Early American history from a different angle, designed to open your eyes and inspire
Contents:
Invisible Things being Seen "...we wrestle...against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6: 12) "...the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ...should shine unto them." (2 Corinthians 4:4)
According to these two New Testament verses, there exist in our world unseen forces that employ darkness to achieve their purposes. Those purposes are neither benign, nor benevolent. Though a person may have been held captive by the power of darkness at one time, there is deliverance in Jesus Christ from this very power. So we are told in the first chapter of the book of Colossians, in verse thirteen.
I tell you this to illustrate a condition of captivity versus a condition of liberty. I tell you this to illustrate what I believe is the very root of slavery. And as the Scriptures tell us that the 'invisible things' of Him can be seen and understood by 'things that are made' (Romans 1: 20 ), so I also believe that His triumph in Christ over humanity's enslavement to death, in all its forms, has been and is being evidenced by events that have transpired throughout the history of the United States of America. From our bloody beginnings, throughout continued wrestlings against tyranny in and outside of our own governing bodies, and especially against the lurid horror of actual human enslavement, American stands as a living epistle, showing forth the will of the Father in the Son, making men free indeed.
Please join me as, going forward, I soberly explore the issue of slavery as it related to our Founding Fathers, our fledgling nation and our first national documents.
As always, thank you for stopping by.....Christina
The Verdict is In "Two centuries after he helped create America, Thomas Jefferson remains a figure of enduring fascination..." (Introduction, Thomas Jefferson : America's Philosopher-King by Max Lerner) It seems to be true. Thomas Jefferson was a paradox.
A recurring consistency of Jefferson's character appears to be his inconsistency. This theme appears in every book synopsis, every basic summary of Jefferson that I've read so far. Words like 'ambiguous', 'contradictory' and 'complex' fly fast and furious. And, to top it all off, Thomas Jefferson loved to sing...yes, he was a singer, everywhere, all the time! Picture that! I am in Thomas Jefferson heaven, and can barely believe that there was a time not too far back when I had 'no passion' for tackling the study and discovery of this infinitely intriguing revolutionary, author and eventual United States president. Like Washington (link),Thomas Jefferson lost his father at a young age. He was fourteen. Also like Washington, Jefferson was the eldest child (having a brother and six sisters) and became more or less the 'head' of the family. (I have noticed, in my own experiences and acquaintances, that persons of exceptional achievements often come from broken/strained/difficult family situations. I have seen it again and again. Certainly not a requirement, but sometimes painful deprivations provide a fertile breeding ground for a character of destiny.) Most of Thomas Jefferson's personal papers were destroyed in a fire in 1770, so information concerning much of his earlier life is scarce. A certain amount of guesswork is involved. Interesting, though, that after 1770, even with the availability of evidence, the aforementioned contradictions flourish. For instance, descriptions of Jefferson's physical appearance clash. Edmund Bacon, his overseer at Monticello, described Jefferson's skin as "very clear and pure", yet most portraits show him as heavily-freckled, his complexion at times reddish. His eyes are said to have been blue, hazel, or green, depending on the teller of the story. An ex-slave recalled Thomas Jefferson's stance to be erect, "a tall, straight-bodied man as ever you see", but many others saw Jefferson as "loosely-jointed and seemingly collapsible, all wrists, elbows and ankles", according to Joseph J. Ellis, author of American Sphinx: the Character of Thomas Jefferson. While none of these disparate facts in and of themselves really matter, I find it interesting that they should exist at all, given the elusive nature of the mind of the man himself. Well, ladies & gentlemen, I know this isn't much, but it's a start...I have so much more to say, I can feel it growing...I hope to return soon, I hope you will as well... As we usher in 2009 this New Year's Eve, may God be with you all, and may He continue to guide our leaders, protect our country and show us His grace, His mercy and His Son.
...on the Giving of Gifts, etc. at Christmas For those of you who may have read my recentChristmas posts, I direct this, uh, warning: my next words will make it appear that I'm doing a complete 180' on the whole 'keeping Christ in Christmas' theme. Be assured, that is not my intent at all! I just have a real problem with religiousness. Some don't realize, so did Jesus...
Years back, I listened to a Christmas Eve message, via radio, broadcast by Jack Hayford, at that time pastor of the Church Along the Way (I think that was the name) in California. 'Born-again' celebrities attended his church. I think he is a very cool guy.
Pastor Jack was saying something like this: he had a real problem with 'religiousness', too, meaning, persons who had a thumbs-down 'tude towards the celebratory aspects of the Christmas holiday, giving gifts, etc., and having parties. For the rest of my life, may I always remember what he declared next, with emphatic joy - Jesus BROUGHT the party!!!
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus..." (Romans 8:1)
This right here is a huge reason to celebrate, not only at Christmas but every time you realize that you are free. In Christ, under His blood, you cannot be legitimately accused. (And, for the record, I know what the second half of that verse says, and I also know that you'll find those words in italics in some Bibles. Which means that those words are not in the original manuscript. Bible scholars added them, over time.) (That's a story for another day.)
Now, some may say, the Magi ( the three wise men) brought gifts to the Christ at His birth. So,there is our example, proving that God intends for men to commemorate that birth in a solemn, holy way, etc., etc. Let me burst your bubble - Jesus the 'babe' was born in a 'manger' (Luke 2: 15,16) , everybody knows that - but the wise men brought gifts to the 'young child' in a 'house'. Time had elapsed. Not everybody knows that. Matthew 2: 9-11. Check it out. Also, the phrase 'young child' is used six times in that section of Scripture, so...it occurs to me, (and I stress that this is just my opinion) that the Lord, knowing future generations would condemn 'worldly' Yuletide tradition while insisting on religious custom, delayed the arrival of the Magi 'til well past Jesus' actual birthday, deliberately not setting a precedent. I don't see the Lord instituting this particular religious holiday, in any way, anywhere in the Scripture. Other than the magnificent, extraordinary appearance of the angels to the shepherds in the field, it seems like God the Father kept this whole event on the down-low. Other than the principle players, we have...let's see...cows? Sheep? Donkeys? And if there would have been any pomp and circumstance, it arrived way late.
Which is not at all to say, Christmas shouldn't be celebrated, in whatever fashion you choose. It is to say, however, (short of the ludicrous, dangerous or bizarre) don't condemn others for the fashion they choose! As stated in an earlier post, (link) I believe God has placed an awareness of Himself in the hearts of men, (regardless of their conscious belief or not in Him), so...one way or another, Jesus Christ is celebrated.
"I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)
...concerning Liberty Unable to stay away, I find myself 'back at the drawing board"! Reading just the Preface and Acknowledgements (not even at the Introduction yet!) of another book on Jefferson, acquired today, I'm too elated to wait 'til after Christmas to post...this will be short, as I've been up since 2 AM and feeling punchy at the moment... I cannot believe how blithely, how ignorantly I have been walking through my life on this earth, in this state of existence that crosses over into the infinite,how every day I have taken for granted the precious and divine condition of liberty that has abounded and surrounded, that has overflowed and overtaken those of us blessed enough to be dwelling in this land of America. When the Scripture says, "..unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think..." (Ephesians 3: 20), when the Scripture tells us in the second chapter of Corinthians that men have neither seen, nor heard, nor imagined what God has in store for those who love Him, while most assuredly these words are intended to reveal other truths and realities concerning God's nature, concerning God's plans and His works...I believe that a slice of this reality was imparted to our planet, made to take root and grow, to spring forth and bear fruit, watered by bloodshed, passion, and sacrifice, so that men may know and partake of the liberty that is in God, and Him alone.
Now that the Thanksgiving turkey is long-ago digested, and already becoming but a memory, we turn our attention towards the upcoming Christmas holiday. Like most of the rest of America, I'll be spending much of the next few weeks preparing for that very special day. With shopping, gift-wrapping, decorating and tree-trimming, I doubt that I'll manage even one post. ( I hope to prove myself wrong, because as I begin my study of Thomas Jefferson, I find that I am becoming as enamoured of learning about him as I was of George Washington! My excitement at times is almost palpable...) But, 'tis the season, so...Mr. Jefferson may have to be placed on a back burner for a bit.
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Some Christmas Thoughts...though I have always known the meaning of this holiday, for reasons unknown to me I am experiencing its impact anew. Like a rebirth! The Gift is Himself, hallelujah, Christ in you, the hope of glory. There can be nothing, nothing more miraculous than this! How did I not get that? The struggles and burdens of daily living of necessity constrict our vision, and can blind a person to so great a salvation. We carry this Treasure in our earthen vessel, being so often only aware of the earthen vessel. In no way meant to be a condemnation, rather I am pointing you towards great Light!
"...whereby the dayspringfrom on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death..." (Luke 1: 78, 79)
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I think it is generally agreed that, hands down, Christmas is THE holiday. Worldwide, universal. Though many may not actually, consciously, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, they still celebrate Christmas, in their fashion. I submit that many such persons, whether they realize it or not, arecelebrating the Saviour. He is the heart of the holiday. Businesses that stay open for every other holiday will close for Christmas. (I work at one.) Why is that? Why do we celebrate this event in such a spectacular fashion? Why do we use the evergreen tree, a symbol of eternal life? What about all the lights? People love seeing Christmas lights draped, festooned, outlining houses, encircling trees both indoor and out, illuminating the night with warmth, color, and hope.
"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." ( 2 Corinthians 4:6 )
Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you'll return .
Moving on to Thomas Jefferson... "...in the struggle of competing ideologies today for control of the modern world, it is certain that if American policies,based on the tradition of Jefferson, prevail, whatever regime for the government of international affairs is established will recognize the right of mankind to be free." (Introduction, I. Jefferson's Political Significance, The Political Writings of Thomas Jefferson, edit. Dumbauld)
Have you ever heard anyone say that, the more they learn about a topic, the more they realize how much they don't know? Well, that's how I'm feeling right about now. 'Moving on to Thomas Jefferson' is producing a distinct sudden awareness of my lack of awareness!! Beginning my initial pokings and probings into Jefferson's background and achievements, I doubted that I was going to be able to find that thread of God's hand in our third President's life, as I had in George Washington's. Frankly, I wasn't feeling any passion. Certainly, Thomas Jefferson must have been just as important as Washington. He was a Founding Father, after all! But I have got to say, I really needed a spark to ignite some fire in me.
Sometimes you have exactly what you need, right in front of you, and don't realize it. May I suggest to my readers that it is sometimes a mistake to ignore the Introduction in the book you're reading! Bingo! I was holding the answer right in my hands. I am almost overjoyed to be able to say that the fire in this furnace is now roaring! I am 'Moving on to Thomas Jefferson' with great anticipation, thrilled to be learning of the magnitude of his contributions to the enduring system of government that exists in the United States of America. Please join me as, moving on, I learn more and more about the mind and the man without whose influence this extraordinary land of America could have turned out much differently. Christina
Moving on to Thomas Jefferson, Part 2...(or, Stay in School! ) While the early years of George Washington seemed to demonstrate both physical and mental /political/social preparations for his future, it is of note that the grooming of Thomas Jefferson remained decidedly cerebral. Of note also is the fact that, apparently, he loved it.
Thomas Jefferson loved learning. At nine years of age, our future third President was studying Greek, Latin and French. (Of course, he himself did not know that he would one day be the U.S. Minister to France, and take up residence in Paris for four years...hmmm...not to mention his eventual 'involvement' in the French Revolution...) Between the ages of fourteen and sixteen, Jefferson spent two years boarding at a learned minister's school where, among other subjects, he was introduced to the Greek concept of
at His birth. So,there is our example, proving that God intends for men to commemorate that birth in a solemn, holy way, etc., etc. Let me burst your bubble - Jesus the 'babe' was born in a 'manger' 
