Careless exalting of the “founding fathers” of the United States has become a real problem among U.S. believers. In their misguided zeal to “restore America to its Christian foundation” there has been a tendency to justify the wicked and overlook serious sin in the men both past and present. I say “misguided zeal” because there is a strong tendency to imagine that we should go back to something in the past that would be better than what we have now. This is forgetting that history repeatedly shows us that nations rise and fall by a given pattern and, once past a certain point they never return to their former “glory” or power. It is also ignoring that some of these men fit altogether too well in what Romans chapter one says.
Romans 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Here is one example of a less-than-great “founding father.” (This article was updated this year.)
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Benjamin Franklin is an iconic figure in American history. As one of the "Founding Father" of the United States as well as the publisher of Poor Richard's Almanac and a "man of science" in the amateur sense he created a rather expansive reputation for himself. But, is he worthy to be raised as a "hero"? Even more, should he be called a "Christian" as some have boldly proclaimed in recent times? The answer to these questions is an absolute "no." In fact, it is beyond my understanding how some people can claim these things for him when history is so unavoidably clear on the subject and so readily available in this day. Even in his own day his less-than-stellar reputation was generally known. He was neither a God-honoring hero nor a Christian.
Here's why:
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Painting By Joseph Wright, 1782.
I am looking forward to reading the whole article! Christ should be our hero and role model! The solution for American is not getting back to the "glory days" of the Founding Fathers. The solution is for Christians to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and for Churches to preach hard against sin.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that! Too much emphasis has been put on the so called "glory days." Americans have always been sinners, and without Christ "There is none righteous, no not one." I think sometimes of Ecclesiastes 7:10, "Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this." People can get very hung up on the past and "restoring the nation," forgetting that moving forward means that we are getting closer to the return of Jesus Christ. "Even so, Come, Lord Jesus." :-)
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