Over the last few years, I have studying and looking into the historical foundations of North American History 150 years before the nations founding. Most of this material is not taught in the public education system and has been buried in various archives. I began my research looking into the "roots" of why The United States got embedded into the quagmire of the African slave trade. Two contributing factors that led me into this research was my work with the late Dr. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, co-authors of The Light And The Glory and From Sea To Shining Sea, and a book given to my by my personal attorney entitled "In The Name of War: King Philip's War and the Origins of American Identity by Jill Lepore." I'd like to begin by sharing with you an overview of Lepore's book. 
The most brutal war in American history is one about which most Americans have never heard, but King Philip's War was among the most destructive war in terms of lives lost and blood spilled per person that the United States has ever seen. Sometimes named Metacom's War or Metacom's Rebellion, King Philip's War was a series of battles between Native American tribes that inhabited southern New England (mostly Algonquian) and the English colonists and their Native American allies between 1675 and 1676. "King Philip" is actually the English name of the Indian chief who is said to have started the war, Metacomet or Metacom. He was the second son of Massasoit, the famous Indian chief who welcomed the English to Massachusetts some forty years before. The casualties of the war were significant: 1.5% of English colonists died (800 out of 52000) and 15% of Native Americans in the area (3000 out of 20000) lost their lives as a result of the conflict.
The causes of the conflict are complex, as is the case in most wars. Jill Lepore, the author of The Name of War: King Philip's War and The Origins of American Identity, argues that the root cause was a struggle for cultural identity. The English colonists were committed Christians and were intent on converting as many Indians to Christianity as possible. Indians who converted often moved to "praying towns" where Christian Indians would often conform to English culture as a result of their new religion.
The Indians were caught off guard by such unheard of and aggressive attempts at conversion. The English also gradually encroached on the native lands of the Indians, since they believed the Indians did not truly own the land because they did not develop it. Both forms of encroachments led the Indians to feel that their way of life was under attack. And due to a lack of understanding, the English saw the Indians largely as helpless savages who were on the edge of being sub-human. Finally, English diseases were killing massive amounts of Native Americans. While some Indian tribes were allied with the English, those who fought against the English were in a struggle to preserve their identities.
The English, on the other hand, were desperate not to lose their Englishness. They feared that their identities would be lost due to their separation and that they would become Indianized. They also did not want to be incredibly violent towards the Indians, since this would make them like the Spanish Conquistadors. Ultimately, Lepore argues, the English colonists developed their American identity by triangulating between the English and Indian experiences by using the Indian experience to differentiate themselves from the English but also to contrast themselves with the Indians. They largely fought the war because they were attacked, but King Philip's War led them to become nearly as brutal as the Conquistadors which greatly disturbed them.
The proximate cause of the war was the death of John Sassamon, a Christian Indian convert, translator and minister, who revealed Metacom's plans to attack the colonists to the English. He was then killed. When the English arrested and executed three of Metacom's advisors for the crime, Metacom began his assault in earnest. Lepore covers all the events and more in the book but largely devotes her time to analyzing the ways in which King Philip's War was the result of simultaneous identity crises on the part of the colonists and the Indians in terms of their language, habits of cruelty, religion, slavery and historical narratives.
When I've shared this history, I am so puzzled by the push back how many "American Caucasian European decent" people push back by calling this revisionist history. What I've learned through this work as it was first shared with me by my attorney is the truth that - "He who wins the war gets to write the story!" So, much of our National discourse does not disclose the fact that the early colonist were engaged in a genocide of the First Nations of North America in order to make a land grab and engagement of enslavement so that they could have free labor for their new plantations. The second objection I have encountered is the fight over "Oral Tradition" vs "Written Tradition." Most of those who have objected to the work of authors like Lepore's book have argued that "Oral History" is suspect and not really "truth." Although, I understand this premise and our need for documentation there are long written histories kept in the National Archives in Washington, DC and various State Archives for the diligent researchers to review that verify the facts. But, most people are not interested or engaged in this type of study work and only rely on what they have been taught by the dominate culture who won the war. I'll have to save this for another time.The third objection to sharing Native American perspectives is focused on two major faulty foundations. First, that the First Nations attacked the early colonist first. Second, the notion that our national narrative is the truth and everything else is "revisionism." This is where my conversations with noted Christian historians, Dr. Peter Marshall and David Manual began.
A number of years ago, a dear friend asked me if I would consider working with her on a "Thanksgiving Day" TV to be aired on Thanksgiving Day on a number of Christian TV outlets. I accepted the job and went with her to the Boston area - including Plymouth and Martha's Vineyard to work on this project with her, Dr. Marshall and David Manuel. Now for those who are unfamiliar with these two men - let me point out that Dr. Marshall was the son of twice appointed Chaplain of the Senate (serving 1947 to his death) Peter Marshall senior and his wife noted Christian author Catherine Marshall. Peter Marshall's life was made into an oscar nominated film in 1955 entitled, "A Man Called Peter" based on his wife's biography of his life. Her son, the late Dr. Peter Marshall Jr. was a graduate of Yale University and Princeton Theological Seminary. Peter began working with author/editor David Manuel on several books.
David was also a graduate of Yale University and worked for a division of Doubleday as a editor - including having worked on the editing team of Alex Haley's book, "Roots." After becoming a Christian he made major contributions for Logos Publishing including writing and editing, Pastor David Wilkerson's classic story, "The Cross and The Switchblade" and 39 other books. So, Both these men were well known, recognized, and respected for their historical literary works. I am making sure to answer my critics, who think that I have fallen into the hands of liberal agendas and American revisionism, that the people who I have been working with over the years on these matters are not only well respected by a part of the most academically astute American Historians of our time. The real revisionism that has been conducted is our national American Public Education system. I have no trouble in stating clearly, that the national narrative we have been taught has left out the truth of an American Genocide of Native People and our national government's plan to make slavery as permanent part of the American economy just before Abraham Lincoln became president. Again, I will have to write more on these two facts at a later time.
As I began working on this "Thanksgiving Story" with Peter, David and my friend, I was completely taken off guard as they shared with me the real story behind our national celebration vs. what I had been taught in our public school system and college. The real story begins with a tale of slavery. According to both Marshall and Manuel, a native American named Squanto, also known as Tisquantum, a Patuxet born Native America who was born in present day Massachusetts, circa 1580, was captured and taken into slavery by the Portuguese and was purchased by a catholic friar in an open slave market in Europe. This catholic friar, brought him back to the monastery, taught him and brought him to Christ while in the hands of the monastery. He later was taught English and became a part of a mission to England where he met Captain John Smith. Smith offered him a ride back to North America which he accepted. Squanto, would later connect with the Pilgrims (who came from Amsterdam on a missionary led endeavor to share the gospel) and would become known for serving as am interpreter and guide for them as they settled into Plymouth in the 1620's. Talk about "revisionist" history... these guys were telling me stuff I had never heard before. I thought Thanksgiving was all about "Pilgrims came from England looking for religious freedom!" What we all were taught in our American History books was revisionist history. These early settlers had religious freedom in Amsterdam for over 12 years. They came because they were led by the Holy Spirit to share the gospel. Everyone interested in this story should read Marshall and Manuel's book, "The Light and The Glory."
Wow. However, at the time what caught my attention was the fact that both Peter and David shared with me was that fact the Spanish, the Portuguese, and the Dutch were perusing the North American coastlines looking to capture young Native American boys, ages 14-17, and enslaving and selling them in European slave markets. Where was this story in our history books. This ultimately led me to further investigation and conversations with various native tribal leaders (working on the continued injustices of the American Native populations and First Nations people around the world) who have been greatly impacted by a little know Papal Edict known as the "Doctrine Of Discovery" which became embedded into our American legal system. My question has become, "What's up with the cover-up?" In my mind, having worked in the "Healing and Reconciliation" prayer movements in our nation these matters are important for Christian's to have a true understanding in our national sins for what I call "informed intercession." God knows the truth about our history and so should we - especially when repenting over our "true" national sins. Psalm 33:4 states that God only works in truth. So how can we successfully see the fruit of our intercession orsee healing in our nation, if our understanding of history has been based on cover-ups. Prophetically, I believe God is moving in uncovering the hidden works of darkness in our time and generation. Daniel 2:22 states, "He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies in darkness, though He is surround by light." God intends for truth to be brought to light so that we can brought to the place of brokenness and repentance. So, our modern day notions of American Exceptionism, being the greatest nation on the earth, a land of opportunity (free land and free labor), and ideas of being a historically based Christian nation is not only based in American myth but also Augustinian and Calvinistic heresy known as dominionism. Again, I have to save these perspectives for another time. Let me very clear, to those who again accuse my friends and myself of "revisionism" and being anti-American, just because I do not share the nationalistic views being taught in our American history books or by skewed views of Christian fundementalist or right winged political conservationism does not make me anti-American. Why would I be engaged in all the prayer movements for "Healing America's Wounds" if I were anti-american? I am engaged in pulling down "principalities, powers, and wickedness" in high places!" (See Eph. 6:12)
The purpose of "pulling these strongholds" down is to release "God's presence" and "Blessing" into our nation. As Christians, we are not called to build Christian Empires, with standing armies, or force a colonial Euro-centric gospel on the others in our nation. As Christians we are called to walk in "Truth." Jesus was very clear when he said, "my kingdom is not of this world." (See John 18:36) Romans 12:2 states that as followers of Jesus we are called to "not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind." I Peter 2:9 says, "... we are a Holy Nation." We are no longer a part of this pagan nation called the United States Of America. If you feel that that is extreme can you explain how "Marriage Equality, Transgender Restrooms, abortion, war, and other very American activities" are Christian? No we are dealing with a pagan nation who has always been engaged in non-christian behaviors. This is why our nation is under judgement. The only hope we have is Prayer, doing the work of Justice, and sharing the gospel to those who do not know Christ. But, when the "principalities, powers, and wickedness" prevails it makes the gospel difficult to share. That's why repentance, prayer, and cultural engagement is important in the work of "healing and cultural transformation." We need to get this right!
There are three major historical perspectives that need to be explored The Native American perspective, The African American Perspective, and the Euro-centric Colonialism that our nation was founded in. Then we, together, can form a true American perspective. Then we can explore our National identity and calling as Christian people to bring the gospel effectively in this post-colonial era God is calling us to. The real issues holding us back as a nation has to do with our refusal to acknowledge the truth, stepping down from positions that empower "white privilege" and seeing how our nation's white wealth and opportunity which is enjoyed today was built on land grabbing, thievery and slave labor. Now that's the truth and everything else is historical revisionism.
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