THE CHRISTIAN ROOTS OF OUR "THANKSGIVING" HOLIDAY

America’s national “Thanksgiving” holiday is rooted in the nation’s overt Christian origins and the custom of its first immigrants to set aside special days for giving thanks to God for His goodness and blessings. This custom was continued by succeeding generations and eventually found its way into the national consciousness and calendar. 

The Pilgrims Maintained an Attitude of Gratitude Even During Great Loss

The Pilgrims who landed on Cape Cod in November of 1620 were devout followers of Christ who had left the comforts of home, family, and friends to pursue their vision of a renewed and reformed Christianity. Although facing insurmountable challenges and much suffering they maintained an attitude of gratitude through every trial.

They were a thankful people. They never wavered in their faith even during their first winter in the New World (1620-21) when sickness ravaged their community and half of them, about fifty in number, were taken away in death.

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims the following fall of 1621 after they had gathered in their fall harvest. Although their hearts were still heavy from the losses suffered the previous winter, there were at least 3 areas for which they felt particularly grateful to God: (1) With the arrival of spring the sickness that had immobilized the community and taken many of them in death had lifted; (2) their new Native American friends who were such a blessing, serving as guides and interpreters; and (3) the abundant harvests they had experienced during the summer and fall of 1621.

The Pilgrims were not whiners. They were not complainers. They were the ultimate optimists because of their faith in God and their firm belief that He had called them to this New World.

The First Thanksgiving Day

An approximate equal number of English Pilgrims and Native Americans attended the first Thanksgiving. In addition to the natives who lived with them, such as Squanto, Samoset, and Hobomok, Massasoit, chief of the Wampanoag, arrived with ninety of his people, and five dressed deer to add to the meals the Pilgrims had prepared.

The Pilgrims did not seek to force their faith on the Indians but neither did they hide their faith. After all, in the Mayflower Compact they had stated that they had come to the New World “for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.” Their approach was what some modern missiologists would call “friendship evangelism.”

One can only imagine the emotions that filled their hearts as, in the presence of their new Native American friends, they joined their spiritual leader, Elder William Brewster, in lifting their hearts in praise and thanksgiving to God.

The day turned out to be more than they could have imagined. Not only did they enjoy meals together with thankful hearts, but they engaged in shooting matches and other friendly forms of competition. It was such an enjoyable time that the one Day of Thanksgiving was extended for three full days.

And yes, it is almost certain that there was turkey at the first Thanksgiving. According to the account of an unknown Pilgrim, Governor Bradford sent out four men to hunt for “fowl” who returned with enough “fowl” to last them an entire week.

“Fowl” probably refers to ducks, which were plentiful at that time of the year. Bradford’s account, however, specifically mentions turkeys in addition to the fowl. He wrote,

And besides waterfowl there was a great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. (Hyatt, The Pilgrims, 47).

A Day of Thanksgiving During the Revolutionary War

Special days of Thanksgiving continued to be observed by the Pilgrims and new immigrants, especially those who settled in New England. As the colonies began to form themselves into a nation, these days of Thanksgiving began to be nationalized and made part of the national consciousness and calendar.

For example, during the fall of 1776, when the morale of the Revolutionary Army and the American populace had sunk to an all-time low because of poor harvests and hardship on the battlefield, Congress proclaimed December 11, 1776, as a Day of Prayer, Fasting and Repentance.

After this National Day of Prayer, there was an amazing turnaround, that in 1779 Congress issued a proclamation setting aside a Day of Thanksgiving because “it hath pleased Almighty God, the father of mercies, remarkably to assist and support the United States of America in their important struggle for liberty” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 124).

This Day of Thanksgiving was observed throughout the newly formed nation with people gathering in churches and other public venues to give thanks to God for His mercy and help in their time of need.

George Washington Continues the Tradition

Shortly after being sworn in as president, George Washington issued a proclamation designating November 26, 1789, as a Day of Thanksgiving, which was the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the new national government of the United States. The proclamation reads in part,

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness. Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Abraham Lincoln Proclaims a Day of Thanksgiving

A Day of Thanksgiving to be observed on the last Thursday in November 1863, was proclaimed by Abraham Lincoln in the midst of the Civil War. As in the Revolutionary War, this Day of Thanksgiving came on the heels of a remarkable turnaround in favor of the Union after a designated Day of Prayer and Repentance on April 30, 1863.

Although still at war, Lincoln enumerated the many reasons the inhabitants of America had for being thankful to God and then said,

It has seemed to me fit and proper that these blessings should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

The final Thursday in November, set by President Lincoln, continued to be the observed “Thanksgiving” until December 26, 1941 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a joint resolution of Congress changing the national Thanksgiving Day from the last Thursday in November to the fourth Thursday.

Concluding Thoughts

This national holiday that we know as Thanksgiving was brought forth by people of faith who knew the importance of nurturing a thankful heart in every situation. It was their faith in God that enabled them to be thankful even during the greatest of trials. They maintained an attitude of gratitude through it all.

This Thanksgiving let us remember our heritage and determine that we too will be a thankful people, as were the spiritual foremothers and forefathers who brought this nation into existence. Let’s follow them and the words of the old hymn that says,

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

This article is derived from the books, 1726: The Year that Defined America and The Pilgrims by Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt. They are available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

HOW SOCIALISM ALMOST DESTROYED THE PILGRIMS

 

Before the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, and Venezuela, socialism was tried right here on American soil and utterly failed. The Pilgrims, who established the first permanent English settlement in New England in the fall of 1620, at first attempted a socialist style of living. They disbanded it, however, when it became obvious that their community could not survive with such a system.

Socialism Forced on Them

The Pilgrim’s journey to America was funded by a group of venture capitalists who provided the ship and supplies for their journey to the New World. In return, the Pilgrims agreed to live communally until the debt, including interest, was paid. Everyone would receive the same recompense for their work, and everything above their basic necessities would go into a common fund to be used to pay their creditors.

In other words, there was no economic inequality. Income produced by farming, fishing, and fur trading was spread around and evenly divided among members of the community. They were all equal with only one economic class. They had what modern politicians call "equity," which is a guaranteed equal outcome 

William Bradford, who served as governor of Plymouth for many years, told of the challenges of this socialist system and how it almost destroyed their community (Hyatt, Pilgrims and Patriots, 36-38).

Four hard lessons the Pilgrims learned about socialism were: (1) Socialism destroys initiative; (2) Socialism fosters irresponsibility; (3) Socialism extinguishes hope and generates strife; and (4) Socialism is incompatible with human nature.

Lesson #1

Socialism Destroys Initiative

Under this socialist system, everyone received the same recompense for their work. No matter how hard, or how little, they worked, all received the same income. With no reward tied to their labor, initiative was destroyed, and everyone put forth their least effort.

Why work and dream when you are trapped in a socialist system that mandates equality of outcome for everyone? This socialist system destroyed initiative and almost destroyed the Pilgrim community.

Lesson #2

Socialism Fosters Irresponsibility

Young men, Bradford said, resented getting paid the same as older men when they did so much more of the work. As a result, they tended to slouch and slack since they knew they would receive the same no matter how hard they worked.

Knowing they would receive the same no matter how hard or how little they worked, the women often refused go to the fields to work, complaining of sickness and headaches. To have compelled them to go, Bradford said, would have been considered tyranny and oppression.

With no individual reward tied to their innovation and labor, everyone gave their least effort. Irresponsibility became obvious throughout the community and many became gripped with a sense of hopelessness.

Lesson #3

Socialism Extinguishes Hope and Generates Strife

This socialist system led to a widespread sense of hopelessness. With everyone locked into a closed economic system, there was nothing individuals or families could do to improve their personal lot. Feeling caught in a trap, bickering and strife began to emerge.

The older men, Bradford said, felt they deserved more honor and recompense because of their age and resented getting paid the same as the youngsters in their midst. The young men, on the other hand, resented getting paid the same as the older men when they often did more of the work.

This sense of hopelessness and the ensuing strife drained energy and discouraged innovative thinking and led to very serious complications for the community.

Lesson #4

Socialism is Incompatible with Human Nature

Bradford believed that socialism did not work because it runs counter to human nature as created by God. In Scripture, God rewards individuals for their labor and good works. Capitalism works because it is compatible with the reality of human nature and the world in which we live.

I will never forget visiting eastern Europe shortly after the fall of the Soviet Empire. I was struck by the grey, drab environment. Even the buildings seemed so plain, flat and lackluster.

It was obvious that the Marxist system had robbed the people of life, energy and creativity. I am here reminded of the words of Winston Churchill, “Those who do not learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.”

To Survive, They Had to Change

When it became obvious that lack and perhaps starvation would be their lot, Bradford and the leaders of the colony decided to make a change. After much prayer and discussion, they decided to dispense with that part of the agreement with their creditors that required them to live communally until their debt was paid. In its place, they implemented a free entrepreneurial system that included private ownership of property (Hyatt, Pilgrims and Patriots (Second Edition), 34-36).

They Experience the Blessing of Free Enterprise

According to Bradford, they divided the land around them, allotting to each family a certain portion that would be theirs to work and use for their own needs. Bradford said there was an immediate change. The young men began to work much harder because they now knew they would eat the fruit of their own labors.

There were no more complaints from the older men for the same reason. And now the women were seen going into the fields to work, taking the children with them, because they knew they and their family would personally benefit.

Instead of lacking food, each family now grew more food than they needed, and they began to trade with one another for furnishings, clothes and other goods. They also had enough excess to trade with the Indians for furs and other items. In short, the colony began to prosper when they got rid of their socialist form of government and implemented a free, entrepreneurial system.

Of their experience with socialism, Bradford wrote;

This community [socialism] was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort . . . and showed the vanity of that conceit of Plato’s, and applauded by some of later times, that the taking away of property and bringing in community into a commonwealth would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 25).

Christianity & Capitalism

During the recent presidential election we heard Kamala Harris and those on the Left using the word "equity." Equity is not equality. Equity would use government mandates to guarantee equal outcome, not equal opportunity. Equity and its twin sister, DEI, are innocent sounding phrases designed to slip Marxist ideology into the thinking of an unsuspecting public.

As Christians, our responsibility is to call people to Christ and help them live out their Christianity in the real world. Living out our Christianity means a life of responsibility, not looking for government hand-outs but working and prospering in a way that we can give a hand-up to those in need.

We desire the best for the greatest number of people which is why we must reject the contemporary vision of those on the Left for government-mandated socialist system in America. The Pilgrims would wholeheartedly agree.

This article was derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt’s books, 1726: The Year that Defined America and Pilgrims and Patriots (Second Edition), available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

THE VISION THAT DREW THE PIGRIMS 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 aloud 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.

Indeed, 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 the greatest missionary-sending nation in history. 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, in which Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20) has never expired.

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

DID GOD RESURRECT DONALD TRUMP'S POLITICAL CAREER?

The mainstream media and political pundits were stunned by Donald Trump’s overwhelming victory on November 4. They are still recovering and attempting to fathom how it could have happened. They were so sure his political career was over.

After all, he had lost the 2020 election and had left the White House with two impeachments hanging over his head. His home had been raided by FBI agents looking for classified documents the Biden administration claimed he had stolen. Numerous federal and state lawsuits had been filed against him and the entire mainstream media was arrayed against him. His political career, indeed, seemed to have died. 

But now, with the 2024 election well behind us, they are still wringing their hands and wondering how he could have won in such an astonishing manner. I am confident I have the answer, which I share below.

God Promises a Resurrection

In an article posted on Charisma News dated November 8, 2020, I shared how God had given me a word that His resurrection life would be manifest through Donald Trump. This occurred during a time of prayer on Saturday, November 7, just three days after the 2020 presidential election.

I had asked the Lord for an encouraging word for those I would be addressing in a Sunday morning live stream the following day. I knew that many were troubled and confused at the media reports that Joe Biden would be the next president of the United States. After all, so many “prophets” had declared that Trump would serve two consecutive terms.

The request for an encouraging word was hardly out of my mouth when there dropped into my heart and mind a word God had given me at a devastating time in my own life 46 years ago. I immediately knew it was the message God wanted me to share with the people concerning Trump’s devastating loss.

A Life-Changing Word from God

God reminded me of a powerful, life-changing word He gave when Sue and I were starting out in life and ministry together. This word came at at time when we had lost everything. 

We lost our place to live. We lost the place where we were having meetings for the congregation and ministry we were planting in eastern Canada. Everything was gone. The God-given vision and mandate had died.

In the midst of this devastation, Sue and I sat on a park bench with two friends lifting our hearts in prayer. I remember their 5-year-old daughter, Cara, sitting with us and praying in tongues.

Suddenly, out of my innermost being, those rivers of living water that Jesus spoke about in John 7:37-39 began to flow, and I began praying in tongues. I realize that we charismatics have learned to pray in tongues on cue—at the drop of a hat. Such prayers, however, are too often from the neck up and powerless.

This was prayer that I could feel flowing out of my spirit. And all the time I was praying, I was hearing the words, “Don’t be afraid of death because I Am the Resurrection.” I recognized these as the words that Jesus spoke to Martha just before he raised her brother, Lazarus, from the dead (John 11:25).

I knew that the Lord was telling me not to fear the death of the vision and mandate He had given. I knew He was telling me that it would be brought back to life, not by my scheming and planning, but by His resurrection life and power

A resurrection did occur in our lives and ministry. A yielding to God, a determination not to quit, a step of obedience, and resurrection power flowed forth. The ministry that came forth was not the same as before; for it came forth in His resurrection power and in ways we could never have planned or strategized.

This was the experience that came so powerfully to my mind when I asked God for an encouraging word for the people concerning Donald Trump and his election loss in 2020.

Resurrection and the 2020-2024 Elections

Fast forward to 2024 and Donald Trump has astounded and confused the political and media pundits with his overwhelming, astonishing victory. Despite everything his enemies threw at him, he carried every one of the so-called “swing states” and made incredible gains in every demographic of American society.

I know this did not happen by mere political acumen and human strategy. This happened because God resurrected Trump’s political career. Because of this fact, we can expect his second term to far outshine his first term, for it has come forth in the resurrection life and power of our Lord. 

Trump's election also places a responsibility on the church for we must recognize this as a window of opportunity that has opened, and we make the most of it. I have been impressed with the words of Jesus in John 9:4, I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

God Has Resurrection Life and Power of You

One thing I learned through that experience is that the resurrection is more than just a future event. Resurrection has been personified in the Person of Jesus Christ and He has come to live in us and through us with His resurrection life and power.

Paul had an experience that he relates in II Corinthians chapter one where he and his companions went through an excruciating experience in which he thought death would be their lot. He said, however, that out of that experience he learned that, We should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

So, even apart from the 2024 election, I am convinced that in the days ahead we will see His resurrection life and power break forth on different fronts. Victory will come forth out of defeat. Life will emerge out of death. Success will arise out of failure. His words still ring true, “Don’t be afraid of death because I Am the Resurrection.”

Dr. Eddie Hyatt has a long history as a pastor, revivalist, and professor of theology in many parts of the world. His book, 1726: The Year that Defined America, provides the basis for America returning to her founding principles and seeing another Great Awakening sweep across the land. His many books are available on Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

"NEVER QUIT"

The Lesson We Can All Learn from Donald Trump

Whether or not you like Donald Trump or whether you voted for the man, you cannot help but admire his resilience, perseverance and “never quit” attitude. He has persevered through two impeachments, numerous lawsuits and indictments, his home being raided, continual smear attacks by the media, two assassination attempts, and so much more. However, he never quit and is now returning to the White House.

Indeed, getting knocked down is no disgrace, but refusing to get up and try again is. Consider the string of defeats suffered by one of the greatest individuals of all times; yet he refused to quit and became one of the giants of human history.

·                          In 1832 he lost his job.

·                          In 1832 he ran for the state legislature and lost.

·                          In 1833 he failed in a business venture.

·                          In 1835 his fiancé died.

·                          In 1836 he suffered a nervous breakdown.

·                          In 1838 he ran for speaker of the state legislature and lost.

·                          In 1843 he ran for Congress and lost.

·                          In 1849 he applied for the post of land officer but was rejected.

·                          In 1854 he ran for the Senate and lost.

·                          In 1856 he ran for vice-president and lost.

HOWEVER, IN 1860 ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. HE REFUSED TO QUIT!

Hebrews 6:12 tells us that it is through faith and patience that we inherit the promises of God. The word patience in this verse is a translation of the Greek word makrothumia and it means to “persevere” or to “continue in the face of trouble and adversity.” To put it simply and succinctly, it means you “don’t quit.”

Promise, Praise & Perseverance

During a tremendous battle of faith in 1989, God gave me three words which He said were keys to answered prayer. The three words are promise, praise, and perseverance. As pointed out above, perseverance is the same as the biblical word patience. It means that you don’t quit. It means that if you get knocked down, you get up keep going.

Hebrews 6:13-15 presents Abraham as an example of one who refused to quit and obtained the promise of God. In Genesis 13:16; 15:5, God promised Abram that his descendants would be as numerous as the sand on the seashore and as the stars of heaven. However, the years passed without any fulfillment of this promise and finally Sarai and Abram were childless and too old to bear children. What does one do when faced with such adversity? You keep your eye on the promise, and you don’t quit.

It was about 14 years from the time God gave the promise to Abram to the time the promise was fulfilled in the birth of Isaac. At one time the faith of both Abram and Sarai wavered. They decided to help and hurry the fulfillment of the promise and Abram took Sarah’s maid, Hagar, and bore a son, Ishmael, through her.

God, however, revealed to them that this was not His way for the promise to be fulfilled. Abram and Sarai recovered and determined that they would trust God to fulfill that which He had promised. As a result, God changed their names: Sarai to Sarah which means “Mother of Nations;” and Abram to Abraham which means “Father of Nations.”

Of Sarah, Hebrews 11:11 says that, at the age of 99, she received strength to conceive because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Of Abraham, Hebrews 6:15 says, And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. They were knocked down, but they got up, kept going and obtained the promise.

Delay Does Not Mean Denial

Christians often mistakenly think that if the answer to their prayer has not manifested within a few days or weeks, that God has denied their request. NOT SO! Delay does not mean denial. Delay often means that we need to persevere in the face of adversity until we obtain the answer we desire. In other words, it means that we DON’T QUIT. Through faith and not quitting we obtain the promise.

Someone has said that the giant oak is a little nut that held its ground. From a little nut to a sapling to a giant tree, it held its ground through heat, cold, wind, rain and storm. You may feel like a little nut today but hold your ground. Keep your eyes on Jesus and never quit. You will be amazed at the mighty things God will do in you and through you.

Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt is the founder of the "1726 Project" whose goal is to educate Americans about the nation's overt Christian origins in the First Great Awakening. His books on the topic are available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

 

POLITICAL COALITION OR CHRIST-CENTERED UNITY?

Why The Church Must Now Step Up to the Plate

Donald Trump astounded the American media and political world by cobbling together a coalition of Blacks, Whites, Asians, Hispanics, Women, Men, Muslims, and Christians for a resounding victory over Kamala Harris and the Democrat Party. But in our euphoria, we must not forget that this is a very tenuous political coalition that could quickly dismantle at the next election or economic crisis. 

The deep hostilities, although in abeyance at the moment, are still there waiting for the next opportunity to erupt in an inferno of rage at Donald Trump and everyone who supported him. Only a Christ-centered national Awakening can bring healing to a deeply divided America. 

Donald Trump's election was a great victory, but the job of the American Church is just now beginning. An Awakened Church is the instrument God will use to heal the deep divisions in our nation, and such a healing actually happened at the time of America's founding. 

In the early 1700s the 13 American colonies seemed hopelessly divided. There existed a mutual hatred and distrust that stretched back to their forefathers in England. They seemed destined to forever exist as 13 divided colonies. God, however, had a plan.

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. A national unity centered in Jesus is the only thing that will save America.

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.