Late one night about twelve weeks ago, while sitting and enjoying the quietness
and solitude, I heard the voice of the Lord in my heart giving me instructions to
do something for which I had had no interest or desire. I heard the Holy Spirit
instructing me to write a book about Benjamin Franklin.
I was familiar with Franklin
through general historical studies. Through researching the Great Awakening
I had also learned of his friendship with George Whitefield, the most famous
preacher of the Great Awakening. Still, I had no thought of researching the life
of the skeptical printer from Pennsylvania, generally considered to be, along
with Thomas Jefferson, the most nonreligious of America’s Founding Fathers.
But hearing the voice of the Lord
in my heart produced an excitement and desire for the project. The project is
now completed, and at the time of this writing, the book is at the printer with
a release date of around July 10 (The Faith & Vision of Benjamin Franklin).
As a result of carrying out this assignment,
I came to realize why understanding Benjamin Franklin is so important for
America today. As I researched his life and saw his deep commitment to
Christian principles and values, I was astounded. My response was, “If Franklin
is the most nonreligious of America’s Founders, what does it say for our
political leaders today? If he is one of the most nonreligious Founders,
then it shows how far we have drifted from our origins as a nation.
Franklin, in fact, envisioned a
Christian America in which its inhabitants would be governed from within by
Christian principles of virtue and morality. Such a people would create a
stable and prosperous society with little need for outward regulation and controls.
He also wanted government leaders to pray privately and publicly, imploring God
for His assistance in their duties.
That Franklin envisioned such a
nation is found throughout his writings, but I will here mention four events
in his life that clearly demonstrate this fact: (1) a letter he wrote to George
Whitefield in 1757, (2) his call for a day of prayer and fasting for
Pennsylvania, (3) a letter of rebuke he wrote to Thomas Paine, and (4) his call
to prayer at the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
His Letter to George Whitefield
In a letter
dated July 2, 1756 Franklin presented a proposal to George Whitefield, the most
famous preacher of the Great Awakening, proposing that they partner together to
establish a Christian colony “in the Ohio,” which would have been frontier
country at the time. In this letter, Franklin expressed his belief that by establishing
such a colony with “a strong body of religious and industrious people,” the
other colonies would be made more secure and commerce among the colonies would
be increased.
He also presented
a missionary reason for such a colony, saying it would greatly facilitate the
introduction of "pure religion" among the American Indians in that region. They
could be evangelized, Franklin said, by showing them “a better sample of
Christians than they commonly see.” He expressed confidence that God would give
them success in such a project, “if we undertook it with a sincere regard to
his honor.”
Although time, distance and circumstances did not allow
them to attempt this venture, I suggest that Franklin’s vision for a Christian
colony did not die with that project, but was later fulfilled in a manner
beyond anything he could have imagined. Twenty years after the date of the
above proposal, Franklin, with 55 others, signed the Declaration of
Independence and brought into existence a new nation built on Christian values
of faith and freedom.
His Call for a Day of Prayer & Fasting for Pennsylvania
That
Franklin never thought in terms of a separation of God and state, was made
obvious just a few years after Whitefield’s initial visit to Philadelphia and
the beginning of their friendship. In the 1740s Britain and Spain declared war
and many in Philadelphia were concerned since being on the coast made them
vulnerable to marauding Spanish ships that could well pass their way.
Franklin
led the way in organizing citizen militias and building fortifications with
cannon at the edge of the city. He then proposed that the Assembly and civic
leaders issue a call for a day of prayer and fasting, “to implore the blessing
of Heaven on our undertaking.”
The
people of Philadelphia had no knowledge of a public day of prayer and fasting,
but Franklin was able draw on his Puritan roots in New England where public
days of prayer and fasting had been observed since the time the Pilgrims
landing at Plymouth in 1620. He wrote;
They
embraced the motion; but as it was the first fast ever thought of in the
province, the secretary had no precedent from which to draw the proclamation.
My education in New England, where a fast is proclaimed every year, was here of
some advantage. I drew it in the accustomed style, it was translated into
German, printed in both languages, and divulged through the province.
Franklin
and all of Pennsylvania, including government officials, then participated in a
day of prayer and fasting, imploring God’s blessing and protection on their
colony. Even at this early stage of his life he obviously saw no conflict
between God, prayer and government. Indeed, throughout his life Franklin would
consider Christian values a necessary force for a prosperous and stable
society.
His Rebuke of Thomas Paine
Franklin, indeed, came to
believe the teachings of Jesus—whom he sought to emulate—to be a necessary and
positive force in society and a restraint on evil in the world. This is why
when the well-known Deist, Thomas Paine, sent him a manuscript copy of a book
he had written challenging the idea of a providential God and other aspects of
orthodox Christianity, Franklin, in very strong language, urged him not to
print the book or even allow anyone else to see it. He wrote;
I would advise you, therefore . . . to burn this piece before it is
seen by any other person; whereby you will save yourself a great deal of
mortification by the enemies
it may raise against you, and perhaps a good deal of regret and repentance. If
men are so wicked with religion [Christianity], what would they be if without
it.
Franklin’s
words predicting regret and repentance for Pain if he persisted in attacking
Christianity proved to be prophetic. Many years later, on his deathbed in
England, Paine expressed deep regret for writing and publishing The Age of Reason, which became very
popular in America. While in the throes of death, he lamented;
I
would give worlds, if I had them, if The
Age of Reason had never been published. O Lord, help me! Christ, help me! Stay with me! It is hell to
be left alone.
He
Calls the Constitutional Convention to Prayer
On
June 28, 1787 Franklin was participating as one of the delegates to the
Constitutional Convention in his hometown of Philadelphia. Much regional
disagreement had surfaced and the convention was about to be suspended because of unresolved strife and dissension.
It was at this critical moment that Franklin, now 81 years of age, rose to his
feet, and addressed the Convention
President, George Washington, with these words;
How has it happened, sir, that we
have not hitherto once thought of humbly appealing to the Father of lights to illuminate
our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with Great
Britain, when we were sensible to danger,
we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were
heard and they were graciously answered. I have lived, sir, a long time and the
longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that
God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground
without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We
have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.
I firmly believe this. I therefore beg
leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of heaven and
its blessing on our deliberation be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business.
That
it was Franklin who would call the assembly to prayer shows the depth of his
Puritan roots (he was born into a Christian, Puritan home) and the impact of
Whitefield and the Great Awakening on his life and thinking. The words in this
call to prayer show how far he had moved away from his earlier Deistic
thinking, for Deists did not believe that God “governs in the affairs of men”
and prayer for them would be meaningless.
Franklin’s
call to prayer demonstrates that he wanted faith in God to be a vital part of
this new nation, and that he considered it necessary for the nation’s success.
“Is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?” was his challenging
question to the delegates.
According
to those present, “an atmosphere of reconciliation seemed to settle over the
convention hall.”
Petty grievances and local interests were laid aside, and the delegates
went on to complete their task of formulating the American Constitution and Bill of Rights. I think Whitefield must have
smiled down from heaven on his old friend!
Franklin,
no doubt, was living out the vision for a Christian society he had shared with
Whitefield 37 years prior to this momentous event.
Concluding
Thought
As
we celebrate the 239th birthday of this nation, it is important that
we remember our godly heritage as a nation. It is crucial that we protect this
heritage and build on it for the next generation. The future belongs to those
who know from whence they have come.
This article was derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's new book, The Faith & Vision of Benjamin Franklin, available from Amazon and Hyatt's online bookstore at http://www.eddiehyatt.com/bookstore.html.
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