FAITH OF THE FOUNDERS: When Choosing Revolution is Justified for a Christian

(QUICK READ) — Among the rarely discussed aspects of the events that led to the opening of the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence was the prevalence on colonial Sundays, particularly in New England Congregationalist churches, of the delivery of passionate sermons explaining when a Christian people are justified in throwing off the chains that bind them.

Prominent among those pastors was Boston’s Rev. Jonathan Mayhew who was among the leading pastoral lights in preparing the ground for the eventual liberation of the colonies from British rule. The following selection from Mayhew expressed the heart of his understanding of Scripture and the civil rights and obligations of the follower of Jesus Christ:

“When once magistrates act contrary to their office and … cease to be the ordinance and ministers of God… (it is warrantable) to disobey … in cases of very great and general oppression, when humble remonstrances fail of having any effect; and when the public welfare cannot be otherwise provided for and secured, to rise unanimously even against the sovereign himself, in order to redress their grievances; to vindicate their natural and legal rights; … to free themselves and posterity from inglorious servitude and ruin.” — Jonathan Mayhew, from his sermon, “A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission and Non-resistance to the Higher Powers” Delivered August 8, 1765 (cited by Mark Strand in his “The influence of ‘The Black Robes'”).