Our Threatened Freedom

Were There Christians in the Continental Armies

Professor: Dr. R.J. Rushdoony

Subject: Political Studies

Lesson: 18-169

Genre: Conversation

Track: 018

Dictation Name: Vol. B – Part 05 – Were There Christians in the Continental Armies

Location/Venue: Unknown

Year: 1980’s – 1990’s

[Dr. Rushdoony] Were there Christians in the Continental Armies? This is R.J Rushdoony with a report on our threatened freedoms.

About 50 years after the War of Independence ended in 1832, Congress voted a pension act for the veterans of that war. The applicants were interviewed and their stories were reported by a court reporter or clerk. Some of these recorded stories have been published recently, edited by John. C. {?}, under the title ‘The Revolution Remembered: Eyewitness Accounts of the War for Independence’.

When we read these accounts, something is at once apparent to us. Almost none of the applicants for pension were churchgoers. Does this mean that Christians were absent from the ranks of soldiers during the War of Independence? Were there no Christians with Washington at Valley Forge or elsewhere? Were not most Americans supposed to be Christians in those days? How do we account for the absence of Christians in these narratives?

The answer’s a surprisingly simple one. Almost all the Christian veterans refused to apply for pensions. Many churches then were against any Christian receiving public funds. They took very, very seriously the requirement of 1st Timothy 5:8. That if any provide not for his own, especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. These churches believed that it was necessary for a family to care for its own needy members. And lacking godly relatives, for his fellow believers to care for him.

As a result of this stand, there were few churchgoers among these first American pensioners.

The church then stood for something. Today, although 53.8% of all adults, 18 years old and above, profess to be born again Christians, not half of them can name 5 of the 10 Commandments. How many can you name, by the way? They stand for next to nothing, because they know next to nothing about the faith. They have it as a form of fire and life insurance. We also have three presidential candidates who profess to be born again Christians. It seems to make very little, if any, difference in their lives and politics.

Like all too many Americans they are warm bodies in church, not living souls.

But without the faith, the character necessary for freedom quickly disappears. No politician can make much difference to a country. It takes a free people to take and create out of what exists, the climate of freedom, and today we have a people who regard it as smart, to get all one can out of the public {?}. As a result, freedom is giving way to slavery.

How many churches today who claim to be faithful would stand in terms of 1st Timothy 5:8, as the church of 1832 did?

R.J. Rushdoony speaking of threatened freedom.