Christian Faith In The Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War fought between Great Britain and the colonists was justified under Christian faith. This war was not only fought for economic reasons, but also for fundamental Christian beliefs. England’s strong contempt over the colonies and the series of actions by the British pushed our Founding Fathers over the edge and towards independence. Even though leaders on both sides held valued Christian beliefs, the British gave the colonists too many obstacles to overcome. Just like in most wars, power, control, and money are the central themes in fighting. This was the case in the American Revolutionary War.
Britain’s territory in North America grew immensely. Although King George held Christian beliefs, in theory he was more drawn to controlling the colonies and exploiting them for profit. His loyalty was to his faith, but more to being in power. With continued battles over land and expansion, the British Parliament enacted new tax laws designed to force the colonists contribute to the costs of war and ongoing protection. These new laws included the Stamp Act and the Tax on Tea. The very though of taxation threatened the roots of what our early Founding Fathers believed in. It was as if our early Founding Fathers were David, attempting to overcome Goliath. The laws were met by boycotts,
rebellion, and protest. Matthew 22:17-22 says, “Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away” (BibleGateway). The colonists attempted a few tricks to outsmart the British. Using strong values of unity and brotherhood, they were successful. The Boston Tea Party was one of these tricks.
The Boston Tea Party took place on December 16, 1773.
Even though this protest was by the American Colonists against the British, it still had religious tones. The American Colonists used little violence and most of the protest involved throwing chests of tea from three British trade ships into the Boston Harbor. The hour chosen to raid the trade ships was chosen to avoid as much violence as possible. Political opposition motivated the colonists. The Tea Act was one of these motivational issues. However, the more the British attempted to suppress the colonists, the more the colonists view their liberties as a sense of religious freedom and that they were being
revoked.
The British continued to view the colonists as lower class citizens and more so that they were going against the king. In King George’s mind, he looked as the colonists as an evil group who were forming a conspiracy. In the colonist’s minds, they believed that the British were not acting Christian like, and instead equated tyranny with the pope and the freedom from Britain. The more the British attempted to control the colonies, the more the colonies became patriotic and fought back. Christianity was in the constant thoughts of our revolutionary fathers even when it meant taking arms to fight. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 says, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love” (BibleGateway). Our Founding Fathers used faith as their form of determination and courage. Today, this is also central to what many Americans believe in.
When the British troops attempted to seize arms and ammunition in stored in Concord, Massachusetts. The New Englanders organized an army called the Continental Congress. The founding fathers felt that there were enough serious abuses to warrant an armed revolution. In the Declaration of Independence, it says, “That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Lapsansky-Werner 14). Our Founding Fathers, with strong religious beliefs, looked at the British as though they wanted to exterminate their liberties. It was time to fight for freedom.
Principles of war did not settle well on either side. British citizen’s thought the colonists were acting against Christianity. Many women, that lived in the colonies, who had strong Christian beliefs, believed that war is deplorable and should be a last resort. Even though both sides made attempts to find a solution. Tensions grew too intensely and colonial fathers and British ministers gave up on peace talks. The Enlightenment period and the Great Awakening had an enormous influence over the American Revolution. “Many colonists came to believe that if they could decide how to worship God, they could also decide how to govern themselves” (Lapsansky-Werner 12). Although, the religious leaders of the new world wanted to avoid violent acts, they knew in order to stop the evil intensions of Parliament; they needed to take up arms.
Both the colonists and the British believed that they were doing was right. Even with Christian faith surrounding them, both sides knew war was inevitable. Patrick Henry said, “We have done everything that could be done to advert the storm which is now coming on.” (Andrews). The colonists really thought that Britain had all intentions to suppress this new land. Going to war was justified in all classical Christian terms. They were armed originally with actions, but by the end, they had to arm themselves with weapons.