to the godless news media and the woke TikTokers to be the primary influencers of America’s elections and civil government.

An Election Sermon is not something new. America’s Founders freely intermingled Christian teachings and values with their civic elections. An early example of this was the establishment of the “Election Sermon” in New England in 1633. This statute provided that each year, at the time of the annual election of the governor and his assistants, a minister would be appointed to preach an “Election Sermon.”

This was a major event, attended by both religious and civic leaders. After the delivery of the sermon, it was then printed and distributed throughout the colony. This tradition spread and continued for over two-hundred years, even after the founding of the nation. In 1860, the noted lawyer and historian, John Wingate Thornton, wrote,

The annual “Election Sermon”—a perpetual memorial, continued down through the generations from century to century—still bears witness that our fathers ever began their civil year and its responsibilities with an appeal to Heaven, and recognized Christian morality as the only basis of good laws (Hyatt, America's Revival Heritage (Second Edition), 20).

Christian Influence Considered Necessary for the Success of the Nation

Yes, the Founders wanted ministers of the gospel to bring their message to bear upon the nation. This is why George Washington, after becoming commander-in-chief, appointed Christian chaplains throughout his army. This is why chaplains were appointed to Congress and continued the tradition, established by the Continental Congresses, of beginning each day's proceedings with prayer. The early chaplains also conducted Sunday services in the House Chamber every other week.

John Marshall, who served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1801-1835, made the Supreme Court facilities available to a local congregation for their Sunday gatherings. So, on Sunday morning, the singing of Christian hymns and the preaching of God’s Word could be heard ringing through the chambers of both the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court. This was neither surprising nor offensive to anyone, for it fit perfectly within the mindset of the founding generation.

Washington and all the Founders knew that the success of the Constitutional Republic they had formed hinged on the moral character of its citizens and their ability to govern themselves according to Christian values. This is why President John Adams, in a 1798 address to the officers of the Massachusetts Militia, declared,

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion . . . Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious [Christian] people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 173).

No Separation of Church and State in the Minds of the Founders

The idea of a separation of church and state in which the church stays out of politics is a modern, contorted interpretation of the First Amendment that has no basis in the founding generation. The First Amendment was written to keep the state out of the church, not the other way around. It forbids the government from playing favorites with any sect or denomination. Nothing more or less!

Yes, in early America it was considered a duty of Christian ministers to bring Christian values to bear upon politics and civic elections. As Michael Novak said, “The founders did not believe the constitutional government they were erecting could survive without Hebrew-Christian faith.”

The Johnson Amendment, passed in 1954, that prohibits religious nonprofits and churches from “participating” or “intervening” in elections is completely out of sync with America’s founding generation. We must not be intimidated by it!

It’s Time for a Courageous Stand

Jesus Christ is the Messiah-King promised by the Old Testament prophets, and we are told to proclaim His kingdom and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 24:14; 28:18-19). There is no realm of society that is exempt from his Lordship. 

This does not mean that we are trying to impose a Christian political system on the nation. No, we are merely seeking to impart the values of Jesus Christ to every realm of American society, including the political realm. America’s founders all agreed that this is the key to a stable and happy nation. George Washington made this clear in his First Inaugural Address, saying,

The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the external rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained. (Hyatt, Pilgrims and Patriots, 2nd Edition, 174).

Some Practical Suggestions

If you, as a pastor, are concerned about violating the Johnson Amendment and being harassed by the IRS, here are some suggestions and things to remember.

1) As a private citizen you have a constitutional right to state your views, even from the pulpit. To cover yourself, you can state up front that you are speaking as a private citizen and minister of Jesus Christ, not as the representative of any church or organization. 

2)  You don't have to promote a politician or party. Focus on the issues. Address the need for character in politics. Emphasize the need for women and men of honesty, integrity, godliness and common sense.

3)  Address the abortion issue and show from both Scripture and science how abortion destroys and devalues human life.

4) Read passages such as Psalm 33:12, which says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD” and encourage people to vote, not according to party or personality, but according to the principles and policies expressed by the candidates.

5)  Quote from the founding fathers their views concerning the need for Christian moral influence if America is to be a stable and happy nation.

Once you finish your Election Sermon, it will be clear in the minds of the people how they should vote, even though you have not endorsed any candidate or party. If every pastor in America preached an Election Sermon between now and November 5, the results, I believe, would be monumental. 

I am convinced that the "Election Sermon" is an American tradition that should be revived. What do you think?

This article was derived from America's Revival Heritage (Second Edition) and 1726: The Year that Defined America by Eddie L. Hyatt. These and other books by Eddie Hyatt are available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

WHY NEITHER WASHINGTON NOR LINCOLN WOULD BE WELCOME IN TODAY'S DEMOCRAT PARTY

In a recent interview, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. stated that his uncle (John F. Kennedy) and his father (Robert F. Kennedy) would not be welcome in today’s Democrat Party because it has moved so far to the Left. In this article, I also want to suggest that neither George Washington nor Abraham Lincoln would be welcome in today’s Democrat Party because in their lurch to the Left there has emerged a hostility toward the Bible and Bible-believing Christians.

This hostility was on full display when the new Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, described himself as a “Bible-believing Christian.” Democrats came unhinged with MSNBC host, Jen Psaki, calling Johnson a "religious fundamentalist" and mocking his faith. The Daily Beast compared Johnson to the "Taliban and the mullahs in Iran." Hakeem Jeffries, the Minority leader in the House, ripped into Johnson, calling him an “extreme, right-wing idealogue.” Others referred to him as "dangerous" and a "threat to democracy."

Not a single Democrat leader, including Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, have distanced themselves from these atrocious remarks by their colleagues. I must, therefore, assume that this is how they feel about the millions of “Bible-believing Christians” in America, including myself.

We probably should not be surprised for in 2019 the Democrat National Committee (DNC) unanimously passed a resolution embracing the “religiously unaffiliated,” which is a euphemism for those committed to secularism and atheism. The resolution also declared that neither Christianity nor any religion is necessary for morality and patriotism.

The resolution was backed by secularist groups like the Secular Coalition for America and the Freedom from Religion Foundation. These groups erroneously insist that America was founded as a secular nation and they regularly threaten lawsuits against the public display of crosses, Ten Commandment displays, and all other religious symbols. They also oppose prayer and Bible reading in the public schools, veteran cemeteries, and all public venues.

This hostile attitude was expressed by Democrat Congressman, Jerry Nadler, toward a Republican colleague who read from the Bible during a debate on the House floor. Nadler (D-NY), who was serving as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee at the time, sternly rebuked Greg Steube (R-FL), saying, “Mr. Steube, what any religious tradition describes as God's will is no concern of this Congress."

This antagonistic attitude toward the Bible and “Bible-believing Christians” is not only biased, it is un-American. For example, a ten-year study to determine where America’s founders got their ideas for the nation's founding principles and documents, found that they quoted the Bible far more than any other source (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 167-68).

When, therefore, George Washington insisted on taking the first presidential oath of office with his hand on a Bible, it was an expression of his deep respect for the Bible as a guide for national policy and morality. In a December 1982 article in Newsweek entitled “How the Bible Made America,” the authors wrote,

For centuries [the Bible] has exerted an unrivaled influence on American culture, politics and social life. Now historians are discovering that the Bible, perhaps even more than the Constitution, is our founding document: the source of the powerful myth of the United States as a special, sacred nation, a people called by God to establish a model of society, a beacon to the world (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 7).

The so-called “big tent” of the modern Democrat Party obviously has no room for someone like me. I am, however, okay with that since they obviously would have no room for George Washington or for Abraham Lincoln, who in an 1864 speech, said of the Bible,

It is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it.

I am proud to join George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and many others outside the modern Democrat Party's so-called "big tent." How about you? Will you join us?

Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt has a commission to reclaim America's godly heritage that is being destroyed by modern secularists. This article was derived in part from  book, 1726: The Year that Defined America, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.