God On Our Side

      We live in an age where there is a true dearth of Christian manhood and Christian ideals.  Even our political leaders spend more time suppressing, or at least apologizing for, Christian principles than they do advancing them.  How different it used to be in this country!  Here are just a couple of examples of how the Father or our country sought to advance a Christian moral order in the midst of a civil war:

 

"GOD ON OUR SIDE"

       When General Washington was told that the British troops at Lexington, on the memorable 19th of April, 1775, had fired on and killed several of the Americans, he replied: "I grieve for the death of my countrymen; but rejoice that the British are still determined to keep God on our side,"  alluding to that noble sentiment which he later so happily expressed, viz:  "The smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained."¹

FIRST GENERAL ORDER TO THE ARMY

     July 4, 1775, the day after he took command of the army, an order was issued, in which we find the following injunction:

       “The General most earnestly requires and expects a due observance of those articles of war established for the government of the army, which forbid profane cursing, swearing, and drunkenness. And in like manner he requires and expects of all officers and soldiers, not engaged in actual duty, a punctual attendance on Divine service, to implore the blessing of Heaven upon the means used for our safety and defense.”²

ORDERS ARMY TO ATTEND DIVINE SERVICE

     The Continental Congress having ordered a day of fasting and prayer, General Washington issued the following order, July 20, 1775:

       “The General orders this day to be religiously observed by the Forces under his Command, exactly in manner directed by the Continental Congress. It is therefore strictly enjoined on all Officers and Soldiers to attend Divine Service; and it is expected that all those who go to worship do take their Arms, Ammunition, and Accoutrements, & are prepared for immediate action if called upon.”³

Christ, not man, is King!

Dale

1)    William J. Johnson, George Washington, The Christian (New York, NY: The Abingdon Press, 1919), p. 68.

2) Ibid., 69.

3) Ibid., 70.