THE STARTLING CLUELESSNESS OF THE LEFT-WING MEDIA

It is startling that a professional journalist could be this clueless about America’s founding principles and documents. But during an interview on MSNBC, Heidi Przybyla, a journalist for Politico, slammed Christians who believe that their rights come from God and not from government.

Przybyla declared that there is a difference between Christians and Christian Nationalists, whom she considers a threat to American democracy. One tenet Christian Nationalists hold in common, she asserted, is the belief that rights come from God, not from government.

After listening to Przybyla, one has to wonder if she has read the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration clearly states that human rights come from God and that governments exist to protect and secure those God-given rights. It reads;

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

An Anti-Slavery Document

America’s founding generation considered the above statement to be an anti-slavery statement and abolitionist often quoted it in their fight against slavery. This is why Frederick Douglas, in a July 4th speech in 1852, praised the Declaration of Independence and said to his audience;

The principles contained in that instrument are saving principles. Stand by those principles, be true to them on all occasions, in all places, against all foes, and at whatever cost.”

As documented in my book, 1726: The Year that Defined America, America’s founders had been impacted by the antislavery movement that emerged out of the Great Awakening. So powerful was this movement that by 1776 virtually every founding father, including those who owned slaves, had taken a public stand against slavery.

This is why America’s founding documents contain no classifications based on race or skin color. This is astounding when we realize that they were formulated at a time when slavery and inequality were accepted and practiced in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and most of the world. This is why, in the same speech, Douglass extolled the founding fathers and said of them;

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 (Hyatt, America’s Revival Heritage 2nd Edition, 86).

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. also understood the significance of the Declaration of Independence. When he was accused of being an extremist, he replied, "Was not Thomas Jefferson an extremist?” He then quoted Jefferson’s words from the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” (Hyatt, America’s Revival Heritage 2nd Edition, 85-86).

They Were All Christian Nationalists

So, if we accept Przybyla’s definition of a Christian Nationalist as someone who believes rights come from God and not from government, we are led to the startling conclusion that every founding father was a Christian Nationalist.

We also have to conclude that the giants of Abolition and Civil Rights, such as Lincoln, Douglass, and King, were also Christian Nationalists, for they too believed that the rights for which they fought had been given by God, not by a human government.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is on a mission to "Save America" by documenting America's overt Christian origins out of the Great Awakening, and calling for prayer for another such National Awakening. He has documented this vital information in his books, 1726: The Year that Defined America, America’s Revival Heritage 2nd Edition, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, and others, which are available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

GEORGE WASHINGTON'S SECRET WEAPON FOR DEFEATING THE BRITISH

Monday February 22 is a national holiday in the U.S. known as “President’s Day,” honoring America’s two greatest presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln’s birthday was February 12 and Washington’s is February 22. The following is an article with some amazing, little-known facts about Washington and America’s War for Independence. 

In May of 1775, Washington answered the call of the Continental Congress to be commander-in-chief of the American forces. It was a daunting challenge preparing the ragtag, colonial militia groups, made up of farmers and various townspeople, into an army that could face the mighty British war machine. He knew that apart from God’s intervention and help, there was no hope, leading Michael Novak to say,

Washington knew his only hope lay in a profound conviction in the hearts and daily actions of all his men that what they did they did for God, and under God’s protection (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 114).

Prayer Made a Priority in the Revolutionary Army

Washington, therefore, issued an order stating that each day was to begin with prayer led by the officers of each unit. He also ordered that, unless their duties required them to be elsewhere, every soldier was to observe “a punctual attendance of Divine services, to implore the blessing of heaven upon the means used for our safety and public defense.”

He also forbade profanity, swearing, gambling and drunkenness, explaining that, “We can have little hope of the blessing of Heaven on our arms if we insult it by our impiety and folly.” He went on to express his desire that, “Every officer and man will endeavor so as to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 114).

During a difficult period of the war when Washington and his army were quartering at Valley Forge, Rev. Henry Muhlenberg (1711–1787), pastor of a nearby Lutheran Church, observed Washington’s activities. He wrote, “Washington rode around among his army yesterday and admonished each one to fear God.” Muhlenberg went on to say,

This gentleman does not belong to the so-called world of society, for he respects God’s word, believes in atonement through Christ, and bears himself in humility and gentleness. It appears that the Lord God has singularly, yea marvelously, preserved him from harm in the midst of countless perils . . . and hath hitherto graciously held him in His hand as His chosen vessel (Hyatt, 1726:The Year that Defined America, 115).

Not only was there corporate prayer in the ranks of the Colonial Army, but Washington engaged in private prayer on a regular basis. This was confirmed by the Quaker, Isaac Potts, who lived near Valley Forge, and happened upon Washington alone at prayer in the forest. He said,

I heard a plaintive sound as of a man at prayer. I tied my horse to a sapling and went quietly into the woods and to my astonishment I saw the great George Washington on his knees alone, with his sword on one side and his cocked hat on the other. He was at Prayer to the God of the Armies, beseeching Him to interpose with his Divine aid, as it was ye Crisis, and the cause of the country, of humanity and of the world. Such a prayer I never heard from the lips of man (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 115).

Potts and his wife were Quakers and pacifists who believed that war was antithetical to Christianity. However, seeing and hearing Washington at prayer that day challenged his thinking, and he said, "We never thought a man could be a soldier and a Christian, but if there is one in the world, it is Washington." 

Not only did Washington and his troops pray, members of the Continental Congress opened each of their sessions with prayer. They also issued no less than fifteen proclamations for national days of repentance, prayer and fasting. Novak is thus correct in saying, “In all moments of imminent danger, as in the first Act of the First Continental Congress, the founding generation turned to prayer” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 109).

Amazing Answers to Prayer

Although it was a grueling seven years of war, numerous answers to prayer occurred protecting Washington and his troops and giving them victory when defeat seemed inevitable.

For example, in the early part of the war, Washington and his 12,000 troops were trapped on Long Island by a British army at least twice that size. The British took up positions and got ready to march forward and pin Washington and his troops against the East River. Confident of their position, the British decided to wait until morning to make their advance and put a quick end to this colonial rebellion.

During the night, however, the Americans prayed and scoured the area for boats of any kind that would take them, their cannon, and their armaments across the East River to Manhattan. As dawn approached, it was obvious they had not achieved their goal.

However, at that point a heavy fog rolled in wherein a person could only see a few feet in front of themselves. It remained for several hours until the entire army and all its cannons had been moved across the river to Manhattan. The fog then lifted, and the British were amazed to see that the colonial army with its armaments had disappeared, as if into thin air.

God is Acknowledged and Praised

After the British General Cornwallis ended the war by surrendering to Washington on October 19, 1783, Washington appointed Israel Evans, a chaplain in the Revolutionary Army, to deliver a Thanksgiving sermon to the troops that same day.

A massive crowd from the surrounding region gathered with the troops to hear this sermon. Evans exhorted them to give thanks to God, knowing that their victory was not the result of their own strength and prowess. He also declared that the same God that fought for Israel in days of old had fought for them. In poetic verse, he declared,

To Him who led in ancient days,

the Hebrew tribes, your anthems raise.

The God who spoke from Sinai’s hill,

Protects His chosen people still,

Not in ourselves success we owe,

By Divine help we crushed the foe.

Can We Recover Washington’s Secret Weapon?

Yes, Washington’s secret weapon for defeating the British was prayer, both private and corporate. His example highlights just how far America has departed from the character and vision of her founders. But all is not lost. Ever since 2010, when I experienced a 7-hour visitation from God, I have known that America can be saved.

Her salvation, however, is not in a political party or political process. America will be saved when the bold witness and sincere prayers of God’s people reach a “tipping point” and another Great Awakening is unleashed across the land.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is a historian, Bible teacher, and revivalist. This article is derived from his book, 1726: The Year that Defined America, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

THIS FOUNDING FATHER HELPED LAUNCH ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT BLACK CHURCHES

One of America’s Founding Fathers, Dr. Benjamin Rush, helped launch one of the most successful Black denominations in America today. Rush (1745-1813) was a Philadelphia physician, member of the Continental Congress, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and served as Surgeon General during the Revolutionary War at George Washington’s request.

Rush was a passionate abolitionist who helped form the first Abolition society in America in his hometown of Philadelphia. He called slavery a “hydra sin” and called on the pastors and minsters of America to take a public stand against it. He wrote,

But chiefly—ye ministers of the gospel, whose dominion over the principles and actions of men is so universally acknowledged and felt, - Ye who estimate the worth of your fellow creatures by their immortality, and therefore must look upon all mankind as equal; - let your zeal keep pace with your opportunities to put a stop to slavery. While you enforce the duties of “tithe and cumin,” neglect not the weightier laws of justice and humanity. Slavery is a Hydra sin and includes in it every violation of the precepts of the Laws and the Gospels (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 100-01).

Rush was a supporter of the Great Awakening, which ignited a powerful anti-slavery movement in 18th century Colonial America. He was very influential in turning many against slavery including other Founding Fathers. As the esteemed Black scholar, Dr. Thomas Sowell, has said,

Among those who turned against slavery in the 18th century were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and other American leaders. You could research all of 18th century Africa or Asia or the Middle East without finding any comparable rejection of slavery there (Hyatt, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, 9).

Rush became friends with the former slave and successful evangelist, Richard Allen, who settled in Philadelphia after a time of successful ministry to both Black and White audiences. In fact, his ministry was so successful in bridging racial and cultural divides that Paul Strand, former Washington D.C. correspondent for CBN, called Allen “America’s black Founding Father.”

Being a Methodist preacher, Allen became a member of the Methodist Church in Philadelphia. However, as the Great Awakening, which had ignited the interracial currents in Colonial America, waned, the elders of the Methodist Church in Philadelphia decided to segregate their seating based on race. At this point, Allen and other Blacks walked out.

Rush, a Presbyterian, came to their aid with both moral and financial support. He assisted them in obtaining property and erecting their own building in which to worship. They established Bethel Methodist Church out of which came the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) denomination. Allen later wrote,

We had waited on Dr. Rush and Mr. Robert Ralston, and told them of our distressing situation. We considered it a blessing that the Lord had put it into our hearts to wait upon those gentlemen. They pitied our situation, and subscribed largely towards the church, and were very friendly towards us and advised us how to go on . . . Dr. Rush did much for us in public by his influence. I hope the name of Dr. Benjamin Rush and Mr. Robert Ralston will never be forgotten among us. They were the two first gentlemen who espoused the cause of the oppressed and aided us in building the house of the Lord for the poor Africans to worship in. Here was the beginning and rise of the first African church in America (Hyatt, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, 27).

Think about it! One of America’s Founding Fathers helped launch one of the largest and most respected Black denominations in America. The idea that America's founders were a collection of evil, racist slaveowners is a blatant distortion of history. They were actually at the forefront of the battle to put an end to slavery at a time it was accepted and practiced in most of the world.

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt’s books, Abolitionist Founding Fathers and 1726: The Year that Defined America, available from Amazon and is website at www.eddiehyatt.com.