Yasou ya ibn Allah! Jesus is Lord!

Here is a great song (tarneema) by (Rogé [Roger] Bahu) :
Ya Yasou ya ibn Allah

 

In my eschatology (the study of the End Times), I’m a premillennial dispensationalist. I believe in a return of Christ before the 1,000 year Millennium in which Christ will rule the earth from Jerusalem. I also believe in a pretribulation rapture of the Church, where Christ will meet us, His saints, in the air. We’ll return to Heaven for 7 years for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. During this 7 year Great Tribulation the Antichrist and the Beast will terrorize the earth and God will show His mighty wrath upon mankind. Jesus came the first time as a suffering servant, as the meek Lamb of God; He was sacrificed for our sins. But when Christ returns at His Second Coming it will be as the King of Kings, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He will utterly annihilate His enemies and destroy evil once and for all, including Satan and his demons, as well as reprobate mankind. We dispensationalists believe Scripture is best understood under a framework of roughly 7 dispensations in terms of how God deals with mankind. This is in opposition to covenant theology which asserts that God works primarily through covenants. I have a blessed hope that Christ will come for us and we’ll be snatched away, in the twinkling of an eye, to be with Him forever. The dead in Christ will rise first and then we who are alive will also be raptured out of the world, before the Antichrist appears on the world stage. I believe the rapture is imminent and could happen at anytime with no events needing to  happen before it will occur.

After talking about what I believe positively let me say a few words about what I reject. I reject amillennialism which teaches there is no 1,000 year Millennium of Christ on earth. In my understanding amillennialism (which was popularized in the 5th century by Augustine in his book City of God) spiritualizes the text to a degree not supported by sound hermeneutics. It sees Biblical events and prophecies as primarily alleghorical/metaphorical/symbolic. It’s true that are things in Scripture which have a spiritual component and are best interpreted as allegorical, however that is not the case when it pertains to eschatology. The second major eschatological position which I reject is postmillennialism. Postmillennialism teaches the return of Christ to earth will happen after the 1,000 year millennium. Further, most postmillennialists believe that the Church will be able to subdue evil in the world to a high degree and that once the world is properly Christianized Christ will return. Any student of history can see how evil has been multiplying since Christ ascended to Heaven, and how things are generally getting worse overall and not better. The carnage of the 20th century alone disproves the postmillennial positon, or at the very least makes it untenable. I also reject the eschatological position known as preterism. Preterism teaches that most events of Bible prophecy in books such as Daniel and Revelation were fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in 69AD by General Titus. Many amillennialists and postmillennialists are partial preterists. They believe many prophetic events such as the Great Tribulation, the abomination of desolation in the temple, and the reign of the Antichrist and the Beast system were already fulfilled by 69AD. They still believe in Christ’s Second Coming and some of them believe in a literal Millennium, although most of them do not believe in a pretribulational rapture of the Church. Full preterism is heresy since it denies Christ’s Second Coming and the New Heavens and New Earth.

Further I should mention that there are several different schools of thought on the nature and timing of the Biblical events:
 

1. PRETERIST

This school regards the predictions as fulfilled during the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, when the church was under the pressures of imperial persecutions.

According to Preterism, all prophecy in the Bible is really history. The preterist interpretation of Scripture regards the book of Revelation as a symbolic picture of first-century conflicts, not a description of what will occur in the end times. The term Preterism comes from the Latin praeter, meaning “past.” Thus, Preterism is the view that the biblical prophecies concerning the “end times” have already been fulfilled—in the past. Preterism is directly opposed to futurism, which sees the end-times prophecies as having a still-future fulfillment.

Preterism is divided into two types: full (or consistent) Preterism and partial Preterism. 

2. HISTORICIST

In historicism biblical prophecies are interpreted as representative of literal historical events. Historicism looks at the whole of Bible prophecy as a sweeping overview of church history, from Pentecost to the end times. This approach involves interpreting symbols or figures in the Bible as metaphors for actual events, nations, or persons of history. Historicism was especially popular during the Reformation, when it was used to suggest that the Catholic Church was part of the end-times apostasy, with the pope as the Antichrist.

Here are some examples of how historicism usually interprets events in Revelation: the seven churches in Rev. 2–3 are symbolic of seven ages of church history, starting with the apostolic church (the church of Ephesus) and ending with the modern-day, lukewarm church (the church of Laodicea). The seals in chapters 4—7 represent the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. The “little scroll” given to John Rev. 10 is a picture of the Protestant Reformation.

The beasts of Rev. 12 and 13 represent Catholicism and the papacy. Other passages in Revelation are linked to the invasion of the Huns, the spread of Islam, and the rise of the modern missionary movement.

3. FUTURIST

This is my position. In this view, we believe most of the events of Biblical prophecy will occur in the future. The basic premise of the futurist viewpoint is that the majority of the prophecies in Revelation still await a future, literal fulfillment. This view of interpreting Revelation is very popular today, particularly among dispensationalists. It is the method used by the authors of the bestselling Left Behind series. Those who hold this view generally believe that everything after Rev. 3 will be fulfilled in the future.

The futurist viewpoint often divides Revelation into three sections, which are defined in Rev. 1:19. There, the apostle John is instructed to “write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.” Following this three-part outline, Rev. 1 contains John’s vision of the risen Christ and represents the past (“what you have seen”). Chapters 2 and 3, which contain the letters to the seven churches, describe the present (“what is now”). Finally, chapters 4–22 describe events in the future (“what will take place later”).

This school believes that the central block of predictions applies to the last few years leading up to the second coming. It is therefore still future to us today, hence the label. It concerns the climax of evil control in the world, which will be the ‘Great Tribulation’ for the people of God (Rev 7:14; also referred to by Jesus in Matt 24:12–22).

All the events will be compressed into quite a short time – three and a half years, to be exact (explicitly referred to as ‘a time, times and half a time’ or ‘forty-two months’ or ‘one thousand, two hundred and sixty days’; 11:2–3; 12:6 and 12:14, quoting Dan 12:7).

There are differing viewpoints concerning the end times among faithful, Bible-believing Christians. We believe that the futurist viewpoint of Revelation is the one that is most consistent with a literal interpretation of the Bible overall and the one that best acknowledges the book’s own claim to be prophecy (Rev. 22:7, 10). Whichever view one takes, all Christians should be preparing themselves to meet Jesus Christ and be waiting for His return (John 14:3).

4. IDEALIST

This approach removes all specific time references and discourages correlation with particular events. Revelation pictures the ‘eternal’ struggle between good and evil and the ‘truths’ contained in its narratives can be applied to any century. The battle between God and Satan is ongoing, but the divine victory can be experienced by an ‘overcoming’ church at any time. The ‘essential message’ can be universally applied throughout time and space. The main and perhaps only merit of this view is that the message of the book becomes directly relevant to all who read it.

This, however, is to treat Revelation as ‘myth’. It is spiritually true, but not historically true. These are fictional events, but the stories contain truths – as in Aesop’s fables or Pilgrim’s Progress. The truths must be dug out of the narrative before being applied. The cost of this ‘demythologising’ process is to jettison a great deal of material, dismissing it as poetic licence which belongs to the package rather than the content.

Behind all this is the Greek philosophy which separated spiritual and physical, sacred and secular, eternity and time. God, they said, is timeless. So truth is timeless, though it is also therefore timely. But it is not in ‘the times’. Their notion of history as cyclical cut out the concept of the ‘end-time’, the idea that time would reach a climax or conclusion.

This has serious consequences for ‘eschatology’ (the study of ‘the last things’, from the Greek word eschatos = ‘end’ or ‘last’). Events like the second coming and the day of judgement are transferred from the future to the present, from then to now. Eschatology becomes ‘existential’ (i.e. concerned with the present moment of existence, or it is said to be ‘realised’ (as in ‘realising’ investments – having the money to spend now). Of course, radical changes have to be made to the ‘predictions’ to make them fit the present – usually by ‘spiritualising’ them (a ‘Platonic’ way of thinking).

Summary

There are four different answers to the question: what period of time does Revelation cover?    

The preterist replies: the first few centuries AD.    

The historicist replies: all the centuries AD from the first to the second advent.  

The futurist replies: the last years of the last century AD.      

The idealist replies: any century AD, none in particular.

 

All of these different eschatological positions are allowed in my Facebook Eschatology group except for full preterism! Partial preterism is allowed in my Eschatology group, although I strongly disagree with it. 

Further, I believe covenant theology is deficient, and dispensational theology makes a better fit of the Biblical data into a comprehensive system of interpretation using a grammatical-historical hermeneutic while employing contextual literalism (the interpretation is literal unless the context of the Scriptures clearly shows it is not meant to be literal). 

If you’re looking to better understand the premillennial pretribulation rapture position I highly recommend the book “Things to Come” by J. Dwight Pentecost and “Revelation (The John Walvoord Prophecy Commentaries)” by John Walvoord.

If you’d like to join my Eschatology (study of the End Times) Facebook group please click >>>here<<< to join!

One of the things which I admire about President Ronald Reagan was his ability to work with Democrats in Congress, and have true bipartisan cooperation. Democrats and Republicans still had strong disagreements, yet for the common good they found ways to come together to benefit the citizens of our great country.

Today we rarely see such bipartisan efforts. Their is such rancor and acrimony between political parties. It’s so bad that we’ve had multiple government shutdowns where the federal government ran out of funding due to Republican and Democrats fighting each other. This should embarrass us as Americans. Our modern era seems to be one of hyper-partisanship and divisiveness. Your political opponents are demonized and seen as the enemy. Even very militaristic language is used by politicians and political pundits. Each side has their own niche media which mocks, ridicules, distorts, defames, spins, and misrepresents the other side., And each side has their own cult of personality celebrity stars who fill stadiums with their supporters cheering for them like they are rock stars.

The Trump rallies have always been very polarizing and a sort of bully pulpit for Trump to connect with his base. I didn’t like Trump’s divisiveness, and even the poisonous language he used when discussing Democrat (or even fellow Republican) opponents. It reminded me of ancient Rome and the Emperor giving a speech to the crowds at the Coliseum. Trump knew what his bloodthirsty base wanted and he was very pleased with himself for going there and denigrating his, and by extension their, opponents.

Trump’s rallies have disturbingly reminded me of the 1935 Nazi propaganda film “Triumph of the Will” by controversial director Leni Riefenstahl who directed, produced, edited and co-wrote the film. It chronicles the 1934 Nazi Party Congress in Nuremberg, which was attended by more than 700,000 Nazi supporters.The use of symbolism, the nationalistic flags and banners and chants, the throngs of adulating people focused on one man, and his near hypnotic, mesmerizing power over them. With a single phrase he can whip them up into a frenzy. The parallels between Hitler and Trump are too difficult to ignore. Also the way Trump outspokenly supported neo-Nazi thugs like the Proud Boys – akin to Hitler’s Brown Shirts. The Nazis Big Lie was the vilification of the Jews as the enemy of the German state. Trump’s Big Lie is the Stop the Steal narrative he keeps pushing (including in his 10 minute recent NPR interview where he storms out like a petulant child) which claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged with massive voter fraud, and that he and not President Biden was the rightful winner. Federal judges appointed by Republicans found no evidence of this corruption and voter fraud, and Trump’s own political party, the Republicans in Congress, certified the election and declared Joe Biden the winner of the Electoral College. 

I hope Trump doesn’t run again. I voted for him in 2016, but I quickly grew tired of his boorish and infantile behavior. A major newspaper documented that in 4 years Trump knowingly lied around 30,000 times! He is a pathological liar and a master manipulator. He is no Ronald Reagan! I believe Trump has some conservative policies, but I get the impression he holds to them for expediency and because he calculated that would resonate with a majority of Americans. His comments about grabbing ladies’ private parts are absolutely disgusting and shows he views women as mere sex objects. Trump is no Christian. No regenerated person trusting in Christ alone could act the way he has. It’s sad the Religious Right in America hitched their wagon to Trump. I lost count of all the pastors declaring that  Trump was God’s anointed. Many Trump supporters still believe this today and give blind faith in Trump as a sort of Messiah figure who will save America from Satan. The only way to save America is for millions of Americans to repent, believe the Gospel, and trust in Christ alone.

Another great blight on our nation was the January 6, 2021 attempted insurrection at Congress which Trump encouraged by telling his supporters that the presidential election was stolen from him. He also made remarks just before the violence started which emboldened those who took part in the attempted insurrection. America the great bastion of freedom and democratic fair elections was made a global laughing stock that day. Truly a shameful day in our history.

I feel a second term as president for Trump would be disastrous for our nation and he’d spend most of  his time trying to get even with everyone he feels has wronged him in some way – and it’s a big list. And telling tens of thousands of more lies. The Republican Party needs to cut ties with Trump and his entire family and back a true conservative Christian in the 2024 presidential elections.

We must fight back against this sort of thing, and get back to real news, substantive debates and rallies without demonizations and toxic distortions. Democrats also have guilt in this matter. Both sides need to do much better. We have to demand better of them and hold them responsible.

As a Reformed Christian it greatly distresses me to see the idolatry which tens of millions of American Christians have in Trump. We are to do what pleases Christ and to follow His Word at all costs. Trump is closer to a King Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian despot, than he is to King David. And I personally heard and saw Trump distance himself from Christian doctrine when at a prayer breakfast Trump said that he didn’t believe in loving his enemies or turning the other cheek. If Trump’s supporters can’t see  he is no man of God,  they are blinded by politics and not living faithfully as witnesses to the truth. Many of them are in deep denial, and are outright delusional in what lies and untruths they’ll believe. Every single insane QAnon conspiracy theory is taken as gospel truth by many Trump supporters such as US House representative of Georgia, Marjorie Taylor Greene.

I  truly hope we can break the Republican-Democrat two party system’s monopoly and elect to Congress and the Presidency truly Christian and conservative political parties. I’m hoping we can get back to Reagan conservatism.

How we worship God matters. And part of worship is our music. David sung praises unto the Lord with his psalms. Yes the psalms are meant to be sung!  Have you noticed that so much of what passes for praise music these days is utterly banal,  if not outright blasphemous (viz, Jesus as their boyfriend). 

You’ve probably heard a million times the same tired cliched songs with repetitive lyrics. Or as church musicians call them, 7-11-2 music. 7 words sung 11 times to 2 chords!

 
What makes this all the more egregious and intolerable is that fact that there exists a rich body of doctrinally sound and musically pleasing praise music. That is the great hymns of the historic church. Such as “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”, “Amazing Grace”, “How Great Thou Art”, “What a Friend We Have In Jesus”, or even a contemporary hymn such as “In Christ Alone”.

Here is “Amazing Grace” performed by Celtic Woman.

 

This hymn written by John Newton, a former slave  trader, beautifully expresses the reality of salvation by grace through faith in Christ. This  moving hymn has been used by God to bring countless people to faith. Here are the lyrics:

Amazing grace, How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now I am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come,

‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease

I shall possess within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Than when we’ve first begun.

We should return to excellence in worship. In fact we must demand it. That includes praise music. Whether it’s a return to the great classic hymns of the Church, or using lyrically sound and musically elevated contemporary hymns.

My favorite type of praise music is classical sacred music such as J.S. Bach, Handel, Palestrina, etc. I  believe we should give God our best in worship. He gave us talents, and the ability to compose beautiful music. We as the Body of Christ should no longer tolerate substandard praise music. I encourage you to listen to J.S. Bach’s sacred cantatas. Here is one of my favorites, “Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben” (BWV 147) performed by the Bach Foundation of Switzerland.

 

Hymns are much more than a mere accompaniment. They are a substantial and important part of worship in their own right. Hymns share the Gospel, express our love for Christ, and present doctrinal truths in ways that are easy to remember. Here is an article which talks about 7 Biblical reasons why singing in worship matters.

If you’re a church musician, a regular layperson, a pastor, or an elder. I urge you to fight for excellence in your worship music. You know good versus bad music so fight for the best, even if that means you have  to butt heads with the pastor or elders. Please make pastors understand how vitally important our worship music is. Not every church can have a trained choir, or a $50,000 pipe organ, but we can all sing. God looks at our heart. If our intent is to glorify God He’ll see that.

Here are some hymns played on the pipe organ, which is my favorite instrument in worship music besides the human voice. The organ has over 1500 years of repertoire! Martin Luther said, “After theology, I give to music the highest place and the greatest honor.”

There is a controversy in churches as to whether worship music should be acappella, with just the human voice, and no instruments, or if it should be music with instruments to accompany the voice. Those who follow the regulative principle of worship generally forbid instruments in worship music. The regulative principle is that we should only worship God in ways explicitly set forth in Scripture, otherwise it is forbidden. Some proponents of the regulative principle even sing only the Pslams and no hymns at all. I think this is motivated by well intention, but it’s an extreme position, and, in my view, an unbiblical one. I favor the normative principle of worship which allows all types of music not forbidden by Scripture.

So whether you sing without any instruments, or have a full trained choir with a pipe organ, worship God by giving your best. Fight for excellence in worship music. 

As a Calvinist I’ve encountered many with harsh and negative associations between Calvinism and church music. Here is an interesting article which explores the history.

Psalm 150:3-6

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

 

Here are 25 classic and contemporary hymns which I love! The name is given, with a link to a performance of the hymn on YouTube if you click on the name of the hymn, followed by the name of who wrote the hymn and the year they wrote it, followed by the first lines of the hymn.

1. Amazing Grace – John Newton, England (1779)

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound / That saved a wretch like me / I once was lost but now am found / Was blind, but now, I see.

2. How Great Thou Art – Carl Gustav Boberg, Sweden (1885)

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder / Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made / I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder / Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

3. Holy, Holy, Holy – Reginald Heiber, England (1826)

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! / Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee / Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty / God in three persons, blessed Trinity!”

4. It is Well – Horacio Spafford, written in the Atlantic Ocean (1873)

When peace like a river, attendeth my way / When sorrows like sea billows roll / Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know / It is well, it is well, with my soul.

5. Great Is Thy Faithfulness – Thomas Chisholm, Kansas, USA (1923)

Great is Thy faithfulness O God my Father / There is no shadow of turning with Thee / Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not / As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

6. Praise To the Lord The Almighty – Joachim Neander, Germany (1665)

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! / O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation! / All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near / Sing now in glad adoration!

7. Be Thou My Vision – Dallán Forgaill, Ireland (6th Century)

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart / Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art / Thou my best thought, by day or by night / Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

8. All Creatures Of our God and King – St. Francis of Assisi, Italy (1225)

All creatures of our God and King / Lift up your voice and with us sing / Alleluia! Alleluia!…Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son / And praise the Spirit, Three in One!

9. All Hail The Power of Jesus Name – Edward Perronet, England (1779)

All hail the power of Jesus’ name! / Let angels prostrate fall / Bring forth the royal diadem / And crown him Lord of all.

10. Blessed Assurance – Fanny Crosby, New York City, USA (1873)

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! / Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! / Heir of salvation, purchase of God / Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

11. To God Be The Glory – Fanny Crosby, New York City, USA (1872)

To God be the glory, great things He hath done / So loved He the world that He gave us His Son / Who yielded His life our redemption to win / And opened the life-gate that all may go in.

12. When I Survey The Wondrous Cross – Isaac Watts, England (1707)

When I survey the wondrous cross / On which the Prince of glory died / My richest gain I count but loss / And pour contempt on all my pride.

13. Jesus Paid it All – Elvina Hall, Maryland, USA (1865)

I hear the Savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small / Child of weakness, watch and pray / Find in Me thine all in all” / Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe / Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

14. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God – Martin Luther, Germany (somewhere between 1527 – 1529)

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing / Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing / For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe / His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.

15. How Firm A Foundation – John Rippon, England (1787)

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord / Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word! / What more can He say than to you He hath said / Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

16. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – Robert Robison, England (1757)

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing / Tune my heart to sing Thy grace / Streams of mercy, never ceasing / Call for songs of loudest praise.

17. Crown Him With Many Crowns – Matthew Bridges, England (1852)

Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne / Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own / Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee / And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

18. At the Cross – Isaac Watts, England (1707)

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light / And the burden of my heart rolled away / It was there by faith I received my sight / And now I am happy all the day!

19. What a Friend We Have in Jesus – Joseph M. Scriven (words in 1855) and Charles Converse (music in 1868), Ireland

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! / What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! / O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear / All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

20. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus – Helen Lemmel, England (1922)

Turn your eyes upon Jesus / Look full in His wonderful face / And the things of earth will grow strangely dim / In the light of His glory and grace.

21. In Christ Alone – Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, Northern Ireland/England (2001)

In Christ alone my hope is found / He is my light, my strength, my song / This Cornerstone, this solid ground / Firm through the fiercest drought and storm / What heights of love, what depths of peace / When fears are stilled, when strivings cease / My Comforter, my All in All / Here in the love of Christ I stand.

22. Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus) – Chris Rice, USA (2003)

Weak and wounded sinner / Lost and left to die / O, raise your head, for love is passing by / Come to Jesus / Come to Jesus / Come to Jesus and live!

23. 10,000 Reasons – Matt Redman, England (2011)

Bless the Lord, O my soul O my soul / Worship His holy name / Sing like never before, O my soul / I’ll worship Your holy name.

24. I Will Glory in My Redeemer – Steve and Vicki Cook, Louisville, Kentucky, USA (2000)

I will glory in my Redeemer / Whose priceless blood has ransomed me/ Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails / And hung Him on that judgment tree / I will glory in my Redeemer / Who crushed the power of sin and death / My only Savior before the holy Judge / The Lamb who is my righteousness.

25. Jesus, Thank You – Pat Sczebel, Louisville, Kentucky, USA (2003)

The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend / The agonies of Calvary / You the perfect Holy One, crushed Your Son / Who drank the bitter cup reserved for me / Your blood has washed away my sin / Jesus, thank You / The Father’s wrath completely satisfied / Jesus, thank You / Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table / Jesus, thank You.

Georg Friedrich Händel

MESSIAH
(1742)

A Sacred Oratorio

Here is a fantastic performance of Handel’s “Messiah”. This is a very Baroque performance. The soloists are fantastic, and the choir is superb and very fresh!

Recorded live in the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, on Friday 3 December 2021.

• Rowan Pierce, soprano
• Esther Brazil, mezzo-soprano
• Ted Black, tenor
• Ashley Riches, bass-baritone

Academy of Ancient Music
Choir of The Queen’s College, Oxford
Owen Rees, director

 

PART THE FIRST:

Scene 1: Isaiah’s prophecy of salvation
00:40     1. Symphony
03:48     2. Comfort ye my people (Accompagnato – Tenor)
06:48     3. Every valley shall be exalted (Aria – Tenor)
10:30     4. And the glory of the Lord (Chorus)
Scene 2: The coming judgement
13:25     5. Thus saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts (Accompagnato – Bass)
15:18     6. But who may abide the day of His coming (Aria – Alto)
19:48     7. And He shall purify (Chorus)
Scene 3: The prophecy of Christ’s birth
22:36     8. Behold, a virgin shall conceive (Recitative – Alto)
23:00     9. O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion (Aria – Alto and Chorus)
28:46     10. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth (Accompagnato – Bass)
31:00     11. The people that walked in darkness (Aria – Bass)
34:51     12. For unto us a child is born (Chorus)
Scene 4: The annunciation to the shepherds
39:15    13. Pifa
40:12    14a. There were shepherds abiding in the field (Recitative – Soprano)
40:25    14b. And Lo, the angel of the lord came up on them (Accompagnato – Soprano)
40:44    15. And the angel said unto them (Recitative – Soprano)
41:15    16. And suddenly there was with the angel (Recitative – Soprano)
41:33    17. Glory to God (Chorus)
Scene 5: Christ’s healing and redemption
43:44    18. Rejoice greatly (Aria – Soprano)
48:24    19. Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened (Recitative – Alto)
48:58    20. He shall feed His Flock like a shepherd (Duet – Alto, Soprano)
54:15    21. His yoke is easy (Chorus)

PART THE SECOND:

Scene 1: Christ’s Passion
57:20    22. Behold the lamb of God (Chorus)
59:48    23. He was despised (Aria – Alto)
1:09:21   24. Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Chorus)
1:11:07    25. And with his stripes we are healed (Chorus)
1:13:10   26. All we like sheep have gone astray (Chorus)
1:17:24   27. All they that see him laugh him to scorn (Recitative – Tenor)
1:18:08   28. He trusted in god that he would deliver him (Chorus)
1:20:50   29. Thy rebuke hath broken his heart (Accompagnato – Tenor)
1:22:26   30. Behold and see if there be any sorrow (Aria – Tenor)
Scene 2: Christ’s Death and Resurrection
1:23:50   31. He was cut off (Accompagnato – Soprano)
1:24:10   32. But thou didst not leave his soul hell (Aria – Soprano)
Scene 3: Christ’s Ascension
1:26:35   33. Lift up your heads, O ye gates (Chorus)
…
Scene 5: The beginnings of Gospel preaching
1:30:04   38. How beautiful are the feet (Aria – Soprano)
1:32:27   39. Their sound is gone out (Chorus)
Scene 6: The world’s rejection of the Gospel
1:34:13   40. Why do the nations so furiously rage together (Aria – Bass)
1:37:12    41. Let us break their bonds asunder (Chorus)
Scene 7: God’s ultimate victory
1:39:11   42. He that dwelleth in heaven (Recitative – Tenor)
1:39:23   43. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron (Aria – Tenor)
1:41:46   44. Hallelujah (Chorus)

PART THE THIRD:

Scene 1: The promise of eternal life
1:46:20   45. I know that my Redeemer liveth (Aria – Soprano)
1:52:02   46. Since by man came death (Chorus)
Scene 2: The Day of Judgment
1:54:12   47. Behold, I tell you a mystery (Accompagnato – Bass)
1:54:50   48. The trumpet shall sound (Aria – Bass)
Scene 3: The final conquest of sin
…
2:04:07   52. If God be for us, who can be against us? (Aria – Soprano)
Scene 4: The acclamation of the Messiah
2:09:05   53. Worthy is the Lamb (Chorus)
2:12:39   54. Amen (Chorus) Choir of The Queen’s College, Oxford
Pinned by Choir of The Queen’s College, Oxford
Choir of The Queen’s College, Oxford
3 weeks ago (edited)
PART THE FIRST:

Scene 1: Isaiah’s prophecy of salvation
00:40     1. Symphony
03:48     2. Comfort ye my people (Accompagnato – Tenor)
06:48     3. Every valley shall be exalted (Aria – Tenor)
10:30     4. And the glory of the Lord (Chorus)
Scene 2: The coming judgement
13:25     5. Thus saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts (Accompagnato – Bass)
15:18     6. But who may abide the day of His coming (Aria – Alto)
19:48     7. And He shall purify (Chorus)
Scene 3: The prophecy of Christ’s birth
22:36     8. Behold, a virgin shall conceive (Recitative – Alto)
23:00     9. O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion (Aria – Alto and Chorus)
28:46     10. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth (Accompagnato – Bass)
31:00     11. The people that walked in darkness (Aria – Bass)
34:51     12. For unto us a child is born (Chorus)
Scene 4: The annunciation to the shepherds
39:15    13. Pifa
40:12    14a. There were shepherds abiding in the field (Recitative – Soprano)
40:25    14b. And Lo, the angel of the lord came up on them (Accompagnato – Soprano)
40:44    15. And the angel said unto them (Recitative – Soprano)
41:15    16. And suddenly there was with the angel (Recitative – Soprano)
41:33    17. Glory to God (Chorus)
Scene 5: Christ’s healing and redemption
43:44    18. Rejoice greatly (Aria – Soprano)
48:24    19. Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened (Recitative – Alto)
48:58    20. He shall feed His Flock like a shepherd (Duet – Alto, Soprano)
54:15    21. His yoke is easy (Chorus)

PART THE SECOND:

Scene 1: Christ’s Passion
57:20    22. Behold the lamb of God (Chorus)
59:48    23. He was despised (Aria – Alto)
1:09:21   24. Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Chorus)
1:11:07    25. And with his stripes we are healed (Chorus)
1:13:10   26. All we like sheep have gone astray (Chorus)
1:17:24   27. All they that see him laugh him to scorn (Recitative – Tenor)
1:18:08   28. He trusted in god that he would deliver him (Chorus)
1:20:50   29. Thy rebuke hath broken his heart (Accompagnato – Tenor)
1:22:26   30. Behold and see if there be any sorrow (Aria – Tenor)
Scene 2: Christ’s Death and Resurrection
1:23:50   31. He was cut off (Accompagnato – Soprano)
1:24:10   32. But thou didst not leave his soul hell (Aria – Soprano)
Scene 3: Christ’s Ascension
1:26:35   33. Lift up your heads, O ye gates (Chorus)
…
Scene 5: The beginnings of Gospel preaching
1:30:04   38. How beautiful are the feet (Aria – Soprano)
1:32:27   39. Their sound is gone out (Chorus)
Scene 6: The world’s rejection of the Gospel
1:34:13   40. Why do the nations so furiously rage together (Aria – Bass)
1:37:12    41. Let us break their bonds asunder (Chorus)
Scene 7: God’s ultimate victory
1:39:11   42. He that dwelleth in heaven (Recitative – Tenor)
1:39:23   43. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron (Aria – Tenor)
1:41:46   44. Hallelujah (Chorus)

PART THE THIRD:

Scene 1: The promise of eternal life
1:46:20   45. I know that my Redeemer liveth (Aria – Soprano)
1:52:02   46. Since by man came death (Chorus)
Scene 2: The Day of Judgment
1:54:12   47. Behold, I tell you a mystery (Accompagnato – Bass)
1:54:50   48. The trumpet shall sound (Aria – Bass)
Scene 3: The final conquest of sin
…
2:04:07   52. If God be for us, who can be against us? (Aria – Soprano)
Scene 4: The acclamation of the Messiah
2:09:05   53. Worthy is the Lamb (Chorus)
2:12:39   54. Amen (Chorus)

---

PART ONE

1. Sinfonia (Overture)

2. Accompagnato

Tenor

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness; prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
(Isaiah 40: 1-3)

3. Air

Tenor

Ev’ry valley shall be exalted, and ev’ry moutain and hill made low; the crooked straight and the rough places plain.
(Isaiah 40: 4)

4. Chorus

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
(Isaiah 40: 5)

5. Accompagnato

Bass

Thus saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts: Yet once a little while and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations; and the desire of all nations shall come.
(Haggai 2: 6-7)
The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the Covenant, whom you delight in; behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
(Malachi 3: 1)

6. Air

Alto or soprano

But who may abide the day of His coming, and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner’s fire.
(Malachi 3: 2)

7. Chorus

And He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
(Malachi 3: 3)

8. Recitative

Alto

Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel, God with us.
(Isaiah 7: 14; Matthew 1: 23)

9. Air and Chorus

Alto

O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain. O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, behold your g od!
(Isaiah 40: 9)
Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
(Isaiah 60: 1)

Chorus
O thou that tellest. . . etc.

10. Accompagnato

Bass

For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
(Isaiah 60: 2-3)

11. Air

Bass

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
(Isaiah 9: 2)

12. Chorus

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9: 6)

13. Pifa (“Pastoral Symphony”)

14a. Recitative

Soprano

There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
(Luke 2: 8)

14b. Accompagnato

Soprano

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
(Luke 2: 9)

15. Recitative

Soprano

And the angel said unto them: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
(Luke 2: 10-11)

16. Accompagnato

Soprano

And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying:
(Luke 2: 13)

17. Chorus

“Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men.”
(Luke 2: 14)

18. Air

Soprano

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, thy King cometh unto thee; He is the righteous Saviour, and He shall speak peace unto the heathen. Rejoice greatly. . . da capo
(Zecharaiah 9: 9-10)

19. Recitative

Alto

Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing.
(Isaiah 35: 5-6)

20. Air (or Duet)

(Alto &) soprano

He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; and He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
(Isaiah 40: 11)
Come unto Him, all ye that labour, come unto Him that are heavy laden, and He will give you rest. Take his yoke upon you, and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
(Matthew 11: 28-29)

21. Chorus

His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
(Matthew 11: 30)

 

PART TWO

22. Chorus

Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.
(John 1: 29)

23. Air

Alto

He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
(Isaiah 53: 3)

He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off His hair: He hid not His face from shame and spitting.
He was despised. . . da capo  (Isaiah 50: 6) 

24. Chorus

Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows! He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.
(Isaiah 53: 4-5)

25. Chorus

And with His stripes we are healed.
(Isaiah 53: 5)

26. Chorus

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way. And the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
(Isaiah 53: 6)

27. Accompagnato

Tenor

All they that see Him laugh Him to scorn; they shoot out their lips, and shake their heads, saying:
(Psalm 22: 7)

28. Chorus

“He trusted in God that He would deliver Him; let Him deliver Him, if He delight in Him.”
(Psalm 22: 8)

29. Accompagnato

Tenor

Thy rebuke hath broken His heart: He is full of heaviness. He looked for some to have pity on Him, but there was no man, neither found He any to comfort him.
(Psalm 69: 20)

30. Arioso

Tenor

Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow.
(Lamentations 1: 12)

31. Accompagnato

Soprano or tenor

He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgressions of Thy people was He stricken.
(Isaiah 53: 8)

32. Air

Soprano or tenor

But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell; nor didst Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption.
(Psalm 16: 10)

33. Chorus

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.
(Psalm 24: 7-10)

34. Recitative

Tenor

Unto which of the angels said He at any time: “Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee?”
(Hebrews 1: 5)

35. Chorus

Let all the angels of God worship Him.
(Hebrews 1: 6)

36. Air

Alto or soprano

Thou art gone up on high; Thou hast led captivity captive, and received gifts for men; yea, even from Thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
(Psalm 68: 18)

37. Chorus

The Lord gave the word; great was the company of the preachers.
(Psalm 68: 11)

38. Air (or « duet and Chorus »)

Soprano or alto (or soprano, alto and Chorus)

How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.
(Isaiah 52: 7; Romans 10: 15)

39. Chorus (or air for tenor)

Their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words unto the ends of the world.
(Romans 10: 18; Psalm 19: 4)

40. Air (or « Air and Recitative »)

Bass

Why do the nations so furiously rage together, and why do the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against His anointed.
(Psalm 2: 1-2)

41. Chorus

Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us.
(Psalm 2: 3)

42. Recitative

Tenor

He that dwelleth in Heav’n shall laugh them to scorn; The Lord shall have them in derision.
(Psalm 2: 4)

43. Air

Tenor

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
(Psalm 2: 9)

44. Chorus

Hallelujah: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
(Revelation 19: 6)
The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.
(Revelation 11: 15)
King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
(Revelation 19: 16)

Hallelujah!

 

PART THREE

45. Air

Soprano

I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
(Job 19: 25-26)
For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first fruits of them that sleep.
(I Corinthians 15: 20)

46. Chorus

Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
(I Corinthians 15: 21-22)

47. Accompagnato

Bass

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
(I Corinthians 15: 51-52)

48. Air

Bass

The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality. The trumpet. . . da capo
(I Corinthians 15: 52-53)

49. Recitative

Alto

Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
(I Corinthians 15: 54)

50. Duet

Alto & tenor

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
(I Corinthians 15: 55-56)

51. Chorus

But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(I Corinthians 15: 57)

52. Air

Soprano alto

If God be for us, who can be against us?
(Romans 8: 31)
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us.
(Romans 8: 33-34)

53. Chorus

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by His blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Blessing and honour, glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Revelation 5: 12-14)

 

I just saw the documentary “American Gospel: Christ Alone” (2018). It clearly presents the Gospel and shows how for many Americans, they are merely nominal, cultural “Christians” who were raised in churches, read the Bible, even attend Christian schools, yet they never repented and believed the Gospel. They never trusted in Christ Alone. It also documents the explosive popularity of the Word of Faith movement in America, and how the prosperity [false] gospel has devastated millions of Americans. 

The modern “American Gospel” is a distorted, corrupted gospel. American Gospel examines how the prosperity gospel (based on the Word of Faith movement) has distorted the gospel message (promises of “the American dream” of health, wealth, & prosperity), and, sadly, how this theology is being exported abroad.

Here is the 1 hour version. The full documentary is 2 hours and 20 minutes in duration. The following is the first 40 minutes of the film, followed by testimony from viewers. 

• “The great strength of the film is that it’s not only a negative examination of the Word of Faith movement, but also a very positive and helpful examination of biblical truth. ” – Tim Challies

• “This is the best clarifying juxtaposition of truth and prosperity preaching I know of. I pray millions of people around the world will watch this for the glory of Christ and his Good News.” – John Piper

• “I think suffering Christians will discover an unexpected balm in this film as they are reminded of the true hope provided in Christ Jesus.” – Reagan Rose
  

The follow up documentary “American  Gospel: Christ Crucfied” (2019) is also excellent and worth watching. It examines how the Gospel has been watered down so as not to be offensive. It talks about postmodernism and progressive Christianity and how they’ve led to a false gospel which we’ve manufactured.

You can rent or buy “American Gospel: Christ Alone” on Amazon Prime Video here. 

You can rent or buy “American  Gospel: Christ Crucfied” on Amazon Prime Video here.

America was founded as a Christian republic! The vast majority of our Founding Fathers were men of sincere and deep faith in Christ. Sadly in recent decades fewer people in America now identify as Christian, and the number of people who are unaffiliated with  no religion has increased to 33%!

According to recent polling by Pew Research Center, self-identified Christians make up 63% of U.S. population in 2021, down from 75% a decade ago! 33% of US adults now identify as atheists, agnostics or “nothing in particular” when asked about their religious identity. Most of the losses were in Protestants.

This secularization of America is terrible and very dangerous. 

In this video by historian David Barton he proves that America was founded as a Christian nation!

In this next video Dr. Barton establishes the faith of our Founders as Christian, and he meticulously documents their thoughts on religion as it relates to government, education, and public affairs. They believed America would only succeed as long as its populace remained Christian. We still have a Christian majority in America, but it’s quickly fading.

America was founded as a Christian nation, but not as a theocracy.

Our Founders, for the most part, identified with the mindset of those they called “dissenting Protestants.” The dissenting Protestant insisted that civil government should have no role in the church nor in matters of faith and conscience. Freedom from government tyranny in matters of faith was an ideal that pervaded the thinking of America’s Founders.

However, for there to be liberty without license, the Founders knew that the populace would have to be governed from within by virtuous values. That is why they all agreed that only Christianity provided the moral values and intellectual underpinnings for a stable and prosperous nation.

The principles that made America great are universal principles that span time, race and space. They will work with any people or nation who have the courage to apply them. Here are five founding principles that made America great and will make her great again.

Principle 1: Faith in God as the Creator and Moral Governor of the Universe

The Founders considered belief in the God of the Bible as being essential for good citizenship. Unless the citizens would have a moral sense of obligation to their Creator, they would tend to live selfish, unrestrained lives, harmful to society.

This was expressed by James Madison when he wrote, “Before any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe.” Madison, the chief architect of the U.S. Consitution, also wrote:

The belief in a God All Powerful wise and good, is so essential to the moral order of the world and to the happiness of man, that arguments which enforce it cannot be drawn from too many sources nor adapted with too much solicitude to the different characters and capacities impressed with it.

The Declaration of Independence begins by acknowledging the Creator and recognizing that all human rights come from Him. That is the basis on which John Dickinson, chairman of the committee for the Declaration of Independence, declared in 1776, “Our liberties do not come from charters for these are only the declarations of preexisting rights. They do not depend on parchment or seals; but come from the King of kings and the Lord of all the earth.”

After being sworn in as president with his hand on a Bible, George Washington issued a proclamation designating Nov. 26, 1789, as a Day of Thanksgiving. The proclamation assumes the obligation of all citizens to acknowledge God’s existence and to show honor to Him. It opened with the following statement:

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God.

Indeed, although there was tolerance for those of various faiths, there was a hostility toward atheism in early America. This was born out when a judge in the court of Chester County in the state of New York, threw out the testimony of a witness when the witness admitted he did not believe in the existence of God.

The judge said that by denying the existence of God, the witness had “destroyed all the confidence of the court in what he was about to say.” The judge went on to say that it was the first time he had met someone who did not acknowledge the existence of God.

This event was recorded by the French sociologist, Alexis de Tocqueville, and occurred during his visit to America in 1831. Tocqueville said the incident was merely noted in the newspaper without further comment.

Yes, belief in the all-knowing, all-powerful God of the Bible—the moral Governor of the Universe—was considered a necessity for a prosperous and stable nation by virtually all early Americans.

 

Principle 2: Belief in the Bible as the Source of Ultimate Truth

When George Washington placed his hand on a Bible to take the oath of office it was no mere formality, but a declaration that the Bible would be the ultimate source of wisdom and guidance for his administration. He also once said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

A 10-year project instituted to discover where the Founders got their ideas for America’s founding documents found that by far the single most cited authority in their writings was the Bible. They were people of the Book and consciously and unconsciously used it as the standard for measuring all other writings both ancient and modern.

Knowing how the Founders esteemed and reverenced the Bible, it comes as no surprise that The First Continental Congress was opened with Bible reading and prayer. It is also no surprise that when Benjamin Franklin called the Constitutional Convention to Prayer, he quoted from both the Psalms and the Gospels.

The Founders’ respect for the Bible is why the first English Bible published in America, in 1782, included a recommendation from Congress. The recommendation read:

Resolved: That the United States in Congress assembled, highly approve the pious and laudable undertaking of Mr. Aitken, as subservient to the interest of religion as well as an instance of the progress of the arts in this country, and being satisfied from the above report, of his care and accuracy in the execution of the work they recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States and hereby authorize him to publish this recommendation in the manner he shall think proper.

The Founders lived at a time when the European Enlightenment and its emphasis on reason was drawing many on the European continent away from the Bible. America’s Founders, however, saw no dichotomy between the Bible and reason. William Novak says:

Everywhere that reason led, Americans found the Bible. If they read Francis Bacon, they found the Bible. If they read Isaac Newton or John Milton, they found the Bible. In Shakespeare, they found the Bible. In the world of the Founders, the Bible was an unavoidable and useful rod of measurement, a stimulus to intellectual innovation.

This primary role of the Bible in America’s founding was acknowledged by Andrew Jackson, America’s seventh president, when he said, “That book, sir, is the rock on which our republic rests.” Theodore Roosevelt, America’s 26th president, confirmed this, saying, “No other book of any kind ever written in English has ever so affected the whole life of a people.”

Principle 3: Human Nature Has Been Flawed by Sin and Cannot Be Trusted With Unlimited Power

The Founders held the traditional Christian belief that humanity had been created a noble creature in the image and likeness of God, but that this image had become marred because of the fall and sin (Gen. 1-3). Because the image was not erased, humanity is capable of very noble deeds; but since the image is marred, he is also capable of very dastardly deeds.

Although modern society does not want to hear about sin, human history cannot be understood apart from it. Only the Biblical account of the entry of sin into the world provides the context for understanding the wars, genocides, inquisitions, holocausts, and cruelties that have been an ongoing part of human history down to the present time.

Yes, salvation through Jesus Christ restores the image of God in mankind, but this restoration is a process that is not completed in this world. Humanity—even Christian humanity—in this flawed condition cannot be trusted with unlimited power.

The historian, Benjamin Hart, wrote, “A central assumption of America’s Founders was original sin, meaning the corruption of man’s character.”

“Take mankind in general,” said Alexander Hamilton, “they are vicious.” James Madison added, “If men were angels no government would be necessary,”

It was this mistrust of human nature that influenced the Founders to divide the powers of government into three branches and to provide checks and balances to keep any individual or group from gaining unlimited power. The Founders would agree with Sir John Acton, who said, “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Marxism and liberalism claim that the problem with human corruption stems from corrupt institutions. The Bible teaches the opposite. It is corrupt human beings who create corrupt institutions. The Founders, therefore, not only instituted a limited government, but also counted on Christianity to provide the moral and intellectual influence necessary for a stable society, for only a virtuous people could be a truly free people.

Principle 4: Christian Values and Morality Are Essential for a Stable and Prosperous Nation

In his Farewell address after serving two terms as America’s first president, George Washington declared, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion [Christianity] and morality are indispensable supports.” He goes on to say that the person who would “labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness” can never claim to be an American patriot.

Thomas Jefferson was in complete agreement and he made Washington’s Farewell Address required reading at the University of Virginia, which he had founded. And notice that Washington did not call religion optional. The word he used was “indispensable” and Jefferson obviously agreed. It should be remembered that when the Founders used the word “religion” they were referring to Christianity.

Jefferson may have had questions at times about certain aspects of Christian doctrine, but there is no question that he saw Christianity as providing the moral and intellectual system necessary for a stable society. Having read the Quran and the literature of ancient Greece, Rome and the Enlightenment, he stated, “Of all the systems of morality that have come under my observations, none appear to me so pure as that of Jesus.”

Jefferson’s commitment to Christian values is why he closed all presidential documents with the appellation, “In the year of our Lord Christ.” It is also why he took money from the federal treasury to pay for missionaries to work among the Kaskasia Indian tribe and to build them a building in which to worship.

Washington, Jefferson and all the Founders knew that the success of the nation they had formed hinged on the moral character of its citizens and their ability to govern themselves according to Biblical values. This is why John Adams, in a 1798 address to the officers of the Massachusetts Militia, declared:

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion … Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious [Christian] people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

The Founders did not believe that there could be liberty apart from virtue, or freedom apart from morality. Only Christianity offered the moral and intellectual underpinnings that would preserve the nation they had brought into existence. This is why Novak says, “The founders did not believe the constitutional government they were erecting could survive without Hebrew-Christian faith.”

Principle 5: Government Exists to Protect Faith and Freedom

No part of the Constitution has been so mangled and misapplied as that part of the First Amendment that reads, “Congress shall make no law concerning the establishment of religion or hindering the free exercise thereof.” Secularists have wrenched this statement from its historical context and original intent and made it to mean, not freedom of religion, but freedom from religion.

The fact is, however, that the day after voting to ratify the First Amendment, those same Founders issued a proclamation for a day of prayer and thanksgiving. Congress continued to be opened with prayer and Bible reading and prayer continued to be a daily part of the normal school day in America. Presidents also continued to issue proclamations for special days of prayer and thanksgiving.

When Jefferson used the phrase “wall of separation” in a letter to a Baptist association, he was assuring them that the First Amendment guaranteed them protection from persecution by the state such as they had known in the Old World and even in Jefferson’s home state of Virginia. Jefferson saw the First Amendment as a unilateral wall erected to keep the government out of the church, not to keep the influence of the church out of government.

By implementing the First Amendment, the Founders were simply saying that America would never have a national, state church as had been the case in Europe since the time of Constantine. Indeed, it was from these oppressive state churches that their parents and grandparents had fled. They wanted to guarantee that no American citizen would ever be forced to act against their conscience and sincerely held religious beliefs.

The Founders would be astonished to see how the First Amendment has been distorted by modern secularists into a weapon against religious liberty, the very thing they meant to protect. Their simple purpose was to make sure that Christianity would be protected from government intrusion and that no denomination would ever be singled out for special favors.

America Founded as a Christian Nation

Yes, America was founded as a Christian nation. This is not to be equated with a theocracy where individuals claim a direct mandate from God to rule and govern a people. The Founders had rejected that sort of thinking, but they had not rejected Christianity itself, for they considered Christianity to be necessary for the nation’s success and survival.

America as a Christian nation was understood as late as 1892 as expressed in the Supreme Court ruling of Church of the Holy Trinity vs The United States. After reviewing thousands of historical documents, the nation’s highest Court declared:

Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of The Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian … From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation … we find everywhere a clear recognition of the same truth that this is a Christian nation.

It is time to reject the lie that America was founded on secularism and multiculturalism. It is time for all freedom-loving people to stand up for truth. It is also time to pray for another Great Awakening that will return America to its founding principles, for only by returning to her founding principles will she ever truly be great again. 

America must repent from its great wickedness and trust in Christ alone. If the secularization of America continues, our country will cease to be great, and God will destroy America for its great wickedness and idolatry! We must fight against historical revisionism which denies our Christian heritage. We must fight against abortion, LGBT values, poverty and other problems. Our Constitution can only ensure liberty and freedom if we are a Christian nation! True freedom is found in Christ alone!

 – Some text has been adapted from https://www.charismanews.com/politics/opinion/71951-5-founding-principles-that-made-america-great

A cool breeze blows
On a fresh Spring day

The cicada buzz
I feel calm

The sun shines bright
Warming my skin

Robins fly above
Circling me

The heavenly smell of tulips
Wafts through the air

A lone bumble bee
Buzzes near my head

I feel the cool grass
Beneath my feet

I taste honeysuckle
Mild and sweet

Cars rumble past
Their engines humming

My sisters and I
Play Red Rover

A sudden soft rain
Makes me feel whole

Our tiger lilies sway
In the swift wind

I drift asleep
Dreaming of Paradise

 

by Zachary Uram, (c) 2022