A New Country and Salvation
Yesterday I found myself at the National Archives and was struck by several quotes that surrounded the beginning of our country. This is particularly true as I contemplate the coming Sunday’s texts for preaching. It is so interesting to me how we can feel like we’re in charge of our own destiny, our own salvation… and yet, we’re not.
So here are the quotes:
From Loyal Subjects to Traitorous Rebels – A Royal Proclamation
“When the last duitiful &humble petition from Congress received no other Answer than declaring us Rebels, and out of the King’s protection, I from that Moment look’d forward to a Revolution & Independence as the only means of Salvation; and will risque the las Penny of my Fortune, & the last Drop of my Blood upon the Issue.”
- George Mason, October 2, 1778
The First Constitution – The Articles of Confederation
“We have it in our power to begin the world over again. A situation similar to the present hath not happened since the days of Noah until now. The birthday of a new world is at hand.”
- Thomas Paine, February 14, 1776
On some levels I agree with these statements – and in many, many others I don’t. The only means of salvation for George Mason is not the Revolution and Independence of Christ, but the Revolution and Independence of man. Is it not Christ who frees us from oppressive regimes? Even from our own oppressive regimes, the ones we construct.
I have more to ponder I think….
You have to remember that for these people at the time they wrote and worked, political salvation and eternal salvation were two entirely separate issues. Eternal salvation was for God alone to decree. Political salvation was not. Embedded within the concept of free will, which granted is primarily an enlightenment concept, is that idea that God gives to man autonomy over his political will. The Thomistic and Lockian Natural Law’s goal is that humankind may construct any government it sees fit with the long term goal of a government that allows each individual the opportunity to participate in the divine law as he or she chooses.
For the Framers, the Political Salvation of the social contract was the only thing a people could legitimately do for themselves. God may give the inspiration for it, but He wont fix our governments for us. Once that is achieved, each individual can feel safe to walk with God for his or her own eternal salvation.
We today can choose to accept or reject this way of thinking. But it would be very unwise to forget that this is what the Framers believed.
Pax.