新的異象—美國遺產概要 5

由於大覺醒從1730年到1770年橫掃整個美國殖民地，美國成為世上識字率與受教育程度最高的國家。這轉變為對自由的深度熱愛，正如耶穌所宣告的：「真理必叫你們得以自由」（約翰福音8:32）。哪裡有對真理的熱愛，我們就會在那裡找到對自由的熱愛。真理需要自由，因為真理無法在強迫下找到，而是要在那些將真理視為珍寶的人心中找到。

對自由的熱愛是一個崇高的起因，但以往也有人為自由堅決投入，卻無法帶來真正並持久的自由。為什麼呢？是什麼讓美國愛國者能夠確保他們的自由並持續下去？是什麼迫使他們勇敢面對世界最強大帝國，冒著生命危險來建造並面對成為叛國者的死亡威脅呢？又是什麼樣的動機使如此多當時最聰明、成功與富有的人來做他們當時所做的事呢？

答案是：愛

正如使徒保羅在哥林多前書寫著「愛是永不止息／失敗」（哥林多前書13:8）。愛是唯一擔保不會失敗的動力。為什麼呢？此經文也可以被翻為「愛是永不放棄」。若是受到其他動機驅使，任何人到一個地步都會放棄，但唯有在愛中的人永不放棄。

美國革命戰爭並不只是一場對抗英國的戰爭；雖然殖民者抱著對英國的不滿，但是什麼讓他們冒如此大的危險，忍受如此大的困難，遠超過他們對英國的抵擋。那是出於對他們國家的愛，以及對他們家人與鄰舍的愛。但最大的還是對神與祂真理的愛。

正如我們將看見的，這在開國父老的私人日記、著作與演講中充分被表達出來。他們對新型態國家的專注勝過對英國的抵擋，他們為著某個更美好的事物，促使他們大大提升自己，誕生出一個與現存其他國家完全不同型態的國家。他們誕生出一個為人民效勞的政府，而不是為政府效勞的人民，這讓美國從當時所存在的國家中大大分別出來。

唯有愛能讓美國愛國者在遭受這麼多失敗後仍持續前進，他們的家園、產業與教會都被摧毀，有許多紛爭抵制他們成長。軍人並沒有得著所當得的報酬，他們吃得不好，裝備也很不足，但他們卻繼續前行。

當時有許多殖民者想繼續效忠國王來對抗與他們相爭的愛國者，同時英國也武裝這些效忠者。這樣做等同於是對全世界最強大的軍力錦上添花，但愛國者仍不放棄。

沒有任何表面的自由概念可以如此激勵愛國者來做他們所做的事；當我們研讀美國開國父老的著作，其所顯明的異象本質與深度很難以任何形式來獲得，這是出於聖靈的工作。正如聖經所說，因為聖靈參透萬事，就是神深奧的事也參透了（哥林多前書2:10）。

在歷史上幾乎找不到兩大思想家為著同一目的聚在一起；當全世界只有兩位兄弟時，他們都無法好好相處，在歷史上甚至很少能找到兩人同心合作的例子。把美國開國父老當中的每個人放在任何時代都會非常卓越，但他們能活在同一時期，這在歷史上實在異常罕見。他們住在同一國家，一起開創一個國家，這實在挑戰所有數學機率上的可能性。這並不是隨機發生的，而是一個神蹟，若沒有屬天的精心設計，這是不可能發生的。

在歷史上像美國開國元老般的聚集無疑是獨一無二的，但不單是他們在知識上的深廣度讓他們如此非凡。擁有偉大知識，甚至偉大異象還算小事─將異象轉變成真，這就是區分夢想家與真正偉人之間的不同了。即便在他們戰勝英國之後，沒有人認為他們能以如此崇高的異象來建造國家，但他們做到了。後來，沒有人認為這國家可以維持太久─但它卻延續下來了。

殖民者贏得獨立，為全世界帶來震撼。然而，建造國家會更加困難。許多殖民者只想要另一位國王，當然是一位好王，從他們當中出來，會關照他們的利益，但仍是一位國王。當時唯一存在的政體是帝國；因此，什麼使他們如此大膽又充滿決心來成立一種先前從未成功過的政府型態？

只有一件事能夠讓他們繼續面對似乎不可能的任務，並認為自己可以做到。在經歷如此漫長的戰爭，許多土地都受到破壞，只有一件事能讓他們繼續走在如此艱辛的道路上─就是他們相信命定。他們相信他們有著神聖的委任，他們視此目的比自己的性命更為寶貴。然而，他們不單只有偉大的目的而已─他們深愛著他們的目的。

儘管修正歷史學家企圖竄改我們的歷史，這些美國開國父老敬虔的基督徒信仰已經透過他們的著作與演講得著證實。他們當中的一些人擁有很強烈的情操，例如傑弗遜，他們抵擋「制度化的基督教」，儘管他與那些認同他看法的人聲明他們對基督與福音的深度忠貞。我們的開國父老堅信，真理必須自由地被接受才能成為活出來的真理，所以他們定意建立一個讓人有真實宗教自由的地方。他們絕不是像修正主義試圖讓我們相信般的反宗教，正如我們以下將看見的。

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～摘錄美國獨立宣言作者與第三任總統─湯馬斯·傑弗遜（Thomas Jefferson）～

為了對此獨立宣言的支持，並堅定倚靠從天而來的保護，我們互相承諾彼此的生命、財富與神聖的榮譽。

～摘錄美國第二任總統─約翰·亞當斯（John Adams）～

這是所有國人的公眾義務，在所定的季節，敬拜宇宙的造物主與保護者。沒有任何東西應受到傷害、騷擾與監禁，不管是人身自由或產業，可以用最合乎自我良知的方式來敬拜神，或出於宗教表達或情感，只要他不擾亂公共和平，或妨礙他人的宗教崇拜。

 (摘自喬納word for the week, Week5, 2020)
 

A New Vision—Heritage Brief 5

As a result of the Great Awakening that swept through the American colonies from 1730 to 1770, America became the most literate and educated place in the world. This translated into a deep devotion to freedom because, as Jesus had declared, “The truth will make you free” (see John 8:32). Where there is a devotion to truth, we will find a devotion to liberty. The truth requires liberty because truth is not found under compulsion, but rather by the hearts of those who esteem truth as the treasure it is.  

     The devotion to liberty is a noble cause, but even the most resolute devotion to this in the past failed to bring about true and lasting liberty. Why? What enabled the American Patriots to secure their liberty and then keep it? What compelled them to stand up to the most powerful empire in the world, risking all they had spent their lives building and facing almost certain death as traitors? What kind of motivation compelled so many of the most brilliant, successful, and wealthy men of the time to do what they did? 

     Love. 

     As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Love never fails” (see I Corinthians 13:8). Love is the only motivator guaranteed not to fail. Why? This text could also have been interpreted “Love never quits.” There is a point where anyone will quit if driven by any other motive, but those in love will never quit. 

     The Revolutionary War was not just a war against the British. The colonists had grievances with the British, but what compelled them to risk so much, and endure so much, was more than what they were against. It was for the love of their country, and for the love of their families and neighbors. Yet, most of all it was for the love of God and His truth. 

     As we will see, this was articulated in the private journals, writings, and speeches of the Founders. They were not as much against the British as they were for a new kind of country. They were for something so great that it compelled them to rise to greatness, giving birth to a nation unlike any other that had ever existed. They would have a government that existed for the people instead of the people existing for the government. This was a stunning departure from anything that had existed before.

     Only love could have kept the American patriots going after suffering so many defeats, having their homes, property, and churches destroyed, and with the odds against them growing. The soldiers were not paid their promised wages, and they were poorly fed and poorly equipped. Yet, they marched on.

     There were as many colonists that wanted to stay loyal to the crown and fight against the Patriots as there were those fighting with them, and the British were arming the loyalists. These were added to the ranks of what was already the most powerful army in the world. Still the Patriots did not quit.

     No superficial concept of liberty could have inspired the Patriots to do what they did. When we study the writings of the American Founding Fathers, they reveal a substance and depth of vision that few have acquired in any cause. As we are told in Scripture, the Holy Spirit searches the depths, even the depths of God. This was a work of the Holy Spirit.

     Rarely in history do we find even two great thinkers that come together for a single purpose. When there were just two brothers on the whole earth they could not get along, and it is rare in history to ever find even two who collaborate. The American Founding Fathers would have each been extraordinary in any time, but for all of them to live at the same time is as rare an anomaly in history as can be found.  For all of them to actually live in the same country, and then come together to found a nation, challenges all mathematical possibilities. This did not happen by random chance, but it was a miracle that could not have happened without Divine engineering.

     No doubt such a gathering as the American Founding Fathers is unique in history, but it was not just the expanse and depth of their knowledge that made them so remarkable. Having great knowledge, and even great vision, is the easy part—turning the vision into reality is what separates the dreamers from the truly great. Even after their victory over the British, no one thought that they could build a nation on such lofty vision, but they did. Then, no one thought that it could possibly last—but it has.

     The colonists won their independence to the shock of the entire world. Yet, building the nation would be an even more difficult struggle. Many colonists just wanted another king. A good king of course, someone who was one of them and would care for their interests, but a king nonetheless. Imperial government was the only kind that existed at the time. So, what made them so bold and determined to form a kind of government that had never before been successful? 

     There was only one thing that enabled them to continuously face such a seemingly impossible task and think that they could do it. There was only one thing that enabled them to continue on such a difficult path after such a long war that had so devasted their land—they believed in destiny. They believed they had a Divine mandate, and that purpose was more precious to them than their own lives. But they did not just have a great purpose—they loved their purpose.

     Despite the attempt by revisionist historians to change our history, the devout Christian convictions of the American Founders are verified by their writings and speeches. There was a strong sentiment in some of them, like Jefferson, that was resistant to “institutional Christianity,” although he, and most of the others who shared his views, declared their deep fidelity to Christ and the gospel. With the conviction that truth had to be freely embraced to become living truth, our Founders were resolved to establish a place where there was true religious liberty. They were never anti-religion as revisionists would have us believe, as we will see.

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For the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. —Thomas Jefferson, Author of The Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States

It is the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the Supreme Being, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping God in the manner most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession or sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship. – John Adams, Second President of the United States