Faith and Leadership of the Founding Fathers – Part 2

Leading up to Independence Day – July 4, 2010 – which will be the 234^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence – I’ll be sharing with you some thoughts on the leadership of three of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America.

A word of caution: it has been vogue in the last couple of years to point out the anti-Christian nature of the Founding Fathers. Many contend that the Founding Fathers were, at best, Deists, and most certainly not Christians. The only proof given for these statements – from what I could find in my research – has been opinions and writings from the early 20^th Century onward.

I’ll be using the words of the Founding Fathers themselves to show how their faith in Jesus Christ shaped their lives and leadership.

This week the Founding Father is Samuel Adams. 

Samuel Adams was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and, in the new United States, one of the first governors of the State of Massachusetts. In addition to being one of the Founding Fathers, he was also called, by the Boston newspaper Independent Chronicle, the "Father of the American Revolution."

Today, most people associate the name “Samuel Adams” with beer. This is unfortunate for two reasons. One, Samuel Adams worked briefly as a maltster (preparing malt for the making of beer) and not a brewer, and two, because it overlooks his contribution to the founding of the United States and what we can learn today from this patriot and Christian man.

1. Rely on Jesus Christ for Forgiveness

“I . . . [rely] upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.” [From the Last Will & Testament of Samuel Adams, attested December 29, 1790; see also Samuel Adams, Life & Public Services of Samuel Adams, William V. Wells, editor (Boston: Little, Brown & Co, 1865), Vol. III, p. 379, Last Will and Testament of Samuel Adams.]

The forgiveness of sins won for the world by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (His “merits”) is the epitome of liberty. And Samuel Adams was very interested in liberty - pledging his “life, fortune and sacred honor” for the cause of liberty in 1776.

Samuel Adams reliance on Jesus Christ was life-long, in both good times and in bad times. A leader needs to know what it takes to live in adversity and prosperity. I think it is a vital part of the definition of leadership to have gone through both extremes – although the “extremes” can be different for everyone.

Getting through those times requires reliance on something greater than us, something that transcends but is also a vital part of the human experience.

The forgiveness of sins is just that. Samuel Adams went through a lot – as did all the people who would eventually become American Citizens. But it is clear from one of the last things that Samuel Adams said (through his last will and testament) that the forgiveness of sins won by Jesus Christ was his rock and foundation for all that he said and did.

2. A Leader Also Needs a Leader

“The name of the Lord (says the Scripture) is a strong tower; thither the righteous flee and are safe [Proverbs 18:10]. Let us secure His favor and He will lead us through the journey of this life and at length receive us to a better.” [Letters of Delegates to Congress: August 16, 1776-December 31, 1776, Paul H. Smith, editor (Washington DC: Library of Congress, 1979), Vol. 5, pp. 669-670, Samuel Adams to Elizabeth Adams on December 26, 1776.]

Samuel Adams was instrumental in the founding of the United States of America. But he also recognized that no leader is above following another leader. Who would the Founding Fathers tend to follow as their leader? For Samuel Adams it was God. He would follow God’s will for his life and also rely on the rock-solid foundation of God’s mercy to shape and form his life.

For a husband and father, the Biblical mandate is that he is the “head of the household.” But as a husband he is called to “love his wife as Christ loves the Church.” This is the concept primus inter pares – “first among equals/peers.” But for the husband and father, there is a superior authority that he will follow – God.

3. “Thy Kingdom Come” is a Good Leadership Prayer

“I conceive we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world . . . that the confusions that are and have been among the nations may be overruled by the promoting and speedily bringing in the holy and happy period when the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and the people willingly bow to the scepter of Him who is the Prince of Peace.” [From a Fast Day Proclamation issued by Governor Samuel Adams, Massachusetts, March 20, 1797, in our possession; see also Samuel Adams, The Writings of Samuel Adams, Harry Alonzo Cushing, editor (New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1908), Vol. IV, p. 407, from his proclamation of March 20, 1797.]

When people say that the United States is a Christian nation, I will only agree with that sentiment if they mean what Samuel Adams says here. It isn’t a political kingdom that Samuel Adams was looking for, but one of grace, the Kingdom of Grace of which Christ is the King.

A Christian leader will follow Christ and serve in His Kingdom. He will pray “The kingdom come” – which means he will lead others with an eye towards the truth that “the kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also. God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity” (Small Catechism, Martin Luther).

© 2010 True Men Ministries, Inc.

LiveJournal Tags: faith,Christianity,Jesus Christ,Founding Fathers,Samuel Adams,leadership,Declaration of Independence

Faith and Leadership of the Founding Fathers – Part 1

Leading up to Independence Day – July 4, 2010 – which will be the 234^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence – I’ll be sharing with you some thoughts on the leadership of three of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America.

A word of caution: it has been vogue in the last couple of years to point out the anti-Christian nature of the Founding Fathers. Many contend that the Founding Fathers were, at best, Deists, and most certainly not Christians. The only proof given for these statements – from what I could find in my research – has been opinions and writings from the early 20^th Century onward.

I’ll be using the words of these Founding Fathers themselves to show how their faith in Jesus Christ shaped their lives and leadership qualities.

The first Founding Father is George Washington.

He was the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army that defeated British Forces in the War of Independence – giving rise to the United States of America. He was then elected the first President of the United States and served two terms. He is popularly known as the “father of our country.”

George Washington was a leader. By almost all accounts, he was a great leader. What was the basis of his leadership? What can we learn from his leadership? At least three things.

1. Jesus Christ is the Corner-Stone of Life

George Washington was a Christian. I know that many, many people will deny this. They say he was a deist, not a Christian. But I’m confident in saying that George Washington was a Christian because he was baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. But also because of what he said about Jesus Christ.

“You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are.” [The Writings of Washington, John C. Fitzpatrick, editor (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1932), Vol. XV, p. 55, from his speech to the Delaware Indian Chiefs on May 12, 1779.]

As you explore the life of this Founding Father of the American nation, it will become clearly evident that he lived his life based on his faith in Jesus Christ. Not just Christian morals but based on the religion of Jesus Christ. It was George Washington’s belief that living with faith in Jesus Christ would make a person happy and great.

No doubt there have been great people who did not believe in Jesus Christ. No doubt there are happy people who do not believe in Jesus Christ. But it was George Washington’s belief that you could become greater and happier still if you have faith in Jesus Christ.

A good leader will lead out of his beliefs. Washington led his men – and then his country – out of his belief in Jesus Christ.

2. Character Counts

Washington was a soldier, a general, a president, and a farmer. But more than that – George Washington was all these things as a man of character. I’ve yet to see anyone question the character of George Washington (except the possibility of his owning slaves as a character flaw). George Washington drew on a main source for his character – Christianity.

“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.” [The Writings of Washington, John C. Fitzpatrick, editor (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1932), Vol. XI, pp. 342-343, General Orders of May 2, 1778.]

Christian faith will not make a person a perfect leader. Washington readily admitted that he was not perfect, that he was a mere mortal prone to mistakes. But I believe that Christian faith will shape character and leaders in the most positive way.

3. Our Faith is for All Times

And while Christian faith is a cornerstone of human character, it is not something that is simply a means to an end. It is something that stays with us at all times – in good times and in bad times, in prosperity and adversity.

Washington said, “The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger. The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier, defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country.” [The Writings of George Washington, John C. Fitzpatrick, editor (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1932), Vol. 5, p. 245, July 9, 1776 Order.]

It is clear to me that while Washington was in the field leading the troops of the Continental Army, he was drawing upon his Christian faith to get him through all the defeats (and those were many) and the hard winters, lack of provisions, and the diseases that plagued the army. He never despaired of the Cause for which he was fighting – the rights and liberties of his country. This confidence and courage came from his faith in Jesus Christ that he carried with him at all times.

On this Father’s Day, as we approach the anniversary of the Independence of the United States, we can draw strength – and pass to the next generation – these three things from George Washington: Jesus Christ is the Corner-Stone of Life, Character Counts, and Our Faith is for All Times.

© 2010 True Men Ministries, Inc.

LiveJournal Tags: faith,Christianity,Jesus Christ,Founding Fathers,George Washington,leadership

Memorial Day – To Remember

Today is Memorial Day in the United States. It is known as the “Unofficial Start of Summer” as most Americans have the day off from work and school. It is common to grill meat outside and have friends and family over; in general, have a good time.

And there’s nothing wrong with this. I’ll be doing this with my family and we all look forward to it every year. We’ll be grilling pork steaks and potatoes, having cake decorated as an American Flag. I’ll probably play catch with my sons, definitely lounge around the backyard and enjoy the day.

But I will also share with my sons what Memorial Day is really for – the reason we have this day in our nation’s calendar.

It began as “Decoration Day” by freed negro slaves in 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina who created a Union Cemetery near the place for many Union prisoners of war had died and were buried in a mass grave. Out of gratitude – it is said – of the soldiers’ sacrifice for their freedom, they reinterred the bodies and decorated the graves with flowers.

The following year cities in the Northern United States began to hold what would become yearly observances of memorial and decoration of those who had died during the United States Civil War. After World War II, Decoration Day became more commonly known as Memorial Day and in the 1960’s it was officially designated as such.

Today there are no survivors of the Civil War nor the Spanish-American War. There are no more than three surviving veterans of World War I. The veterans of World War II have reached their middle 80’s and older.

For World War I and all previous wars, they are truly second-hand history for us. World War II and more recent wars are still “memories.”

We must never forget what these men and women did to ensure our freedoms. I say we should also thank God for their sacrifice, especially those who gave their lives during the conflicts. And that is what Memorial Day is for.

Remembering is a biblical thing. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He celebrated remembrances such as Passover and Purim. In the “Law” as recorded in Deuteronomy, God instructed His people to remember what they have gone through to get where they are now and to pass on those memories to their children and their children’s children (Deuteronomy 6:7).

This is a basic tenant of our faith that we pass on what we believe about Jesus Christ, to teach and confess it to our children and others.

Memorial Day is a great opportunity to do both: to share a bit of the history of our country and to share our faith in Christ. I pray that you will do this and also have a blessed Memorial Day.

©2008 True Men Ministries.

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LiveJournal Tags: Memorial Day,Jesus Christ,remember

Take a Hike

It is easier to climb a mountain than it is to trudge through a swamp.

Not that it is easy to climb a mountain. But the rewards of climbing a mountain far outweigh trudging through a swamp – mainly because there are NO rewards for trudging through a swamp.

I live about a 15 minute drive from a trail head to a pretty spectacular hiking trail. It is a trail that takes you to Icehouse Saddle. I’ve attempted this trail three times in the last three years and have yet to make it all the way to the Saddle. You start at an elevation of 4900 feet and the Icehouse Saddle is at 7555 feet. It takes 7 miles to complete the circuit. It is not easy, especially for an overweight 45 year old man who grew up long the shores of Lake Michigan – 586 feet elevation and changes about only 100 feet at the most.

But it is a spectacular climb. I feel exhausted after hiking up this part of the San Gabriel Mountains. But it is a good kind of exhaustion. Even though I’ve yet to complete the 7 mile trail, I feel like I have accomplished something. I’ve been rewarded with awesome views of Mt. Baldy (10,000 feet peak) and the Cucamonga Wilderness.

For me its a hard climb but well worth it.

But I’ve also trudged through some swamps and it is a completely different experience. When I was about 15 years old, my friend Frank and I took his truck into some back country near my home in Long Lake, Illinois. We got his truck stuck in about four feet of mud near Mud Lake. Mud Lake is a “lake” in name only. It is, in reality, a swamp. We had to walk out (this happened at a time when cell phones were about $3000 and required a bag the size of your grandmother’s purse to carry) to get help. It took us a couple of hours to trudge through the mud. We were exhausted and covered head-to-foot with a think, brown, smelly mud.

Hiking a mountain and trudging through a swamp. Both are hard, time-consuming, and exhausting. But only one is actually worth it.

That’s the way our choices in life are. What we choose to do with our lives will be hard, exhausting and time consuming. But only certain things will actually be worth it.

The thing that is worth it is your calling and purpose. And that is what God is calling you to do. He gives you gifts to find out what your calling is. He doesn’t try to fool you. It will be hard – like hiking a mountain or trudging through a swamp is hard.

But if you follow God’s calling, you’ll find that it is hard like hiking a mountain – with all the awesome rewards that come with it.

LiveJournal Tags: mountain,swamp,hiking,Icehouse Saddle,Mt. Baldy,calling,purpose,God

What a Cute Baby! The Little Sinner!

I read an article in a recent issue of the New York Times Magazine that, for some reason, really caught my attention. It might be because I am the father of three boys and was intimately involved (and still am) in their lives, especially as infants. It might have been because I have baptized nearly 50 babies in my 15 years as a parish pastor, and it might have been because I recently covered the subject of Holy Baptism with a class of people who are interested in Lutheranism and Christianity and joining the fellowship of my church. Maybe it is all of them combined that made me sit up and take notice of the article “The Moral Life of Babies” by Paul Bloom.

I first want to give credit to Paul Bloom for writing an interesting article in a way that kept my attention. It is about research done by psychologist and it has been my experience that such articles can be written in a style that is way over my head (being just a parish preacher). Thank you, Paul Bloom!

The thrust of the article is that the research he cites indicates that babies have a moral compass from birth that is independent of culture and learning. He calls it “naive morality” (Bloom, 49). He contends that babies have an inherent idea of what is right and wrong.

And while Paul Bloom gives a nod to Christianity, “The general argument that critics like Wallace and D’Souza [sympathetic to Christian teaching] put forward, however, still needs to be taken seriously” (Bloom, 63), he also seems to dismiss the Biblical teaching of humans being created and born with a God-given moral compass (conscience, “Law written on the hearts”), “the aspect of morality that we truly marvel at – its generality and universality – is the product of culture,  not of biology. There is no need to posit divine intervention” (Bloom, 65).

However, what Paul Bloom reports in this article is something that Lutherans, at least, have believed for nearly 500 years – that infants are born sinful, are in need of what the Sacrament of Holy Baptism offers – the forgiveness of sins, and can understand the basic ideas of right and wrong.

Lutherans have been baptizing infants since their very beginnings in the early 1500’s, continuing what the One Holy Christian and Apostolic Church had been doing from the 1st Century AD up to that point.

The Protestant Reformation that the Lutheran Church was born out of also gave birth to the Baptist denomination, which generally does not baptize infants. I’m generalizing here, but I believe this is so because they understand that Baptism is not essential to salvation and that infants can be saved without it.

The Southern Baptist Convention states that Baptism “is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus.” (Basic Beliefs, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, the SBC website, accessed May, 2010).

Yet, even non-Christian writers and scientists are recognizing that infants are capable of knowing right and wrong. And the Bible clearly teaches that without direct intervention by God, we can only choose the wrong. Jesus said in John 15:5, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

It is recognized that infants can have faith and can believe in God, (for example, look at Luke 1:39-44).

So, why would we not Baptize infants?

God does all the work in Baptism. He created the water. He provides the life-giving words, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross does what is necessary for all to be saved. And we are all conceived and born sinful (Psalm 58:3, Psalm 51:5).

God loves the world (John 3:16) and shows that love through His Son Jesus Christ. And we receive the blessings of His Cross through the Sacrament of Baptism.

Infants, too!

Bloom, P. (2010, May 9). The moral life of babies. New York Times Magazine, 44-49, 56, 62-63, 65.

LiveJournal Tags: Christianity,baptism,Paul Bloom,New York Times Magazine,babies,morality,salvation,Lutheranism

Evangelicals Attacking Evangelicals

The new “thing” these days is for Christians who write blogs and other-venue articles to attack other Christian groups.

Especially if the other groups are established churches and denominations.

A recent article was excited to point out that the new atheists are not much different from evangelicals. Both are avid activists trying to covert others to their beliefs.

Yeah, ok. I get it. I understand what you’re trying to say.

But really, do we need to keep pointing this out?

Atheists disagree with those who believe in God – although we usually only hear of them disagreeing with Christians (what about Muslims and Jews?).

Christians disagree with atheists. I get that. I understand it.

I’m just tired of reading established and widely-respected Christian journals and journalists pointing out that Christians need to get away from hating and demagoguery.

Sure we do. No argument from me on that!

However, based on what I read in the Christian blogs and in the magazines and e-zines – this is ALL that Christian writers and Churches and Denominations actually do – hate and demagogue!

I do NOT agree with that at all.

Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Baptists, Methodists – and Christians in general – do far, far more than just criticize ABC Family Channel, atheists, politicians, and anyone else they disagree with. In fact, I would not be surprised if that kind of things gets less than 1% of all the time spent on what Christians actually do!

A Christian – by definition – is someone who has faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again from the dead to forgive their sin and give them new life – both here and now and soon-to-be in heaven.

A Christian takes seriously what Jesus says, including but not limited to:

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…. – Matthew 5:44

‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ – Matthew 22:39

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. – John 13:34

And Christians are so excited and joyed by this that they want to share this Good News with the people that they meet every day!

I’d like to read more about Christians doing this. Is that possible? Because I know that there are far more Christians doing this than is indicated by the blogs and articles I read.

Relationship and the True Man

Women are comfortable with relationships. Men, not so much.

Women have “girlfriends.” They get together to talk over coffee or tea. They go shopping together. They buy shoes together. They scrapbook together. They call each other on the phone and talk for hours.

Men do NOT have boyfriends. It just doesn’t happen that way. We have “man caves” – we like to be alone. We are more at-home sitting by ourselves watching “the game” in our underwear. We like it when we don’t have to say “excuse me” and can expel gas and pick our noses without upsetting the women-folk. (Maybe I’m revealing too much personal information here!)

To sum up, women are made for relationships, men are made to be rugged individualists.

Oh really? The oldest collection of writings in the world tell us something different.

Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." – Genesis 2:18

Men and women were created to be in relationships. We were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26) and part of the image of God is that He is in relationship (Trinity) with the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The 21st Century man has a hard time with “relationships” because the word has become entangled with scrapbooking, shopping, being open and sharing feelings – all of which make men uncomfortable.

But when we learn that relationship is really about not being alone, that relationship is about support, help, strength, purpose, and adventure – I think men can accept this concept as vitally important to who we are as men.

What do you think? Add your comments to this!