WHY THOSE ON THE LEFT FEAR FREE SPEECH AND 3 REASONS AMERICA'S FOUNDERS DID NOT

When Elon Musk declared, “Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy,” and finalized his purchase of Twitter, the Left in America experienced a meltdown. The internet lit up with outrage, accusations, crying, and predictions of doom and gloom.

But why? And why did America’s Founders harbor no such fear of freedom of speech? They were the ones, after all, who formulated the First Amendment in which they guaranteed, not only freedom of speech, but also freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press.

The answer to our question lies in the very different worldviews of America’s founders and the modern Left. Here are 3 reasons America’s Founders had no fear of free speech.

Reason #1
They Believed Truth Would Always Win on an Even Playing Field

America’s Founders did not fear free speech because they believed in the inherent power of truth. They believed in real, objective truth because they believed in the God of the Bible as the Creator of all things. They, therefore, believed truth to possess inherent power and agreed with John Milton who had said,

Let Truth and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse in free and open encounter? She needs no policies, nor stratagems, nor licensings to make her victorious . . . Give her but room.

Those on the Left fear free speech because in their atheistic worldview, objective truth does not exist. Since their humanistic belief system contains no transcendent moral value or inherent power, it must be maintained by force in the use of bans, censorship, and government oversight. Their secularist worldview leads to fear of a free and open society.

America’s Founders, on the other hand, believed in the God of the Bible who has revealed truth to humanity in the person of Jesus Christ and in Holy Scripture. Discovering real, transcendent truth is the key to a prosperous and happy life, which is why James Madison wrote,

The belief in a God All Powerful wise and good, is so essential to the moral order of the world and to the happiness of man, that arguments which enforce it cannot be drawn from too many sources nor adapted with too much solicitude to the different characters and capacities impressed with it (Hyatt, 1726:The Year that Defined America, 111).

America’s Founders had no fear of free speech because of their Christian worldview. Thomas Jefferson clearly expressed this when he wrote,

Truth can stand by itself. If there be but one right religion and Christianity that one, we should wish to see the nine hundred and ninety-nine wandering sects gathered into the fold of truth. But against such a majority we cannot effect this by force. Reason and persuasion are the only practicable instruments. To make way for these, free inquiry must be indulged; and how can we wish others to indulge it while we refuse it ourselves (Hyatt, America’s Revival Heritage, 97).

Compare this attitude to Marxist regimes and the Big Tech, woke culture in modern America that seeks to suppress all opposing views. It is obvious that proponents of these belief systems do not have confidence that their ideas would fare well on a level playing field where free speech is a reality.

Reason #2
They Believed a Virtuous People Would Use Their Freedom Wisely

The Founders, without exception, believed morality and religion to be the basis of freedom. Without a national morality to guide the populace from within, freedom would be turned into avarice and anarchy. This, in turn, would destroy the free Republic they had formed.

This was clearly articulated by John Adams in a 1798 address to the officers of the Massachusetts Militia. Adams made clear his belief in a national Christian morality as the only hope for the survival of the free American Republic. He declared,

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion . . .  Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious [Christian] people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 168).

For the same reason, George Washington, in his Farewell Address after serving two terms as the nation’s first president, exhorted the new nation to cling to “morality and religion” which he described as “indispensable supports” for human happiness and national prosperity. He also cautioned against the supposition that “morality can be maintained without religion.” 

When the Founders use the word “religion” they are referring to Christianity. This is made clear throughout their writings and speeches. Thomas Jefferson, for example, in his 1777 “Bill for Religious Freedom,” referred to Jesus as “The Holy Author of our Religion” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 148).

Although Jefferson questioned certain points of Christian doctrine, he too was convinced that only the teachings of Jesus could undergird a free and open society. This is why he made Washington’s Farewell Address required reading at the University of Virginia and is why he declared, “I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus” (Hyatt, 1726:The Year that Defined America, 149).

Benjamin Rush, a Philadelphia physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence, made the same point as Washington and Jefferson, declaring,

The only foundation for a Republic is to be laid in Religion [Christianity]. Without this there can be no liberty, and liberty is the life and object of all republican governments (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 163).

Because the Left has rejected Jesus and any transcendent moral authority,  their only option is to use government force to control speech. This is why the Biden administration has just established the "Disinformation Governance Board" to combat speech it considers harmful and dangerous. This is what William Penn was referring to when he said, "Those who will not be governed by God, must be ruled by tyrants."

The founders believed that a vibrant Christianity was necessary for the ongoing success of the Republic they had formed. They were right and this is why we must ask God to send another Divine Awakening across this land, for as the Catholic scholar, William Novak, has said,

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

Reason #3
They Believed Free Speech to be a Necessary Component for a Functioning Republic

The U.S. Constitution begins with the words, “We the people.” America’s Founders rejected the idea of a nation being ruled by an elite aristocracy such as Plato’s philosopher-king, or medieval Europe’s monarchs, or the Roman Church’s monarchical bishops, or the Big Tech, woke aristocracy that has emerged in our day wanting to control every area of our lives.

In Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution, the Founders forbade the American government from issuing honorific titles and they forbade any government employee from receiving a title or office from a foreign power without the consent of Congress. In other words, they banned an aristocratic, privileged class in this nation. They were serious about a government of "we the people."

Those on the Left who are ranting against free speech are spouting Marxist and Bolshevik ideology. They despise "we the people" and in their arrogance think they should have the right and power to control speech in America. You cannot get more un-American than this!

In his Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln described the American government as being “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” It is not a government of any elite group. It is a government of “we the people” and in such a government, the people’s voices must be heard.

Concluding Thought

Freedom of speech is an absolute necessity in a functioning Constitutional Republic such as our Founders left us. If this free American Republic is to survive, “we the people” must arise and let our voices be heard.

This article was derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's books, 1726: The Year that Defined America and America's Revival Heritage. These books are available on Amazon and from his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

ILHAN OMAR AND THE CHRISTIAN ROOTS OF AMERICAN TOLERANCE AND FREEDOM

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who professes to be Muslim, provoked a storm of controversy when she tweeted her displeasure at Christians—apparently on Resurrection Sunday—singing Christian worship songs while in flight. We probably should not be surprised by her criticism since her country of origin, Somalia, is listed by Open Doors as the 3rd most difficult country in the world to be a follower Jesus.

Ilhan grew up Muslim in Somalia before immigrating to America with family members when she was 13. Persecution of Christians in Islamic Somalia is common and only Afghanistan and North Korea are listed as more difficult places for Christians to live. Seeing Christians exercising such freedom is, understandably, difficult for one reared in that sort of intolerant culture. 

She obviously does not realize that it is the values of New Testament Christianity that made America a shining light of tolerance and freedom, and allowed her to come to this nation and become a member of Congress.

Indeed, no one with knowledge and integrity can deny that America has been a very open and tolerant nation, opening its arms to people of many different races, cultures, and religious beliefs? The Statue of Liberty and the freedom it represents is why people of all races and religions risk their lives and the lives of their family members to come to this country.

But make no mistake! This tolerance is rooted in the radical Christianity of its founders who looked to Jesus as their example and the New Testament as their guide. It was Jesus, after all, who taught,

 Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you (Matthew 5:44).

The people who founded this nation were “dissenting Protestants.” They opposed the Constantinian form of Christianity that developed after the 4th century, which relied on political force rather than the power of truth for its success. State churches, supported by the government, persecuted those who did not adhere to the official lines of doctrine and practice put forward by the state church.

However, groups such as the Separatist Puritans, Baptists, and Quakers, who sought a return to the faith of the New Testament, opposed this intolerant approach to faith. They insisted that there should be no compulsion in matters of conscience, and no coercion when it comes to one’s sincerely held religious beliefs.

These “dissenting Protestants” brought these ideals of faith and freedom to America where they were further developed on American soil. These ideals were reinforced by the Great Awakening and burned into the consciousness of the American populace. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, differences were melted and a remarkable unity among the churches emerged that was centered in faith in Christ.

At the same time, an amazing tolerance and friendliness toward other religions was manifest. For example, Benjamin Rush, a devout Christian and signer of the Declaration of Independence, in describing a parade in Philadelphia, said,

The rabbi of the Jews locked in the arms of two ministers of the Gospel was a most delightful sight. There could not have been a more happy emblem (Hyatt, America’s Revival Heritage, 96).

During George Whitfield’s ministry in Philadelphia, city leaders decided to erect a large building to accommodate the massive crowds. According to Benjamin Franklin, the building was available for the use of “any preacher of any religious persuasion who might desire to say something to the people of Philadelphia.” Franklin went on to say,

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, 96).

The founders’ tolerance toward people of other faiths and religions was based, not only on the words of Jesus and the spirit of the New Testament, but on their belief in the inherent power of the Christian Message. They believed that on a level playing field, the truth of Christianity would prevail. They agreed with John Milton who declared,

Let Truth and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter?

Thomas Jefferson echoed this same belief in the inherent power of Christian truth when he wrote,

Truth can stand by itself. If there be but one right religion and Christianity that one, we should wish to see the nine hundred and ninety-nine wandering sects gathered into the fold of truth. But against such a majority we cannot effect this by force. Reason and persuasion are the only practicable instruments. To make way for these, free inquiry must be indulged; and how can we wish others to indulge it while we refuse it ourselves (Hyatt, America’s Revival Heritage, 97).

The First Amendment created a free and open marketplace of religious ideas, because the founders did not fear open debate. Compare this attitude to Marxist and Islamic nations where opposing views are violently suppressed. The same is true of the new Leftwing groups in modern America who seek to cancel anyone who disagrees with them. They fear free and open debate. 

Sadly, Ilhan grew up in this kind of intolerant political atmosphere and it has obviously shaped her thinking. We should pray for her that her eyes will be opened to the truth that is in Jesus and to the Christian roots of the American Dream of which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so eloquently spoke.

We should also be praying for another Great Awakening that will turn the hearts of the American populace back to the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament. This would do more than anything to restore tolerance in modern America for, after all, it was Jesus who said,

But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you. And just as you want men [people] to do to you, you also do to them likewise. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful (Luke 6:27-36).

This article was derived in part from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's latest book, America's Revival Heritage, with the subtitle, How Christian Reformation and Spiritual Awakening Led to the Formation of the United States of America. The book is available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.

WHY THE CHURCH MUST REDISCOVER THE POWER THAT FLOWS FROM A CONSECRATED LIFE

Where is the American Church? American institutions continue to fall like dominos to the woke, ungodly culture, with Disney being the latest to succumb. Disney executives announced that they will no longer use gender distinctive language such as "ladies and gentlemen" or "boys and girls" and that they will target children with new transgender-affirming programming.

This should cause every Christian to ask if we are not missing something. As the Church of Jesus Christ should we not have more influence on our culture than LGBT activists? Did not Jesus call His followers "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world?" Why is our influence so small? The surprising answer came to me during a recent time of prayer.

As I sat in my chair late one night communing with the Lord, my heart began to grieve because of America’s cultural descent into godlessness and moral confusion. I also grieved over the feckless state of the American Church and its inability to stop or even slow the enemy’s onslaught. I then heard the Lord speak to my heart, saying, “There is a lesson for the Church today from the life of Samson.”

As I then read and reread the life of Samson in Judges 16, it was clear that the word God wants to speak to the Church today is “Consecration.” You see, Samson was consecrated as a Nazirite while in his mother’s womb. "Nazirite" comes from the Hebrew word Nazir meaning "consecrated" or "separated.” That which is "consecrated" to God is completely given over to Him.

We Cannot Divorce Power from Purity

The Nazirite vow was a solemn commitment that Samson would live a “separated” life unto God, wholly dedicated to His purpose. The outward sign of this consecration was that he would never cut his hair. His consecration was the key to his power. 

So long as Samson lived in this consecration, he was invincible. He was able to face and overcome everything the enemies of God threw at him. On one occasion he alone killed a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. 

There is no reason to believe that Samson was bulging with muscles as portrayed in modern movies and art. It wasn't the size of his biceps that gave him power; it was the depth of his consecration.

Samson lost his power when he compromised his consecration. He compromised his consecration by consorting with a Philistine woman named Delilah and revealing to her the secret of his power. Having lulled Samson to sleep on her lap, she then called in the Philistines who cut off his hair while he slept.

Shorn of his locks and his power, Samson could no longer stand against his enemies. He was taken captive by the Philistines who gouged out his eyes, bound him with bronze fetters, and put him to work pushing a turnstile in a circle all day grinding grain. How the mighty had fallen!

Is it possible that today’s church lacks the power to face down the rampant godlessness and immorality engulfing our culture because, like Samson, we have consorted with the world and compromised our consecration to God? 

There is Still Hope

Even in his weakened and broken state, there was hope for Samson. Judges 16:22 tells how Samson’s hair began to grow as he toiled day after day in the prison. This was an outward sign that there was a renewal of his Nazirite consecration to God.

Then one day, during a great celebration in a massive theater, the Philistines brought out Samson to entertain the gathered throng as an object of mirth and ridicule. He was forced to “perform” for the crowd so they could revel in the humiliation and devastation of the one who had caused them so much pain in the past.

What the Philistines did not realize was that Samson’s hair had grown back—at least to a degree. His consecration had been renewed and there would now be one final display of God’s power through him.

After being taunted, mocked, and ridiculed, a young man led the blind and broken Samson to a place between the two giant pillars that supported the stadium. Samson placed a hand on each pillar, and prayed, Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God!

Samson no longer feared death. He wanted victory again more than life itself. As he pushed against the two pillars with all his might, he cried out to God, Let me die with the Philistines! The two pillars gave way, and the stadium came crashing down killing thousands of Philistines, and Samson with them.

I am here reminded of the prayer of Jonathan Edwards just before the Great Awakening transformed New England. Having consecrated himself to God, he desired an Awakening more than life itself. With great passion, he prayed to God, “Give me New England or let me die.”

We Must Rebuild the Altar of Consecration

When Elijah confronted the 400 false prophets on Mt. Carmel, his first act was an act of consecration. At a time when Israel had compromised their faith in Yahweh and were consorting with Baal, Elijah called the nation to renew their consecration to God. I Kings 18:30b says, And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

The altar was a place of sacrifice—a place of consecration. After repairing the altar of the Lord and placing the sacrifice upon it, Elijah prayed a 20-second prayer and the fire of God fell from heaven. The mass of people gathered there fell on their faces, crying out, The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God! (I Kings 18:41)

In Roman 12:1-2, Paul called on the Roman believers to consecrate themselves to God by making their bodies living sacrifices. He wrote,

Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God . . . Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

My Father Builds an Altar and Sees a Display of Power

When my older brother, Pete, was 7 years old, he was run over by a farm tractor and fatally injured. With blood bubbling from his eyes, mouth, nose and ears, my Dad rushed him to the nearest hospital. Three doctors examined him and agreed, “He won’t live more than 10 minutes.”

They went on to explain that, even apart from x-rays, they knew from the bleeding that a broken rib had punctured a lung. They then wheeled Pete away for x-rays and my Dad was left alone with his thoughts and questions.

As he stood alone in silence, the thing foremost on his mind was that for 5 years he had ignored the call of God to full-time ministry. With only a fourth grade education and a family to care for, it seemed an absolute impossibility that he could become a pastor or minister.

But facing the death of his son, he knew he had to respond by building an altar of consecration. He, therefore, stepped into a nearby restroom, raised His right hand and said, "Lord, I'm ready!"  It was only 3 words, but those words came from the depth of his being. It was an act of total surrender. It was an consecration!

Immediately the power of God fell and the gift of faith dropped into his heart. I heard him tell this numerous times growing up, and in his words, “I suddenly knew that Pete was going to be okay. I didn’t know how I knew, but I knew.”

He came out of the restroom and had to wait, but his heart was at peace and full of faith. After about one hour, one of the doctors emerged and said, “Mr. Hyatt, there has been a higher power here tonight.” He then said, “We know your son had a broken rib that had punctured his lung. But we have finished the x-rays, the bleeding has stopped, and there is not a broken bone in his body.”

A nurse who attended the same church as my parents testified that she had never felt the presence and power of God as she did in Pete's room. My Dad’s act of consecration and the ensuing miracle launched him into the ministry. Despite his lack of education and training, he went on to be a successful pastor for many years before his death in 1994. 

This is the Time

It is time all across America for pastors, leaders, and churches to rebuild the altars of consecration that are broken down. We must repent for being more concerned with what modern culture thinks of us than what God thinks of us. As we rebuild the altars of consecration, the fire of God will fall, His power will flow, and we will see this nation turned back to God.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an author, Bible teacher, revivalist, and church historian. His books documenting America's birth out of the First Great Awakening are available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.   

RECONNECTING WITH AMERICA'S FORGOTTEN ROOTS OF FAITH AND FREEDOM

These 5 books are the fruit of an unexpected 7-hour encounter with the Lord in 2010, at which time He assured me that America "could" see another Great Awakening that would restore national peace, civility, and morality. I also saw for the first time that the First Great Awakening had a direct bearing on the founding of this nation. These books are great tools for personal and group study and as textbooks for Christian schools and Christian colleges. For pricing on bulk orders, send an email to dreddiehyatt@gmail.com.    

                                                     

                                    

                                         

IMPLEMENTING GEORGE WASHINGTON'S BATTLE PLAN COULD TURN THE TIDE FOR UKRAINE

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has evoked comparisons of David and Goliath because of Russia’s superior military might and the brave resistance of the Ukrainian people. We must never forget, however, the key to David’s victory. While Goliath trusted in his size, his military experience, and his armament, David declared his trust to be, in the name of the LORD of hosts the God of the armies of Israel (I Samuel 17:45). 

David's strategy for defeating Goliath was George Washington's strategy for defeating the mighty British war machine. Like David facing Goliath with his slingshot, Washington knew his ragtag colonial army was no match, in the natural, for the powerful, well-equipped British army. 

Therefore, upon accepting the call of the Continental Congress in May of 1775, Washington began to instill in the colonial troops a sense of the importance of prayer and faith in God, for as William Novak said,

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).

Washington 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).

At one point, during a particularly difficult part of the war, Washington and his men 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 did Washington and his army pray, but the Continental Congress issued no less than 15 calls for national days of prayer and fasting during the war. Although it was a grueling seven years, numerous answers to prayer occurred protecting Washington and his troops and giving them victory when victory seemed impossible.

For example, in the early part of the war, Washington and his 12,000 troops were trapped on Long Island by a British force 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 down this rebellion.

During the night 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 and remained until the army and all its cannon had been moved across the river to Manhattan. As soon as they were safely across the river, the fog lifted. At this point, the British were amazed to see that the colonial army with their armaments had disappeared, as if into thin air. 

This was just one of the many “signal interventions” of which Washington made mention. And at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin called the delegates to prayer and reminded them how God had answered their prayers during the war. Addressing Washington, who was the Convention President, Franklin said,

In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain when we were sensible to danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard and they were graciously answered (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 119).

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.

Addressing the massive crowd, Evans exhorted the troops 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
(Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 119).

When David went out to face Goliath with a slingshot, he declared, You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel. In other words, David’s trust was not in natural human resources or military armaments. His trust was in the name of the LORD. The same was true of George Washington and the Revolutionary Army.

I would, therefore, encourage President Zelenskyy to proclaim a day of prayer and repentance for the people of Ukraine. Let it be a day in which they, as a nation, ask God for His help against a larger and more powerful foe. Perhaps they will find that the God of David and George Washington still responds to sincere prayer.

This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt's books that document America's birth out of a great, spiritual awakening. This article is derived primarily from 1726: The Year that Defined America, available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.

WHY FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND DR. KING HAD SUCH GREAT RESPECT FOR AMERICA'S FOUNDING DOCUMENTS

Those of the modern Left who are disparaging America's Founders and her founding documents, have departed from the vision and thinking of the great Abolitionists and Civil Rights leaders of the past, including Frederick Douglass and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Both Douglas and Dr. King showed great respect for America's founders and America's founding documents. In a July 4th speech delivered in 1852, Douglass said,

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

The difference in Douglass and King with modern anti-American pundits is that they understood history and, therefore, the significance of what happened in 1776 and 1787. They realized that, although imperfect, the Founders struck a bold and clear blow for liberty by formulating anti-slavery founding documents at a time when slavery was  accepted and practiced throughout the world.  

Indeed, America's Founders were turned against slavery by a great, spiritual awakening that transformed 18th century colonial America and ignited an anti-slavery movement that turned multitudes against the institution. These facts led the noted African-American scholar, Dr. Thomas Sowell, to write,

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, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 90).

When the time came for separation from Great Britain, the Founders formulated founding documents that were designed to also oppose slavery. As a result, Abolitionists and Civil Rights leaders from Frederick Douglas to Abraham Lincoln to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. have used these documents to combat slavery and racial inequality.

Dr. King, for example, in his “I Have a Dream Speech,” exhorted America, not to dispense with her founding documents, but instead, to live up to them. Speaking from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, he declared,

When the architects of our Republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" (Hyatt, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, 54).

Then quoting from the Declaration of Independence, he proclaimed,

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

Both Douglass and Dr. King had studied the U.S. Constitution and understood that there are no classifications based on race, ethnicity, or skin color. The words “slaves” and “slavery” are not mentioned. Instead, it speaks of “citizens,” “persons,” and “other persons.” The language was purposeful for James Madison said, “The Convention thought it wrong to admit in the Constitution the idea that there could be property in men"(Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 122-23).

In the 1852 speech noted above, Douglas, took the nation and the church to task for allowing slavery to continue, but he praised the Constitution as "a glorious liberty document" and extolled the Founding Fathers for their courage and their wisdom. On another occasion, he said of the founding documents,

Anyone of these provisions in the hands of abolition statesmen, and backed by a right moral sentiment, would put an end to slavery in America (Hyatt, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, 54-55).

Yes, in the founding documents, the Founders gave Abolitionists the legal instruments with which to combat slavery. A 1784 gathering of Methodist leaders in Baltimore understood this and when they issued a statement denouncing slavery, they based it on both the Bible and the Declaration of Independence. They declared slavery to be, "contrary to the golden rule of God as well as every principle of the [American] Revolution” (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 97).

The revivalist preacher, Samuel Hopkins (1721–1803), used the words of the Declaration in a pamphlet he wrote against slavery. Confronting those who argued that slavery was God’s way of bringing Africans from their pagan land to hear the gospel, he exclaimed,

What sort of “gospel” message is being conveyed when people are enslaved because of the color of their skin? The Declaration of Independence says all men are created equal with certain unalienable rights. Oh, the shocking, the intolerable inconsistencies (Hyatt, 1726: The Year thatDefined America, 90)!

Abraham Lincoln also understood the anti-slavery character of the nation’s founding documents. In 1858, Lincoln, who had become the new Republican party’s first candidate for president, declared that the anti-slavery platform of the new party was built on the vision of the nation’s Founders. He said,

In the way our Fathers originally left the slavery question, the institution was in the course of ultimate extinction, and the public mind rested in the belief that it was in the course of ultimate extinction. All I have asked or desired is that it should be placed back again upon the bases that the Fathers of our government originally placed it upon (Hyatt, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, 59-60).

The modern claims that America’s founding documents are racist are not based on facts. The historian, David Azerrad, was correct when he said, “The argument that the Constitution is racist suffers from one fatal flaw; the concept of race does not exist in the Constitution” (Hyatt, 1726:The Year that Defined America, 127). 

To save our country from the anti-American Marxist forces, we must know and proclaim this truth of America's founding documents. Douglass would agree, for in the same speech noted above, he referred to the Declaration of Independence and then exhorted 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.

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

VLADIMIR PUTIN, THE ANTICHRIST, AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD

And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you 
have heard was coming and is already in the world.

I John 4:3b

In II Thessalonians 2:1-4 Paul speaks of an evil, end-time world ruler whom he calls “the man of sin.” This individual whom Paul says, opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, is obviously the same person that John refers to as “the Beast” in Revelation 13 and “the Antichrist” in I John 2:18; 4:3.

In I John 2:18, John says, You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now there are many antichrists in the world. John seems to be saying that this evil, controlling ruler at the end of the age will be preceded by many of the same character and spirit. He confirms this later by saying that the spirit of Antichrist, is now already in the world (I John 4:3).

Vladimir Putin is not the Antichrist, but his desire for dominance and control are certainly in the spirit of the Antichrist; and he is not the only one exuding that spirit in the world today.

 

Both the “man of sin” and “the Beast” are described as putting themselves in the place of God over people’s lives. This fits perfectly with the meaning of “Antichrist,” for according to Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon, the word anti in Greek means “instead of” or “in place of.” In other words, this individual is not just “against” Christ; he has a messianic complex and seeks to take the place of Christ as the one destined to rule the earth.

Remember, the word “Christ” is the Greek word for the Hebrew “Messiah.” In Scripture, the Messiah is God’s appointed king and ruler over Israel, and the entire cosmos. Various O.T. prophecies, such as II Samuel 7:12-13, Psalm 2:6, Daniel 7:13-14, and Micah 5:2, speak of the coming Messiah as God’s appointed king and ruler. The messianic prophecy of Isaiah 9:6-7, says,

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder . . . of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.

The Antichrist has a messianic complex and projects himself as the one  who has the right, the intelligence, and the ability to rule the world and save the planet. He is, however, the antichristos, the one who puts himself in that place that belongs only to Jesus Christ. John says his spirit is now already in the world (I John 4:3).

This Antichrist spirit has shown itself throughout history in the Caesars of Rome, the medieval Catholic popes, Islamic movements seeking world domination, and European monarchs and their official state churches. It is seen in modern political leaders with visions of world domination such as Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Adolph Hitler, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin. 

It is to be seen in the so-called "progressive" movement in America and the emerging "cancel culture" which seek to control our thoughts, words, and actions.  It is to be seen in Big Tech companies who control the flow of information and ban any person and any message they deem to be unacceptable.

We have seen this same spirit raising its ugly head through political leaders in the United States, Canada, and other Western nations with their harsh Covid-19 lockdowns and mandates. Justin Trudeau, prime minister of Canada, just forcefully ended a peaceful Freedom Convoy, arrested many of the protestors, confiscated their vehicles, froze their bank accounts, and threatened to take their pets and children. 

A March 30, 2020 interview with British Supreme Court Judge, Lord Sumpton, now sounds prophetic. He warned that the Covid-19 mandates were paving the way for despotism--the exercise of power in a cruel and oppressive manner (Hyatt, To Comply or Not Comply, 59).

This spirit of Antichrist showed itself in the Democrat National Committee (DNC) announcing they did not need God. In 2019 this committee unanimously passed a resolution in which they affirmed atheism and declared that neither Christianity nor any religion was necessary for patriotism and morality. In doing so, they rejected America's national motto of "In God We Trust" and declared that they would govern without (or "in place of") God.

In Revelation 14:18 John says that the number of the Beast is the number of a “man” and his number is 666. Since, however, there is no indefinite article in Greek and because John left off the definite article, the passage literally says that the number of the Beast, is the number of man and his number is 666. This, therefore, probably refers to mankind in general, as well as the evil, end-time ruler. 

This would coincide with the fact that the number 6 is first mentioned in Genesis 1:31 where God created mankind on the 6th day of creation. Whereas the number 7 normally refers to completion and perfection, the number 6 is one shy of that. 

The number 6, therefore, could well be the number of mankind and his incompleteness apart from God. Since, however, the number of the Beast is a trinity of 666, it probably refers to him as a mere man asserting himself into the place of God over people’s lives—a man acting as if he were God. That is the spirit of Antichrist.

America’s founders and their parents and grandparents had lived under the Antichrist spirit, which is why they were so adamant about individual liberty. It is why in Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution, the Founders banned aristocracy and the handing out of honorific titles by the U.S. government. It is why the Constitution opens with, “We the people . . .”

In this new land, there would be no “Lord so and so” or “Lady so and so.” There would be no royal aristocracy to which the masses must curtsy, doff their hats, and bow the knee. When some wondered how they would manage without a monarchy, Thomas Paine, in his book, Common Sense, wrote, “But where says some is the King of America? I'll tell you Friend, He reigns above.”

We must resist the antichrist spirit in both the church and the world, and we do this by proclaiming Jesus Christ as God’s appointed Messiah/King who alone has the right and wisdom to govern our lives. This happened in Colonial America through the influence of the Great Awakening, for when a British-appointed official reported on the state of things to his superiors in England, he wrote,

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).

When a society recognizes Jesus as God’s Messiah/King and commit themselves to be governed by his moral values, there will be peace, prosperity, and safety. It is what Jesus and the New Testament writers called “the Gospel of the Kingdom.” 

As we see the end nearing, our focus should be on understanding and proclaiming this Gospel of the Kingdom, for in Matthew 24:14 Jesus said,

And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt is an author, revivalist, and ordained minister. His books are available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.