American Revisionist History: Have American's Ever Been Taught The Truth?

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.  

Americans Christians Can't Change What They Won't Acknowledge!

This morning is a good day of reflection for me.  Isaiah 58:12 has always been a theme verse for me when I center down, look at where I've been, and what I still need to complete in my assigned time and sphere of influence. It reads, "you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the foundations laid long ago; you will be called the repairer of broken walls, the restorer of streets where people live."   As I continue to reflect and explore what this verse mean and how it applies to my life I really want to know - What ancient ruins?  What foundations?  What broken walls? What streets need to be restored?  Of course, we know that this ancient prophecy has to do with the rebuilding of the ancient city of Jerusalem after its destruction in 586 BCE.  Isaiah's words offered a future hope to those who were living in exile. If we could find a modern application it would be a good prophetic word to the Syrian refugees now living in exile either in camps or in Europe.  I don't think many of us would like it if we were forced to leave our family history, land and nation behind after a terrible period of destruction as many of the Syrian people have had to do. When I read Isaiah's words, I can only apply them spiritually since I have never had to live in conditions of a war torn country like Isaiah was speaking to.  So, like any good scholar or theologian, I have to first understand the history and context Isaiah was writing to and then ask what the text offers me as a American Caucasian living in a nation built on European settlers (my ancestors) who like the Assyrians, Babylonians, the Medo-Persian, Greek and Roman empires built their nations on land grabbing, genocide, slavery, and exploitation.  What is my obligation as a Christian to rebuild, raise up, restore, and repair the people who my nation has exploited?  Some in my nation believe that historically that the United States Of America is a Christian nation and needs to be called or taken back for Jesus' purpose.  Many of those who hold this position need to be asked "Back to what?" pseudo-historian David Barton calls us back to our founding fathers who owned salves, and American Evangelical Preachers claim American culture has experienced such rapid moral decline; "We need to take it back!" My question is for Who?  When? and What time period can we point to when our country was our country was an example of godly morality?   

       

Our national education system has always taught that our nation has always been a land of opportunity and it has been explained that this is the reason so many immigrants want to come here. The foundation of this thought begins in the idea of "Free Land and Free Labor!"  Can you imagine someone coming into your house, forcibly removing you, sending you into exile, and then saying "Free Land and Free Labor?"  That's what these pagan nations did to Israel. They took the ancient Hebrews and uprooted them from the Land and brought them into their empires to be their labor force to build their empires. In this same manner, the founding of America began with forcibly taking land from the First Nations people then trying to get them to be the labor force in the European's New Canaan. When the Native population fought back our early colonial ancestors killed them, took the land, forced them to migrate westward and finally incarcerated them into concentration camps called reservations.  Also, don't forget these illegal immigrant European leaders couldn't get the natives to cooperate to become their servants so they brought in the Africans - giving us a legacy of slavery. So what does all this have to do with those of us today who find ourselves engaged in the work of Isaiah 58:12?  

Recently, I was watching an episode of a great American TV ministry that tells an interesting version of American history that I think needs to be redressed.  The story about the Cape Henry landing.  The American Christian Myth is that The Virginia Company arrived to the shores of Cape Henry with good intentions.  Simplified, once they arrived to the shores of what today is Virginia Beach, The Rev. Robert Hunt and these early Virginia venturers plant the English flag and a cross and dedicated the land to God for the propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  There is no dispute here about the planting of a cross or of the English flag.  That is completely true.  But what is false is the fact that these venturers came with a motivation to spread the Gospel.  Here are few Questions to ask?  Who gave them permission to plant a flag and a cross and claim the land for their endeavors? A ruling council in England, composed of members of the joint-stock company who were usually merchants of great distinction, was formed immediately after King James I granted the charter of 1606.  By what authority did King James I have to grant such a charter?  It was granted under the "Doctrine Of Discovery" which says "Go to heathen, pagan, and unchristian lands, dispossess  the inhabitants and bring them into perpetual slavery!"  Now that sounds like a very noble thing for Christians to do, right?  They're heathens anyway - just wasting all this rich land which was needed for expanding the England's wealth. Here's what the charter reads:

"Wee, greately commending and graciously accepting of theire desires to the furtherance of soe noble a worke which may, by the providence of Almightie God, hereafter tende to the glorie of His Divine Majestie in propagating of Christian religion to suche people as yet live in darkenesse and miserable ignorance of the true knoweledge and worshippe of God and may in tyme bring the infidels and salvages living in those parts to humane civilitie and to a setled and quiet govermente"  

Notice that they are referred to as infidels and salvages (this language comes right out of the "Doctrine of Discovery").  Then notice the aim was to bring them under the control of the English government assuming that they had no governments of their own. Secondly, they aimed to use their anglican beliefs to bring them under English rule.  No where in the gospel or the Great Commission do we see this as a part of the mission assigned by Jesus to the church.  But, here another important reason the English came (and it had nothing to do with the Christian faith outlined in the New Testament): 

"the saide severall Colonies shall and lawfully may by vertue hereof, from time to time, without interuption of us, our heires or successors, give and take order to digg, mine and searche for all manner of mines of goulde, silver and copper, as well within anie parte of theire saide severall Colonies as of the saide maine landes on the backside of the same Colonies; and to have and enjoy the goulde, silver and copper to be gotten there of to the use and behoofe of the same Colonies and the plantacions thereof; yeilding therefore yerelie to us, our heires and successors."  

So, the principle motivation in "civilizing the natives" was to provide free labor for the plantations and to gather the gold, silver and copper for themselves, their heirs, and successors."  Wow.  This is a direct quote from the charter and not a mythical story that Rev. Robert Hunt and his co-labours (who came to pillage the land) planting a cross to further the Gospel.  In fact, during my work in seminary, I spent a great deal of time researching this story at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia and found that whoever did the writing of the scripts for the American TV ministry wrote a total fabrication of the facts.  The Cross was planted to let the Portuguese, the Spanish, and The Dutch know that this land (now known as Virginia) was English territory and was rightfully claimed under the "Doctrine Of Discovery." (See http://druumm.onefireplace.org/resources/documents/doctrine_of_discovery.pdf.pdf)   

I am somehow appalled at all the myths American Christians believe just because some big ministry says so.  My question is what is the purpose of telling these kind of myths.  Anyone who examines the real story of our nation will have to explain how could Christians say they were coming to propagate the natives and civilize them then be engaged in the genocide and pillaging of the resources of the land for the benefit of themselves, heirs and successors.  Even though they invoked the name of Jesus - show me in the Gospel how "thievery, murder and genocide" is a means of evangelism.  I can hear my critics now, "Yeah but they were savages and killed our ancestors!"  Here's the simple ancestor to that - If someone came onto your property, looted your house, and pointed a gun at you while doing it - would you fight back?   It's time that the church in American comes to grip with the truth. 

Here's another myth we all heard in school that was supposedly to instill within us the value of telling the truth - George Washington chopping down a cherry tree.  Maybe we should ask ourselves why the story of cherry tree being chopped down was so important that it was taught to us in the public school system. The symbolism is fascinating.  Imagine if this story was about a Fig Tree being chopped down like in Luke 13:6-9.  Israel is likened to a fig tree in the Bible. What does the cherry tree represent in our  American Story?  What does the hatchet represent?  Why did young George choose the cherry tree in particular? This is how we would exegete the story if it was in the Bible.

So, this Cherry tree myth is probably one of the most well-known and longest enduring legend about George Washington.  In the original story, when young George was about age six he received a hatchet as a gift and damaged his father's Cherry tree.  When his father discovered what he had done, he became angry and confronted him.  Young George bravely said, "I cannot tell a lie... I did cut it down with my hatchet."  Reportedly Washington's father embraced him and rejoiced that his son's honesty was worth far more than a thousand trees."  Thus the moral of the story is to "Tell The Truth!" Unfortunately, most American Christians can't handle the truth.  They would rather believe the myth of our nations founding, never acknowledge that the privileges we now enjoy as a people was built not one a mission to win people to the gospel but rather on theft, murder, slavery, rape and genocide.  Everything Christians should be redressing in light of Isaiah 58:12.   Psalm 33:4 says "For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth."  This text is very clear, that ALL GOD's works are done in truth!"  If I am to understand what the psalmist says - this means God does not work in areas of falsehood, lies, myths, legends, or in denial of truth - He only works in truth. In fact, Jesus said "I am The Truth!" (John 14:6).   But as the old adage says "Truth may set you free but first it may make you miserable!"  It's time for the church in America to come to grips with the Truth especially in its role in the "Doctrine of Discovery,"  "American Exceptionalism," and ensuring turning a blind eye to the truth of the church's role in the genocide of American tribes, their removal from the land, and the nations legacy of slavery.

So the next time you hear "Let's take America Back" or listen to those pseudo-Christian historians tell you we are a nation based on the Christian faith - ask "When was America a Christian Nation?"  What time period were godly principles employed in the foundation of our country -when at the same time the American church ran "residential schools"

(see http://www.nmai.si.edu/education/codetalkers/html/chapter3.html)

played a huge role in "slaver," and relegated African Americans to sit in the back of the church

(See http://scholar.library.miami.edu/emancipation/religion4.htm)  

and participated in the "Trail of Tears."

(see http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2536601076.html)

and then we wonder why the nation is under judgement and little progress is made in "Healing the land."

It Is Finished!

One of my favorite passages in the scripture is in  Daniel 9: 24 which says, "Seventy sets of time periods have been decreed for your people and your holy city. These time periods will serve to bring an end to finish transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to usher in everlasting righteousness, to put a seal on a prophet's vision, and to anoint the Most Holy One." What a powerful assignment. Daniel the prophet had been praying and asking how long the people of God would be held in captivity. God sent an angel to deliver this powerful vision. But, how would this vision be fulfilled?  How long would it take? How would this task be accomplished?  

At first glance, we see that 70 weeks were determined as the length of time for the task to be accomplished. Here it is obvious Daniel had been thinking in terms of years- specifically the 70 years of captivity. Daniel had assumed that the captivity would end after 70 years and that the kingdom of Judah would be re-established after the 70 years. But here Gabriel was using a play upon words in the Hebrew language, pointing out that insofar as the coming Messiah's kingdom was not concerned, it was not "70 years," but "70 sevens of years," a total of 490 years (70 times seven).  This period of 490 years had been "decreed" over the Jewish people and over the Holy City (Jerusalem).  The Hebrew word translated "decreed" literally means "to Cut Off" or "to Determine."  From a project management perspective this task had a timeline,  an assigned task, and a defined "finish."  In another words, Daniel was shown what finished looked like.  God said, The project was -

• To Finish Transgression
• To Make An End Of Sins
• To Make Reconciliation For Iniquity
• To Usher In Everlasting Righteousness
• To completely fulfill the vision and prophecy
• To anoint the most Holy

Wow!  How do you do this?  This probably was the most difficult assignment that had ever been assigned by God to anyone.  As you continue to learn and read the scriptures we learn that the job was completed through the work accomplished on the cross by Jesus. In John 19:30, Jesus last words from the cross just as he died was "It Is Finished!" What was finished?  The prophecy given to Daniel. As we read Isa. 53:5, we see how Jesus was wounded for our Transgression (willful disobedience by being completely obedient See Phil. 2:5-11); He made an end of sins (sin meaning: missing the mark. See Heb 10:12); He made reconciliation for iniquity (The sins of our fathers. See II Cor. 5:19); He ushered in everlasting righteousness (See Romans 5:17); and he completely fulfilled the vision and prophecy (He met every requirement of the Messianic prophecies); and went into the heavenly temple and anointed the most holy place (See Hebrews 9). these passages of scripture are completely awesome and show us that we can finish any task that God gives because this same Jesus lives in us.  What a thought - we can all finish the tasks God assigns us.  However.... A new thought came across my mind in thinking and reviewing these passages.  

After Jesus completed his work on the Cross, he took on new tasks after completely finishing all the obligations of the old covenant. That new task is called The New Covenant which has better promises (See Hebrews 9-10) What this insight provides to us is - we can all finish a task and move onto to other things. We don't have to keep on doing it over or over, tweaking and tweaking, or adding to the assignment.  Your work, your project can be completed.  Assignment done.  Time to move on.  Someone once asked me a very important question, "What does Finished Look Like?"  Daniel 9:24 told us what finished looked like.  Once that last piece of anointing the most holy was done - the project ended.  I'm glad projects end.  To finish your degree - you have to meet all the requirement of the courses of study. When you finish you get the degree.  When you write a book - it requires a last chapter, goes through editing, and then to print - because it is finished. When you film a documentary, or story, once you edit the pieces of the project together - you don't have to rewrite, re-film, or re-tweak.The film is done. Time to have a showing. The Apostle Paul made it clear when he had completed his ministry task when he said, II Timothy 4:7 " I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith!"  Then he said, (II Tim 4:13) "When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments."  What does a man do when he's completed his work?  He gets his coat, collects his things and moves on to the next phase of his life. So finish up that project of yours and move on.  

STAY IN YOUR LANE! Do you know where you belong?

The very last words of Jesus on the cross were, "It is finished."  However, his work was far from done.  In John 14, Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." Another scripture I would like to tie into my thoughts as we begin is Acts 17:26 "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods of time and boundaries of their dwelling place."   The three ideas I would like to focus on has to deal with the idea that you were born to live in a specific place, given an allotted time to use all you gifts and talents in that place, for a specific task to be accomplished.

Recently, I heard a very prominent Christian leader say that he believed that most Christian's never succeed in life because they either don't know their place, have left their place, or moved to the wrong place.  So I got to thinking about this from a biblical perspective.  In the Hebrew Scripture we find that Abraham was called by God to leave his father's house and "Go to a land that God had prepared for him."  What's interesting to me is that the vision that God gave Abraham actually started with his father Terah. In Genesis 11:31 "Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son's Abram's wife, and they went forth from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, BUT when they came to Haran, they settled there.  It appears that God was leading Terah to move his family into the Land of Canaan but he settled in a place that God had not intended for the family.  This maybe why God told Abram to leave his father's house.  He was in the wrong place, not fulfilling what God had intended for them as a family.  What if Abram had disobeyed and just remained in a place that God had not appointed him. I have been so amazed over the years at how many people I know have left places seeking to find a place where they could be happy and end up never fulfilling their God-given purpose.  I am not convinced that you can just pick up and leave a place and go off to somewhere else and assume that God is with your choices or will bless you.

The problem is that too many Christians define success in terms of cash, assets, and accumulation of goods and services as a measurement of success.  They even think that when losses occur that somehow God has determined it's time to move. Throughout the Bible, you find people like Naomi (in the Book Of Ruth) leaving her "place" because of her losses and famine.  The Bible says she left and was "bitter."  In Ruth 1:8 she even tells her family to go away. Sounds like a lot of people I have observed who leave their place, their assigned places, and even throw they're church family away.  They end up in a bitter state because they have gone through a spiritual famine.  Then they tell you they are just "churched out"  On top of that they say things like "I Love Jesus, but I hate the Church."  The church is not a building, or institution.  It's people.  So what they are really saying is I hate people and I even hate myself (because they claim they are a member of the Body Of Christ). I Corinthians 12:21 states, "The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you" nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." Every part of your physical body is assigned a place in your body not someone else's body.  Last I checked my eyes were not seeking to be removed and placed into someone else's body. I have no spare body parts. I Cor. 12:28 clearly states "God has arranged the members in the Body, each one of them, as he chooses."  So just as our body parts have been assigned a place to dwell - and each of us have been born in a family - God appoints us to specific local congregations in an assigned place to exercise our gifts for the tasks. We (member of the body of Christ)  have been assigned together to fulfill God's plan in a geographic sphere and given a timeline to get the job done.  So if God wants you to leave a church in a geographical place -  then like Abraham you should consider leaving the area for a new assignment in another geographical place in another city or you might be just plain - out of the will of God. It's that simple.  Like Abram, God does call people to leave geographical areas to go and serve in. However, like Terah most people don't go all the way into the new location - they just try to settle down in another body (in their current city) - trying to be a transplanted eye or heart. That body may take to the alien heart or eye because it needs one but in most cases spare body parts get rejected. This is why so many the embittered Christians (who couldn't work through their issues) get mad and wonders why they can't just fit into another church.  Have you thought your rejected by other churches because you are not in your assigned place?  Or you haven't move to another geographical location you are being called to?  Too many won't move because they base their decision on "cash" or a "job" rather than step out in faith where God is calling them to go. If God calls you to another place he will provide for you, give you a new job your will love and place you into another church to fulfill your new assignment - because you've finished your job well where you've been.

However, most people who leave their assigned places leave because things didn't go their way. They didn't seek the Lord. They didn't follow God's calling. They just left - MAD! They held false expectations on others in relationship to them. They got frustrated, upset when things in relationship or direction didn't go their way so they divorce themselves from relationship and divorce themselves from the church God called them to.  One of my dearest friends, John Sandford has said, "Relationship is designed to grind."  As a member of the Body of Christ you are called to work through your unforgiveness, your judgements, vain expectations and bitterness. Even if you find people in the Body of Christ where you are assigned annoying  (and those you may just flat out don't get along with) you need to hear what Paul wrote in I Cor. 12:22-23 "...the members of the body which seem to be WEAKER (which means not as strong in areas as you are) are necessary; and those members of the body WE DEEM LESS HONORABLE, on these we bestow MORE ABUNDANT HONOR, and our less unpresentable members are treated with greater respect.  In other words, when certain people in the Body of Christ bother you- it's your job to treat them with honor and respect... you are called to work through your problematic relationships just like you would with any other member of your personal family. You just don't leave a church with relational problems left unresolved. In fact, if you go to another church with these issues unaddressed in your life - you will carry those same unresolved problems into you next relationships.  In Ephesians 4:29-31 takes it a bit further:  " Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up "ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS" (in other words you don't talk against the pastor or others in your house or with others - putting them down - instead you do everything to build them up according to their need) so that IT MAY BENEFIT THOSE WHO LISTEN.  Every pastor should be wary of anyone who comes into the church they serve when "new people" come to their congregation speaking against their last church or last pastor.  

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Talking about your offenses with others is learned behavior that your parents should have taught you not to do.  Ever heard your father say, "Young Lady!  You don't talk about you mother like that in this house!"  Well, too many Christians have taken up the habit of speaking against the body, it's members, and spread words around that tear down even "weaker" members of the body in order to puff themselves up.  Just remember, "If someone talks behind other's back in your presence, they will do the same to you."  It is so sad... how many Christians leave their assigned places and end up completely away from God and then bad mouth the church (People).  to justify their own actions and decisions to stop going to a particular church.  

Look at this verse:  Jude 1:6 "and the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgement of the great day!"  Could this explain the dilemma of so many Christians who have left their assigned place, callings, and tried unsuccessfully to go fit in somewhere else?  If God keeps Angels in chains and brings spiritual darkness upon them for leaving their assigned places what makes you think you're exempt.  Matthew 18:34-35 says: " His master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart." You don't get to leave the Body because you're offended (Matthew 18:15-17).  You are not called to leave the assigned place you're called to be in because your offended.  If God has called you to leave a place- it's because there is another geographical assignment and body you are called to go and become a part of. However, you are not called to leave because you just disagree, have difficulty with others, and are tired of others you just don't like.  You have been called to be in an assigned geographical location in a particular body of believers.  God places you in the body as He wills not as you will! (I Cor. 12:18) You are not called to withhold yourself from relationship with others, talk behind their backs, speak bad words around the community, or even try to get others to leave the church God has placed them in.  To do so only brings problems on yourself.

As a pastor for over 40 years,having served 5 churches I was called by God to serve, I have seen church splits, people fight, disagree, flee, and never speak to one another again.  As a result of their poor decisions, I have also watched these same people end up on the front pages of newspapers, jailed, strung out on drugs, become drug dealers again, have affairs, divorce, end up in bars, giving themselves to prostitutes, killing others, embezzling their companies, and entering into all sorts of darkness that results in destroying their own marriages and families.  When someone wants to leave their assigned place other than because God leading them to do so - you need to asking what is the condition of their heart?  When people do not resolve their conflicts and leave relationships in bad places - it's because they are not right with God. (I John 4:21) When your relationship with God is on the rocks - your relationships with others is right behind.  Don't leave your assigned place... or settle for something less than God's best for your life.  I have never left a church in my life just because I wanted to.  I was called, sent, and even moved geographically to an assigned place. I also kept my relationships in tact with every pastor I served in the past. I could always go back and visit the church without conflict. I honored them, held them in high esteem and spoke well of them after I moved - even if I didn't see eye to eye with them, the elders, or other members of the churches I served. I do not want to leave or abandon the place I have been called to serve.  The only prescription for leaving a place other than God calling you to do so is found in Matthew 10:14. Jesus said, "If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake the dust from your feet as you leave."  Notice the word "leave."  This implies if your not received in a town then you go to another assigned place (City or Town)!  Not another church.  God has not called you to leave your father's house (John 14).  "In my father's house (the church) are many dwelling places... I go to prepare a place for you.  Robert Schuller once remarked an important truth... "Bloom where you have been planted."   So, if you find yourself (staying at home) not giving yourself to a local body, faithfully financially supporting it, and using your gifts and talents to fulfill it;s mission - then you out of the will of God and out of relationship with him. Jesus and his body are one (this is a corporate experience).   A true New Testament community is designed to call you out of yourself self life and redress your old nature, habits, and bring your self life to death.

Psalm 92:12 "The righteous will flourish...planted in the House of God - they will flourish in the courts of our God!"  What is the spiritual condition of your life?  Still love Jesus but hate yourself and the rest of the Body of Christ?

FRAMED In An Age Of Labeling Disdain

    Okay, so over the last twenty years I've listened to GenX and the millennial generation tell me how much they hate being labeled.  Yet, now what I am observing is the trend that people in both age groups spend time policing each other's words, activities, and actions. Then they label you and have no trouble telling you what they think is wrong with you, your relationships, or how they think you're failing in your world.  I love the infamous statement "I hear what you say but I don't like how you said it."  Or, "I don't think it's right how you treated that person..." "You're not a very good friend." "You're a Brut... you're a loser." I think what's worse is the people who make the most rudest comments but do it politely, talk behind each other's back and then think it's okay because of how politely they said it. Then if you turn the table on those who do this to others they get angry at you and challenge you for the things they do,  It's amazing how many people spend their time trying to trap others and frame them.  They even set you up to be framed and held captive to their views of you. No one likes it but yet it's become a popular sport these days.  It's mystifying to me as to who gave authorization for anyone to police any of us.  I like Pastor Bobby Schuller's new confession of faith on Hour Of Power.

"I'm not what I do. I'm not what I have. I'm not what people say about me. 

I am the beloved of God. It's who I am. No one can take it from me. 

I don't have to worry. I don't have to hurry.

 I can trust my friend Jesus and share his love with the world."

How we see God, How we see ourselves, affects How we see others and How we order our lives.  We determine who's in, who's out and exclude those who don't measure up to those unexpressed expectations in our relationships that they didn't even know about.  I've heard too many say "screw them."  I'm moving on... without resolving or working through the relationship- writing them off. Have you ever been framed?  Have you ever been bullied?  How does it feel when you've been lied to? Betrayed? Or misled?  Who taught this generation to act like this? 

Here's what the Bible says straight up!  Slandering, labeling, and framing others is a reflection of your lack of relationship with God!  It also says a lot about who you are.

Leviticus 19:16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.

Proverbs 11:13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

Proverbs 20:19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

Proverbs 26:20-22 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.  As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

Jeremiah 6:28 They are all stubbornly rebellious, going about with slanders; they are bronze and iron;  all of them act corruptly.

Jeremiah 9:4 Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, or every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. 

Now, it's important that you understand that I am not giving these scripture so that you can point out the "failures" of others.  Our job is to police ourselves.  That's it. The only thing in my mind I should be asking myself is "How am I treating the "others" in my life?"  How am I treating myself?  How does God view me? We are not called to police anyone else but ourselves.  Have a look at these verses:

Psalms 41:7 All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.

Proverbs 25:23 The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

Romans 1:28-32 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

There is nothing new about all this. The evidence is found in the bible itself. People are the same as they were thousands of years ago.  The evidence of a God pleasing life is how you work through the problems within yourself and learn to define yourself and take time nurturing your own relationship with God.  Then instead of being so fixated on how everyone else around you sucks and doesn't measure up to your expectations you might begin to see your world a bit differently.  God is the one who framed you, defines you, and works in you to gives you the ability to see yourself.  If God framed your world then how does what does he see that you don't?

Hebrews 11:3 says "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God."

Free Land And Free Labor! Our National Foundation In Slavery and Racism

Many years ago, while working on my masters degree,  I began researching a story at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia that I had been told about Rev. Robert Hunt and the beginnings of the English settlement at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607.  As the story goes, Rev. Robert Hunt planted a cross at Cape Henry, Virginia and dedicated the land for the glory of God and the propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  However, little did I realize that my findings would lead me to a different conclusion from this Christian myth. In fact, there could be no greater falsehood than what has been written, filmed, and told by Christian story-tellers.  Rev. Robert Hunt was an Anglican minister who was solicited by the Virginia Company Of London to assist them in claiming the land, now known as Virginia, under a charter granted from England's newly crowned king King James I. Robert Hunt had only joined this expedition after accusing his wife of adultery and abandoning her and his new born son. So, our nation was neither founded as a Christian endeavor nor was it the mission of the Virginia company to make a covenant with God or bring the Gospel to the shores of America for the purpose of establishing a Christian nation.  One only has to read the Charter given by King James I to gain insight to the purpose and mission of this endeavor.  But what gave the right of the King to give a charter to anyone in the first place?  He didn't own the land.  There were over 17 million inhabitants of the land already here.  Who gave him permission to just issue a charted to a group of venture capitalist and say," Here, by my authority I grant you real estate in America!" ?

So, Rev. Robert Hunt left England along with  Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Somers, Knightes; Richarde Hackluit, Clarke, Prebendarie of Westminster; and Edwarde Maria Winghfeilde, Thomas Hannam and Raleighe Gilberde, Esquiers; William Parker and George Popham, Gentlemen; and divers others after being given a charter to make habitation, or plantation into that part of America commonly which are not now actually possessed by an Christian prince or people. So, according to the charter itself The King Of England and it's government knew that the land was possessed by inhabitants who did not share their religious views and because they were not Christian believed they had the right to take away their land because they were not Christians.  A modern way of thinking about this is to say, because I am a Christian and my neighbors aren't I am entitled to take their land, houses, and property because I'm entitled to it for being a Christian. Where did these notions come from?

Amazingly, The Papal Bull, known as "The Doctrine Of Discovery." issued by Pope Alexander on May 4, 1493 played a central role and provided foundation for the charter issued to The Virginia Company by King James I. This papal decree basically said, "Go to heathen, pagan, and unchristian lands, dispossess the inhabitants and bring them into perpetual slavery." Sounds exactly what the disciples were charged by Jesus to do - right? This "Doctrine Of Discovery became the basis of all European claims in the Americas as well as the foundation for the United States' western expansion that led to the "Trail Of Tears" and the genocide of the indigenous people of the land on the American continent. So, the purpose of the planting of the English Cross at the shores of Cape Henry was to let the Portuguese and Spanish know that this land was being claimed by the English. Rev. Robert Hunt's role was to Christianize the people of the land so that they would become the free slave labor of the plantation owners. When the native populations on the Chespaeake Bay began to fight back, eventually the governor of Virginia said, "Forget the native, bring in the African." This is how slavery in America began!

So the intent of the founding fathers of what is currently The United States was to disposses the land and make it's inhabitants slaves in the name of their king, their European capitalistic ventures, and their church. Land-grabbing and free slave labor was the foundation of a country supposedly that held Christian values. No where can we find any justification for this kind of behavior. The problem with most Christians today is that they do not recognize that all their affluence, opportunities, and positions of power today - were provided to them by the ancestors who stole the land and held people in slavery as a cheap labor force. To make matters worse, our entire legal system is embedded with outdated laws which only reinforce the dehumanization, dispossession, and apartheid system our euro-centric forefathers passed on to us. Now, after many years of ignoring this past, America is at a crossroad. We are in a time of re-defining who we are as a people, fighting for an understanding of what we are called to do, and how do we redress a governmental system built on the principles of land grabbing and slave trading. The importance of how the American church responds will determine how God responds towards us.

We cannot invoke the prayer of II Chronicles 7:14 and ask God to forgive us and heal our land because the land was stolen from the native people. As a nation, our founding fathers never made a national covenant with God, nor were they ever given a promise of a land of opportunity. Only Israel can make that claim. This was not a continent of free land and labor. It was land that was stolen after dispossessing its inhabitants and using Africans and their descendants to cultivate it. The American Church as an institution was used to solidify these racist positions and needs to repent. We were called to "preach" the Gospel - not steal land, dispossess it owners, and create an apartheid system of Indian Reservations or build beltways around inner cities to keep African American's contained in hopeless situations. If we live in a land of opportunity then why are those trapped by the "legal systems of the past" not given the same benefits and opportunities afforded to the descendants of the European "Doctrine Of Discovery"? American Christians need to learn the truth of the our national history. It is not a pretty one either. America is not a Christian nation nor has it ever been. The best thing American Christian's can do today is to get on the right side of history and do the work of Justice. Micah 6:8 says "What does the Lord require of you? To do Justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." America has dirty laundry in the closet! God is exposing these hidden works of darkness so that we can take responsibility for our national sins, get right with God as his people, and come alongside of those who are oppressed and find ways for healing and reconciliation!