Over the last year I have been working on a prayer project which has morphed into America For Jesus 2012 in Philadelphia. The general vision has been developed around the idea that America is divided - culturally, racially, spiritually, economically, socially, and politically. After thirty years of research on this issue I've concluded that this division began in the midst of the English Civil wars and the introduction of slavery as an institution in this country. With the planting of the cross in Cape Henry, the English Cavaliers sought to colonize the south in order to preserve their "Wealthy" lifestyles that they enjoyed in England but were losing to the English puritans. In order to preserve their lifestyle of large estates they needed servants - who they thought would be the First Nations people. Unfortunate for them, the native populations resisted the colonization, dispossession of their lands, and conversion to Christianity in the face of a gun mentality of the Cavaliers. Despite the claims that America's English colonialism was a Christian mission - it really was designed to Christianize the First Nations people so that they could bring them into forced labor. They would not be satisfied till they put Pocohanas in an English dress, cut her hair to their liking, and taught how to speak with a proper English accent. Thus began the divisions and Pocohanas was brought to her death.
In my final conversations with Dr. Peter Marshall and recently with David Manuel, authors of the book "The Light and The Glory," I've raised the question as to why 'King Phillips' War' was not presented as an "unrighteous" move of the puritans of New England. New England's puritans were not interested in toleration, inclusion, or views which challenged their calvinism. They killed the Natives, hung the Quakers, ran out the Baptist, and charged people with witchcraft when they disagreed with their vision of a city on a hill. After all puritanism was about purifying. So my question was where is the righteous root.
I found it in Philadelphia. William Penn, who many believe is the real cultural architect of our nation, came to the shores of America seeking a place of refuge where persecuted Christian groups could practice their faith with liberty of conscience and freedom of worship. In England, the National Church leaders demanded conformity. The entanglement of the government and church polity did not allow liberty of conscience or freedom of worship. If you didn't conform you went to jail or you were killed. These are the people who forced the puritan's out of England into Amsterdam and then to the shores of America. But the puritan's were just as intolerant as England with William Penn's faith - Quakerism. So William Penn took the opportunity and the king was very happy to rid England of his Quaker problem and other dissident groups by granting him a colony named Pennsylvania.
William Penn, was a revolutionary just as all his faithful friends in Quakerism. They believed there was "that of God in every person." Man was not totally depraved. God created humanity, breathed the breath of life in him, and the light of God was within him - even after his fall. Romans 1 explains that there is something in every person, it's called conscience, that bears witness to God. So this inward light in every person was to be regarded, nudged forward by our testimonies, and treat others as you would want to be treated. Quakers believed in "honoring one another." There were not male, female, Gentile, or Jew - all were one in Christ. So they sought to build a culture of honor. In fact, William Penn came to America and met with the natives with no weapons in his hands. He came to honor them, purchase their lands, and not invoke a sense of "his rights" as the proprietary leader. He wanted to be inclusive and give them the same rights as he sought for his fellow Quakers and other friends of faith. This is what America is about! Liberty and justice for all. However, this vision was lost. The English would not have it their own country nor did they intend for it to happen here. Thus the Revolution!
So all division began in our country over class warfare, rich against the poor, white against the First Nations, the Africans (who were defined 3/4 human), and political division over the right of the individual vs right of communities. There are those who want to nullify the right of dissent. Quakers fought for the right of dissent. Today, The right and left demand conformity and "political correctness." What ever happened to free speech? Many people are scolded because they have an opinion that differs - with the right or left. Then, to top it all off - today we still have slavery - in fact we have more slaves in America today than we had before the civil war. But abortion and the policing of other peple's sexuality is more important than ending slavery for good. Did you know that corporations own people for $90. They are domestic workers, field workers, nannies, and sex slaves. While the religious right is fighting gays, abortion, birth control issues and claiming their religious rights are being denied - they are seeking the rights of others to be denied. Yet, 200,000+ 9 to 12 year old kids are being abducted off the streets of America and exported as slaves overseas... and now what will the vision of this Philadelphia event be about... Christian triumphalism or "coming to each other with hands free of weapons" and "trying what love will do"?
So far, all I've witnessed is people positioning themselves for a place on the program - or trying to define the program. Is a program that important or asking God to forgive us more important. Can you imagine Bishops, pastors, church leaders of all races, liberal and conservative coming in brokenness, tender-heartedness, forgiving one another, crying and humbling themselves and becoming one body? What will this event be all about? I hope we can all overcome the iniquity that runs in us and return to the old ancient reliable paths given to us by William Penn. See Jeremiah 6:16 Is it possible to "Try what Love Will do?"
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