A lot of us forget that America began as a secessionist movement. It started with the Pilgrims traveling to the New World in 1620, as Christians and English tradesmen fled Great Britain and its oppressive laws.
America, still yet-to-be, was a colony of the British crown. But distance provided some relief from parliament and the king. Christianity and commerce began to flourish, until the latter became too big of a target for the tax-hungry British government wanting to recoup its investment in the colonies.
The secessionist movement in America resurfaced as the War of Independence. Near the end of the convention in Philadelphia to write the constitution, the devil emerged in the details. To many of the delegates,it appeared the entire effort might collapse.
Benjamin Franklin, then age 81, addressed the president of the convention, George Washington:
"We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. … How has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered.
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"And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that 'except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages."
God, as it so often turns out, had his own reasons for answering those humble prayers. Though the Pilgrims' faith splintered into many different denominations, they nevertheless together spread the Gospel of Grace to a goodly portion of the previously unreached world.
In case you somehow missed it, that was the purpose of the Age of Grace, as indicated by the Great Commission. As American Christians have grown weary of that task, Christians in other nations have picked up where we left off. God's purposes are never dependent on one nation.
The American churches have now tasked themselves with many greater commissions: alleviating global warming, ending global poverty, racism and sexism, ushering in global governance, spreading the gospel of nonjudgementalism and the equality of all sinners to all the ends of the earth. This is the apostate church that was to appear at the end of the age.
God, meanwhile, goes on his merry way, doing exactly what he said he would do, as he always does. The only Church he has ever been concerned about is almost complete. The rest of the world will finally be given its opportunity to show God how it's done. As with all do-gooders everywhere, the apostate church will be on the front lines of the battle for tyranny over the human soul, which has always been a prerequisite for Utopia. The death, destruction and bloodshed that follows will surpass that of all previous utopian efforts in human history.
The greatest secessionist movement the world has ever seen is quietly taking shape. Then the end will come.
You can read how the story looks from God's side in "Armageddon Story."
Media wishing to interview Craige McMillan, please contact [email protected].
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