THE ROOTS OF FREEDOM!

THE ROOTS OF FREEDOM!

John 8:32-36

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

What has come to be called The Great Awakening was led by George Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards and Gilbert Tennant. It swept the mid-Atlantic colonies in the 1730’s and 1740’s. This sweeping spiritual revival focused on those who were already church members! It challenged their rituals, their piety and their self awareness.

Jonathan Edwards’ most famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” was based upon Deut 32:35 “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.” It is said that those who listened to this sermon held onto the pillars of the meeting house for stability fearing the floor would open and hell would swallow them up!

While some discount its importance, the impact upon the American Revolution seems clear. The American Revolution was less about tea and taxation than it was about tyranny, freedom and man’s inalienable rights handed down by the Creator. Just as Jesus said, “the truth shall make you free.” The foundation of the truth preached by Whitfield, Edwards and Tennant created the air in which freedom could breathe.

The need today is not so much a return to political conservatism and integrity but a spiritual revival which will produce a climate in which government reform can take place. Without a spiritual revival political reforms will only serve to replace one tyrant with another. The most important thing I can do for my country is to be a revived Christian!

There is a new movie showing this weekend called simply “America!” I hope to see it soon. It asks the haunting question: “What would the world be like if there had never been an America?”

Prov 29:2

2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Dear Lord, our nation needs you desperately! Create in us a thirst for godliness and return to us in great strength. Hear us when we pray! Restrain evil in our land. Oh Lord, revive us again! AMEN