Posted on 07/04/2019 6:02:32 AM PDT by Gamecock
If you are reading this July 4, 2015 post as an ordained minister, you can simply turn to Loraine Boettner’s book “The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination,” Chapter 28, Section 7, on page 383 for what I am about to write. Don’t have the book in your pastoral library! Go out and buy the book immediately, and let the following quotations be a incentive to do so.
Or if you are reading this national holiday post as a member in a Presbyterian church, borrow the book by Boettner on “The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination” from your pastor, turn to Chapter 28, Section 7 entitled “Calvinism in America,” and read the rich history of the beginning of your country which past and current school books have left out of the beginnings of our country. Then go out and buy one for your home and office!
The Reformer theologian Loraine Boettner writes “It is estimated that of the three million Americans at the time of the American Revolution, nine hundred thousand were Scotch or Scotch-Irish origin,” or Presbyterians.
Further Boettner writes on page 383 that “Presbyterians took a very prominent part in the American Revolution.” Quoting Bancroft, he writes “The Revolution of 1776, so far as it was affected by religion, was a Presbyterian measure.” Further, Boettner states “So intense, universal, and aggressive were the Presbyterians in their zeal for liberty that the war was spoken of in England as ‘The Presbyterian Rebellion.’ An ardent supporter of King George III wrote home that he fixed all the blame for these extraordinary proceedings upon the Presbyterians. The prime minister of England, Horace Walpole said in Parliament that ‘Cousin America has run off with a Presbyterian parson,’ referring to John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration of Independence.”
Last, Boettner quotes a J.R. Sizoo who tells us that “when Cornwallis was driven back to ultimate defeat and surrender at Yorktown, all of the colonels of the Colonial army but one were Presbyterians elders. More than one-half of all the soldiers and officers of the American Army during the Revolution were Presbyterians.”
Loraine Boettner concludes on page 386 by simply stating “The United States of America owes much to that oldest of American Republics, the Presbyterian Church.”
Words to Live By: How many of our readers were instructed with these truths in their schooling in either the public school or colleges and universities when they studied American History? I dare say not many would assent to the question. But it is time that we re-study the question, and rejoice in God-glorifying Presbyterian elders and people who sought at the expense of their own lives and liberties to proclaim liberty throughout the land. Let us be knowledgeable descendants of them this Happy “Presbyterian Rebellion” Day, July 4, 2015.
CALVINISM IN AMERICA [Happy "Presbyterian Rebellion" Day, everybody!]
No King,
but
JESUS!
It is interesting to note that the Anglican doctrinal beliefs are actually Reformed in nature, closer to what confessing Presbyterians believe than might occur to the 21st Century observer.
Every Anglican Prayer Book contains the 39 Articles of Religion which is the confession which are the core beliefs, reformed in nature, which every Anglican (Episcopalian) is supposed to believe.
However the Episcopalians have now hidden the 39 Articles in an obscure location in the far back of their current Prayer Book under the title "historical documents". You see, it is not something they are supposed to believe, but rather a quaint relic of the olden days.
Episcopalians are so much wiser and smarter now that they don't need a scriptural based confession of faith. It's better for the Rainbow Clergy just to make it up as they go along. For Pete's sake, you don't want to make anyone sitting in the pews uncomfortable. This presumes there is anyone left sitting in the pews.
Thanks for posting!
Please add me to your ping list.
For once you’re right. At bottom, the Revolution was an expression of the Protestant reformation that murdered a king in Britain, and the Enlightenment that would murder a king and queen in France. The Declaration is quite clear about its hostility to Catholicism.
Are you a Catholic Monarchist?
We Presbyterians used to be great and courageous lot and feel betrayed by the current PCUSA.
We Left the PCUSA. They are a disgrace!
In a perfect world, yes. Heaven is a perfect world, and is certainly a monarchy. The Lord’s prayer teaches us that the heavenly kingdom is the model for this world as well.
We’re moving to an ECO Presbyterian.
Very interesting. Thanks for posting it.
The PCA split from PCUSA and “Presbyterian Church of America” remains reformed.
That’s where we go.
Ahh, but we now have an authentic Anglican alternative to the Episcopalians. They are the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), some, 134,000+ strong, and growing fast. Just celebrated their ten-year anniversary!
The ACNA proudly adheres to the Thirty-nine Articles, requiring her clergy to swear by them.
Ditto! Same with us!
They are.
But there are a handful of faithful Presbyterian denominations. We are members of one of them.
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