FOLLOW THE SCIENCE TO JESUS AND HIS MIRACULOUS BIRTH

Faith in Jesus and His miraculous birth does not require the so-called “blind leap of faith.” The reliability of the Bible has been demonstrated by the modern science of archaeology. Archaeology has shown that Luke, who gives the most detail concerning Jesus’ birth, is a world-class historian, accurate in the minutest details in his Gospel and in Acts.

Luke gives the most detailed account of the Nativity and mentions Mary 12 times, more than any other biblical writer. In addition to the birth of Christ, he also gives special, detailed attention to the birth of John the Baptist and many see his gynecological interests to be a result of his training as a physician.

At the beginning of his Gospel, Luke, whom Paul calls “the beloved physician” in Colossians 4:14, indicates that he has made a thorough investigation of the things about which he is writing, including the Virgin Birth. This investigation included his utilization of eyewitness accounts of the events described.  

The detail Luke presents about the Virgin Birth does indicate that he has derived his information from a primary source, either Mary herself or someone to whom Mary had relayed the intimate details of the event.

Luke Gains a Reputation for Accuracy

At one time, it was thought that Luke was mistaken concerning the events he portrayed surrounding the birth of Christ (Luke 2:1-5). Critics argued that there was no census and that everyone did not have to return to their ancestral home. They also pointed out that Josephus had dated the governorship of Quirinius of Syria, whom Luke mentions, as beginning in A.D. 6, too late for the birth of Christ.

In every case, however, modern archaeological discoveries have proven the critics to be wrong. In the case of Quirinius, it was found that he actually served two separate terms as governor, the first beginning around 7 B.C., which fits perfectly with the time of Christ's birth. The accuracy of Luke as a historian was confirmed by the famous historian, A.N. Sherwin-White, who carefully examined his references in Luke/Acts to 32 countries, 54 cities, and nine islands, finding not a single mistake (Hyatt, Christmas Is For Real, 9).

The late F. F. Bruce, one of the most respected of New Testament scholars, noted that where Luke has been suspected of inaccuracy by modern critics, archaeology has again and again proved Luke to be right and the critics wrong (Hyatt, Christmas Is For Real, 8).

A World-Renowned Archaeologist is Convinced

The affirmation of Luke as a world-class historian, accurate in the minutest details, began with Sir William Ramsay (1851-1939), a world-renowned archaeologist and Oxford professor. Ramsay, an agnostic, set out to scientifically disprove the Bible, but his archaeological investigations carried him to a completely different conclusion.

Ramsay was a product of the skeptical, German higher criticism of the 19^th century.  He believed the New Testament to be an unreliable religious treatise written in the 2^nd century by writers far removed from the events described. Ramsay decided he would demonstrate his thesis by retracing Luke’s account of Paul’s travels in Acts and doing archaeological excavations along the way.

However, after years of retracing Luke’s account of Paul's travels and doing careful archaeological excavations along the way, Ramsay completely reversed his view of the Bible and first-century history. He became convinced that the Gospel of Luke and Acts were written in the first century by the traditional author, and he acquired a very high regard for Luke as a historian. He wrote,

Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy, he is possessed of the true historic sense; in short, this author should be placed along with the greatest of historians (Hyatt, Christmas Is For Real, 10-11).

In 1896, Ramsay began publishing his discoveries in a book entitled St. Paul the Traveler and the Roman Citizen. The book caused a furor of dismay among the skeptics of the world, for its affirmation of the biblical record was totally unexpected. The evidence was, in fact, so overwhelming that many atheists gave up their atheism and embraced Christianity.

Over the next 20 years, Ramsay published other volumes showing how he discovered Luke to be accurate in the tiniest details of his account. In his book, The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament, he wrote,

You may press the words of Luke in a degree beyond any other historian's and they stand the keenest scrutiny and the hardest treatment (Hyatt, Christmas Is For Real, 11).

Ramsay eventually shocked the world, announcing that he had become a Christian. He wrote, “I set out to look for truth on the borderland where Greece and Asia meet, and found it here [in the Biblical record]. He followed the science and it led Him to Jesus.

Not only Ramsay, but other archaeologists have found their skepticism dissipating as they did the real scientific work in the field. William F. Albright (1891-1971), the renowned archaeologist and late professor of Semitic languages at John Hopkins University, began his career as a skeptic. But after years of archaeological investigations in the land of the Bible, he wrote,

The excessive skepticism shown toward the Bible by important historical schools of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, certain phases of which still appear periodically, has been progressively discredited. Discovery after discovery has established the accuracy of innumerable details and has brought recognition to the Bible as a source of history (Hyatt, Christmas Is For Real, 11-12).

Our Faith Has a Solid Historical Base

With such overwhelming evidence for the Biblical record, it raises the question as to why there remains so much skepticism and unbelief about the Virgin Birth and other miracles recorded in the Bible. This question was answered by Yale archaeologist and professor, Dr. Millard Burrows, who said,

The excessive skepticism of many liberal theologians stems not from a careful evaluation of the available data, but from an enormous predisposition against the supernatural (Hyatt, Christmas is for Real, 21).

In other words, the barrier to faith is not an intellectual one, but a heart that is committed to unbelief. Any honest seeker who will follow the science and take an enlightened step of faith in Jesus will find the Holy Spirit coming in and witnessing to their heart that Jesus was truly born of a virgin. 

They can then experience the joy of singing Christmas hymns, such as the one penned by Charles Wesley, the Oxford graduate and co-leader of the great Methodist revival. In his hymn, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” he wrote,

Christ by highest heaven adored,

Christ the everlasting Lord.

Late in time, behold Him come,

Offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,

Hail the incarnate Deity,

Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,

Jesus our Emmanuel.

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt’s book, Christmas Is For Real, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com. Dr. Hyatt is also the author of 1726:The Year that Defined America, which documents how the 18th century Great Awakening had a direct bearing on the founding of America and the abolition of slavery.

THIS TOO IS LOVE

The nice, gentle Jesus of popular culture who is kind and sweet to everyone and reproves no one, is a caricature not found in Scripture. The Jesus of Scripture, while very compassionate, also confronts and rebukes, sometimes even in anger. 

When Jesus Became Angry

For example, Jesus was obviously infuriated at how the temple worship in Jerusalem had become merchandised. He made a whip, and with eyes blazing, entered the temple area, turning over tables, and shouting at the merchants to take their goods away from there. It is written, He shouted, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” but you have made it a den of thieves (Matthew 21:13).

In Matthew 11:20-24, Jesus rebuked the cities where His greatest miracles had been done because they did not repent. He excoriated them, saying,

Woe to you Chorazin! Woe to you Bethsaida!  And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to hell; for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.

In Matthew 23 Jesus lets loose His anger on the religious leaders of the day calling them “hypocrites” and “blind guides.” He sums up His anger toward them in verse 32, exclaiming, Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the damnation of hell. 

This too is love for His anger was directed at those who were distorting truth, misusing God's people, and rejecting God's ultimate visitation to them in Himself. 

Jesus Never Condones Sin

The picture of Jesus as this soft, effeminate person who would never offend or confront anyone about their life is nowhere to be found in Scripture. He is, instead, the epitome of strength and self-confidence, willing to confront where there is injustice and wrong. He is very compassionate toward sinners, but never affirms them in their sin.

For example, to the woman whom the Pharisees brought to Him saying she was caught in the act of adultery, Jesus showed great compassion and forgiveness but instructed her to, Go and sin no more (John 8:11). To a man He had earlier healed of paralysis, Jesus found Him in the temple and warned, Sin no more lest a worse thing come upon you (John 5:14).

Jesus wants the best for everyone, but He recognizes the reality of sin and evil in the world, which robs us of His best. His love confronts these destructive attitudes and behaviors. To the believers in Ephesus who had tolerated sinful, destructive behavior, Jesus exhorted, As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore and repent (Revelation 3:19).

Clarifying Love

The challenge we face in communicating God’s love to this generation is that their concept of love has been shaped, not by the Bible, but by Hollywood and the entertainment industry. When we say, “God loves you,” they envision a kindly person with warm, sweet feelings who never confronts or opposes. This is very misleading.

God loves everyone in the sense that His intentions toward everyone is for good. He does not, however, love everyone in the sense of feeling warm affection toward everyone and embracing their attitudes and behaviors. Only those who have put their faith in Him and made Him the object of their affection, experience the warmth of His affection, acceptance, and love.

Yet, even His own children are on the receiving end of His loving correction and rebukes. This is made clear by Hebrews 12:56, which reads, My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. Why? The writer goes on to say, Because the Lord disciplines the one He loves. 

Yes! This too is love!

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is a Bible teacher and revivalist who is on a mission to reconnect America with her severed Christian roots. His books on this topic and other themes are available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.

HOW THE U.S. CONGRESS DEFIED JESUS AND "PUT ASUNDER" HIS MODEL OF MARRIAGE

The U.S. Congress and President Joe Biden just defied both Scripture and Jesus with their so-called "Respect for Marriage act, which gave legislative force to same-sex marriage and put religious liberty in jeopardy. In doing so they ignored thousands of years of marriage as defined by our Creator, and affirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19. Concerning this original model of marriage Jesus also warned, let not man put asunder (Matthew 19:6). 

Jesus Affirms the Genesis Model of Marriage

Jesus’ clear statement on marriage emerges in a conversation with the Pharisees about marriage and divorce in Matthew 19. In this discussion, Jesus keeps pointing them back to marriage as it was, at the beginning, before the Fall of Genesis 3 and the entry of sin into the world. He obviously sees in the Genesis account of creation the Divine model for marriage.  

In the Genesis account, God created a man (Adam) and from his side created a woman (Eve). He then brought the woman to the man, and she became his companion, equal partner, and wife. Jesus points out that this original marriage was between a male and female, saying, Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning “made them male and female?”

The Genesis writer sums up this account of the first marriage by saying, Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh (Genesis 2:24). He thus makes clear that the marriage of our first parents is the model to be followed by succeeding generations.

In His discussion on marriage, Jesus quotes Genesis 2:24 and then adds, Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate; or as the KJV reads, “put asunder” (Matthew 19:6).

The Greek scholar, Marvin A Vincent, points out that the grammatical structure of Jesus’ words indicate that He is referring to marriage as instituted by God, not a particular marriage. The noted British New Testament scholar, F.F. Bruce, agrees, saying that Jesus is not here saying that every marriage is made in heaven but that “marriage itself is made in heaven” (Bruce, The Hard Sayings of Jesus, 58).

The Creator’s Manual for Marriage and Life

In this passage, Jesus is saying that marriage, as instituted by God, between one woman and one man, is not to be abrogated or “put asunder” by any human court or institution. If we do so,  it is to our own hurt, for the commands, guidelines, and patterns given to us by our Creator are for our good.

They are like the “owner’s manual” that comes with every new vehicle. If we follow the instructions and guidelines, we will derive the very best service from our vehicle. If, however, we ignore the instructions in the owner’s manual and the vehicle breaks down and costs us dearly, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

And so it is with our Creator’s Manual concerning marriage and morality. The more modern culture ignores those instructions and tears down the nuclear family and godly marriage, the more death and chaos we will see on our streets, in our homes, and in society in general. We have no one to blame but ourselves.

God takes no pleasure in seeing humanity self-destruct. In the time of Isaiah, Israel had turned away from Him and the people were experiencing the painful consequences of their apostasy. Like a parent grieving over the suffering of a wayward son or daughter, God lamented, If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea (Isaiah 48:18).

The Way Forward from Here

Pastors, teachers, and preachers in America must begin boldly, and in love, teaching and preaching the truth to this generation. Only the truth will make us a truly free people, as Jesus said in John 8:31-32.  

We must also pray for another Great Awakening to sweep across this land. Such an Awakening is a powerful work of the Holy Spirit awakening hearts and minds to the truth and reality that is in Jesus.

As documented in my book, America’s Revival Heritage, at least four such Awakenings have come at critical times in our nation’s history and saved her from certain ruin by returning the hearts of the masses back to Him. God says it can happen again, If My people . . . (II Chrn. 7:14).

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an author, Bible teacher, and revivalist with a passion to see America return to her founding principles of faith and freedom. His books on revival and other Biblical themes are available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.

THE REAL REASON THE PILGRIMS CAME TO AMERICA

I was presenting a “Revive America” event at Abounding Grace Christian Church in Schenectady, NY when the Lord highlighted, in a somewhat dramatic fashion, the Pilgrims’ purpose in coming to America.

As I was preparing for an evening session, I sensed the Holy Spirit instructing me to have the audience repeat after me the two reasons the Pilgrims gave, in the Mayflower Compact, for coming to America.

Later that evening, at the appropriate moment, I had the words of the Mayflower Compact flashed on the large screen and asked the audience to read with me their two reasons for coming to the New World. We read together: "(1) For the glory of God and (2) the advancement of the Christian faith." We then read it a second time.

At the end of the service, a young man, who looked to be about twenty years of age, approached me with his face glowing and a note of excitement in his voice. He said,

I am attending a local community college and taking a course in American history. Just this week the professor told us that the Pilgrims did not come here for religious reasons. He said they came for monetary reasons.

He paused and then exclaimed, “But there it is in their own words!” He then stated how he was now inspired to study and teach America’s true origins. I then understood why God had instructed me to have everyone speak aloud the two reasons the Pilgrims gave for coming to America.

But even before the Mayflower Compact, while still in Holland, their missionary vision was clearly stated. William Bradford, who served as governor of Plymouth Colony for over thirty years, explained why they made plans to come to America. He said that they had "a great hope and inward zeal for the propagating and advancing of the gospel of Jesus Christ in those remote parts of the world" (Hyatt, The Pilgrims, 25).

The Pilgrims practiced what modern missiologists would call “friendship evangelism.” They made friends, not only with Squanto, but with countless other individuals and tribes. They established a treaty with the Wampanoag tribe in which they promised to defend each other if either was attacked by an outside aggressor. Dr. Samuel Eliot Morison says the Pilgrims treated the natives with, “A combination of justice, wisdom and mercy” (Hyatt, The Pilgrims, 38).

A number of natives came and lived among the Pilgrims. These included Squanto, Samoset, and Hobomok who served the Pilgrims as guides and interpreters. Living in Plymouth, they would have attended the church services of the Pilgrims. 

Their friendship evangelism bore fruit. Bradford told of Squanto falling sick and dying. The Pilgrims cared for Squanto in his sickness, and Bradford said that before he passed, Squanto asked him to pray for him that he would go to the God in heaven he had learned about from the Pilgrims. Bradford described Squanto’s death as "a great loss.”

The Pilgrims’ commitment to missions contributed to the fact that the first Bible published in the New World was not an English language Bible. The first Bible published in America was in the Massachusett language. It was published in 1660 for the purpose of reaching natives with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Pilgrims’ commitment to missions has had far-reaching ramifications and contributed to America becoming a missionary-sending nation. This missionary vision, that began with the Pilgrims, became so pronounced that it caught the attention of the U.S. Supreme Court. In the 1892 ruling of “Church of the Holy Trinity vs. the United States,” the nation’s highest court stated,

The churches and church organizations which abound in every city, town, and hamlet . . . and the gigantic missionary associations, with general support, and aiming to establish Christian missions in every quarter of the globe add a mass of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 170).

 Yes, the Pilgrims were fleeing persecution in England, but that was only part of the story. They had a proactive missionary vision that was pulling them forward. They clearly stated that they had come to America, “For the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.” 

In retrospect, it is obvious that they were successful in their mission. It is also obvious that the modern, self-obsessed American Church needs to acquire a missionary vision of its own. After all, the Great Commission, which commands us to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk. 16:15) has never expired.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an author and ordained minister with a commission to remind America of  her radical Christian roots in the Great Awakening. This article was derived from his books, The Pilgrims and 1726: The Year that Defined America, both available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.

THE CHURCH'S ROLE IN PRESERVING FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN AMERICA

The controversy surrounding Kyrie Irving and his post of a tweet that claims the Jews in Israel are not the real Jews—that black Africans are the real Jews—raises serious questions about free speech in America and has ramifications for every Bible-believing Christian.

I am unapologetically pro-Israel. In fact, those on the political left would consider me a Zionist because I believe that the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948 was an act of God, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and restoring His Old Testament covenant people to their ancient homeland. Without question, I disagree with Kyrie’s post.

However, I am also pro-freedom, and it concerns me to see how far some are willing to go in trying to force Kyrie to publicly recant. It has undertones of the old heresy trials in Europe where Jews and dissenting Protestants were threatened with imprisonment and death if they did not align their thinking with those in power.

The parents and grandparents of America’s Founders fled such tyrannical regimes. That is why the Founding Fathers instituted the Bill of Rights guaranteeing freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to peacefully assemble, and so on. 

Knowing, however, the flawed character of human nature, the Founders knew that such freedoms could only function within a moral and virtuous society. An amoral people, with no transcendent moral guide, would turn freedom into anarchy and use free speech as an excuse to malign and destroy their opponents. John Adams addressed this when he said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 168).

The Founders wanted America to be a free and open marketplace of opinions and ideas, but guided by the moral teachings of Jesus, which would require a strong and lively Church being salt and light in the culture. This is why Thomas Jefferson said, “Of all the systems of morality that have come under my observation, none appear to me so pure as that of Jesus” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 150).

The Founders also believed in the inherent power of objective Truth and were convinced that Truth would always prevail on an even playing field. They agreed with John Milton who said, “Let Truth and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter?”

This is why Benjamin Franklin expressed an openness to the leading Muslim cleric of that day preaching in Philadelphia. Franklin had just led the way in completing the construction of a large building to accommodate the massive crowds that gathered to hear George Whitefield preach. He made it clear, however, that the building was not only for Whitefield’s use, but for the use, “of any preacher of any religious persuasion who might desire to say something to the people of Philadelphia.” He then said, 

Even if the Mufti of Constantinople (Istanbul) were to send a missionary to preach Mohammedanism to us, he would find a pulpit at his service (Hyatt, America’s Revival Heritage, 2nd Edition, 96).

The answer to the current free speech dilemma in America is not an Orwellian Ministry of Truth that arbitrarily decides whose speech is acceptable and whose speech must be banned. Sadly, with the loss of Christian values in our culture, that is where we are headed, just as Washington and other Founders warned (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 165).

The answer must come from “we the people.” There must be a recovery of morality and virtue in our society, and this will only happen when the Church awakens and becomes in practice the salt and light Jesus declared us to be (Matthew 5:13-14). The greatest threat to free speech in America is a docile, slumbering  Church.

In my book, America’s Revival Heritage, 2nd Edition, I pinpoint four Great Awakenings that have occurred at crucial times in America's history and saved her from what appeared to be certain ruin. God has not changed and it can happen again, if we meet His conditions. II Chronicles 7:14 still rings true and begins with the words, If My people . . .. The ball is in our court. What will we do?

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an author and ordained minister who is passionate about helping America recover her founding principles of faith and freedom. His numerous books on the topic are available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.

A PERSON OF FAITH EXPLAINS "DARK MATTER"

Along with being a devout follower of Jesus Christ and committed to proclaiming and teaching His word, I have a deep interest in science, particularly astronomy. I have, therefore, read with interest recent articles about the discoveries of the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes.

One area that has caught my attention is what astronomers are calling “Dark Matter.” Simply speaking, Dark Matter is an unseen force that is holding the universe together. It cannot be seen and astronomers don’t know what it is, but they say it is keeping the universe from flying apart.

For example, our solar system is being held together by the gravitational force of the sun. Since the gravitational force of an object depends on its size, this means that our sun is the perfect size to keep the planets in orbit. If the sun were smaller, the planets would all wander off aimlessly into space.

Now, our solar system, along with billions of stars and other celestial bodies, are all rotating around the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Then, our Milky Way galaxy is part of a cluster of galaxies that are all rotating around another center.

Here is the dilemma. According to astronomers and astrophysicists, there is not nearly enough matter (mass) in the universe to produce enough gravity to keep everything from flying apart. There is some force that they cannot see or explain that is holding everything together. So, they call it “Dark Matter.”

Now, the Bible gives a clear explanation for this dilemma, particularly in Paul’s letter to the believers in Colosse. This letter has been called “Paul’s full-length portrayal of Christ” for in it he sets forth Jesus Christ in all His Divine majesty, power, and creative glory.

In 2:15 Paul says that Jesus is the image of the invisible God and that by Him all things were created that are in heaven and on earth. Then, in vs. 17, he says, "HE WAS BEFORE ALL ELSE BEGAN AND IT IS HIS POWER THAT HOLDS EVERYTHING TOGETHER" (TLB). The writer of Hebrews concurs saying that Christ is "upholding all things by the word of His power" (NKJV).

If He can hold the universe together, He can hold your life together. He can hold your family together. He can hold your congregation together. He can hold this nation together. He must, however, be at the center. He must be Lord. Everything flies apart when He is not at the center. Make Him Lord of your life today, and watch Him hold everything together.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an ordained minister and author who has a passion to make Christ known throughout the earth. His books on Divine Awakenings and other Biblical themes are available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.

WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR AMERICA TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN NATION AGAIN?

If America becomes a Christian nation once again, it will come from below--from "we the people." It will not come from politicians in Washington, D.C. Consider the following facts.

America was considered a Christian nation for the first 150 years of her existence, not because of an act of Congress or judicial decree, but because of the organic faith of the vast majority of her inhabitants. This faith of “we the people” flowed upward and influenced all the cultural and government institutions of the nation.

The First Great Awakening

This remarkable Christianizing of the American populace was the fruit of the First Great Awakening, which may be dated from 1726-1770. So many turned to Christ in this remarkable revival that critical mass was achieved, and the revival’s influence was felt everywhere.

As a result, the Continental Congress opened each session with prayer and Christian chaplains were appointed to the military and to Congress. George Washington took the first presidential oath of office with his hand on the sacred book of Christians—the Bible. He also declared a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving to God.

America was a Christian nation, not by an act of Congress, but by the faith-filled actions of her citizenry. John Marshall, the second Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, understood this. Serving as Chief Justice for 34 years from 1801-1834, Marshall wrote,

The American population is entirely Christian, and with us Christianity and religion are identified. It would be strange, indeed, if with such a people, our institutions did not presuppose Christianity, and did not refer to it, and exhibit relations with it (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 169).

The Second Great Awakening

America has experienced at least three Great Awakenings that have impacted the values and cultural direction of the nation. Each one served to restore Christian faith during times of spiritual indifference and apostasy. The Second Great Awakening  (1801-40), for example, reversed the negative influences of Deism and the French Revolution that had gained ascendancy during latter days of the 18th century.

The American historian, Dr. Mark Noll, called this Second Great Awakening, “the most influential revival in the history of the United States.” Peter Cartwright, a circuit riding Methodist clergyman, wrote of this revival, saying, “The work went on and spread almost in every direction, gathering additional force til our country seemed all coming to God” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 175).

The Third Great Awakening

The Third Great Awakening has been called “The Great Prayer Awakening of 1857-58.” This great prayer revival touched every part of American society. Churches and public halls became filled night and day with people pouring out their hearts to God in prayer.

Presidents Franklin Pierce (1853-57) and James Buchannan (1857-61) attended prayer meetings that were organized in Washington, D.C. The famous revivalist, Charles G. Finney, said that “a divine influence seemed to pervade the whole land” (Hyatt, The Great Prayer Awakening of 1857-58, 26). Fervent prayer continued throughout the Civil War, saving the nation from total ruin.

President Abraham Lincoln (1861-65), for example, told of his prayer response when he heard that General Robert E. Lee was marching into Pennsylvania with 76,000 Confederate troops. With everyone panicking, Lincoln went into his office, closed the door, and got down on his knees. 

As he poured out his heart to God, the answer came in a clear and distinct manner. He said, “A sweet comfort crept into my soul that God Almighty had taken the whole business into His own hands.” Lee was defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg, and it proved to be the turning point of the war. The American Union was saved.

The Supreme Court Recognizes Our Christian Character

In 1892, the U.S. Supreme Court declared America to be a Christian nation, not because of an act of Congress, but because of these Awakenings, and numerous local and regional revivals, that had impacted the faith of the people. In the ruling, Church of the Holy Trinity vs The United States, the nation’s highest court declared,

The churches and church organizations which abound in every city, town, and hamlet; the multitude of charitable organizations existing everywhere under Christian auspices; the gigantic missionary associations, with general support, and aiming to establish Christian missions in every quarter of the globe. These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation

Notice that the Court did not decree America to be a Christian nation by judicial fiat, but merely acknowledged the fact that she was a Christian nation because of the pervasive, organic faith of her citizens.

The Only Clear Path to Being a Christian Nation

For those who want America to once again be a Christian nation, it will not happen via a political route. It will not happen by an act of Congress. It will not come by an executive order from the White House. That is the old Constantinian approach and is the politicized form of Christianity our ancestors fled from in Europe.

America’s Founders wanted Christian virtues to permeate the nation, but not by Congressional or executive orders. They wanted Christian influence to flow up from the people, which is what John Adams had in mind when he declared, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 41).

Commenting on Samuel Adams, another Founding Father, the noted Catholic scholar, Dr. Michael Novak, says that Adams believed that (1) Liberty cannot be enjoyed apart from virtue [morality] and (2) Virtue is unlikely to remain vigorous from one generation to another without "religious awakenings.” Novak goes on to say,

Far from having a hostility toward religion, the Founders counted on religion [Christianity] for the underlying philosophy of the republic, its supporting ethic, and its reliable source of rejuvenation (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 171).

It Can Happen Again

If America is to be a Christian nation once again, it will not come from the White House; it will come from God’s House. Another Great Awakening will begin with Christian pastors and leaders taking their faith and calling seriously and calling on their constituents to evaluate their lives in the light of eternity and the Gospel.

Another Great Awakening will accomplish more in one week than all our religious programs and activities will accomplish in ten years. Another Great Awakening will transform lives until the spiritual and moral tipping point is reached, and America is once again recognized as a Christian nation.

I am certain that America’s founders would approve this message.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt has a passion to see America return to her founding principles of faith and freedom. This article is derived from his books, 1726: The Year that Defined America and The Great Prayer Awakening of 1857-58, available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.

WHY AMERICAN CHRISTIANS HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION

In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus called His followers the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” These are metaphoric expressions of the positive influence He expects His followers to have on the world in which they live.

The value of salt in Jesus' day was its use as a preservative to keep meat from spoiling. Light dispels darkness, a figure of speech for ignorance and falsehood. We fulfill these words of Jesus through our words, deeds, and prayers. 

We also fulfill these words by being good citizens and voting for government leaders whose lives and policies are most conducive to our Christian mission and message of ultimate freedom and peace in Jesus Christ.   

Paul, as well as Jesus, makes it clear that Christians have an obligation to be good citizens. Paul speaks of our duty to the governing authorities in Romans 13:1-7, and sums up his exhortation by saying, Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul gave him guidelines for praying for governing authorities, and we can use his words as a guide for voting.  Paul told Timothy to pray with two clear goals in mind: (1) that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life and (2) that people may be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

Paul clearly wants a political situation wherein Christians are free to live out their faith without government interference, which we presently do not have. He also wants there to be freedom for the preaching of the Gospel, for he mentions how God wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

If Timothy had had the privilege of voting for government leaders as we do, I am certain that Paul would have instructed him to vote as well as pray. We, therefore, can keep Paul's instructions in mind when we go into the voting booth. Although there are no perfect candidates, we can both pray and vote with Paul’s vision in mind.

Our goal is not to create an “official” Christian nation, but to be free to carry out the commission of our Lord to make disciples for Him in every nation (Matthew 28:18-20). When the people of this nation, or any nation, live by the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament, they will be a more peaceful and happy people. As Psalm 33:12 says, Blessed is the nation, whose God is the LORD.

To carry out this Great Commission, we need political leaders whose worldview and policies are favorable to the Christian mission and message of repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). This Christian mission will either be opposed or accommodated by those who are voted into power.

John Jay (1745-1829), whom George Washington appointed as the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, understood this. Jay was a New York lawyer, governor of New York, and a Founding Father. In 1812, he exhorted American citizens that it was their “duty” to wisely choose their leaders. He said,

Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers. National prosperity can neither be obtained nor preserved without the favor of Providence (Hyatt, America’s Revival Heritage 2nd Edition, 93).

It is both foolish and immoral for Christians to leave it to the secularists, socialists, and Marxists to choose those who will govern this nation. Such leaders would most surely oppose our Christian mission and message. Yes, American Christians have a moral obligation to vote in this election.

This article is derived in part from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's book, America’s Revival Heritage 2nd Edition, available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com. Eddie is the founder of the "1726 Project" whose purpose is to educate America about the impact of the Great Awakening (beginning in 1726) on the founding of America and the ending of slavery on this continent.