History of the Church II: Week 11

Age of Progress ( )  What does the term revolution mean?  Two revolutions happened in the late 18 th century which not only changed the way the world was governed but also changed the way the church operated.  From 312 AD to 1517, the Church was run by a central authority with a hierarchy designed to keep church members bound to its’ teachings not the Bible.  From the Peace of Augsburg (1555) to 1774, nations of Europe and even the Puritans in America tried to govern its territories through state churches. 

The American and French Revolutions  There are many reasons why the American and French Revolutions changed the history of the world.  However, the Church was profoundly impacted as well.  We have already talked about how denominations came about in America. Now let’s focus on how religious liberty helped spur on evangelism not in America but all over the world.  Read Amendment One to the Constitution.

The American and French Revolutions  The Free Exercise Clause  The Establishment Clause (See Heritage Foundation Guide in research materials)  With state run churches virtually non-existent in America after 1800, individuals, church and societies could evangelize, help the poor and build hospitals, schools, etc. without government interference.  The result of this was the great evangelistic movement of the 19 th century from England and the United States.

The American and French Revolutions  The French Revolution helped usher in the secular society of today.  France had suffered greatly under the absolute monarchy of the Bourbon dynasties.  Unlike England which had started to reform its own society as early as the 13 th century with the Magna Carta, all reforms in France had been put down with violence first by the Catholic Church (Inquisition) and then by the monarchs themselves.  It is estimated by 1789 of the 25,000,000 people who lived in France only 200,000 owned 50% of the land and they had the best jobs in government.

The American and French Revolutions  The winter of was so bad that crops were planted late which led to severe shortages of food especially in Paris. This was the worst crop failure in 40 years so many starved including many Parisians.  The government tried to import food but the rest of Europe had experienced the same winter as France.  On October 5, 1789, the “fish” ladies of Paris had enough with trying to buy bread at the market. Led by revolutionaries, a mob of thousands formed, broke into the armory and marched the ten miles to the King’s Palace. They “convinced” the royal family to go with them back to Paris.  The French Revolution had begun.

The American and French Revolutions  So why did the American Revolution end in the formation of the greatest nation in the history of the world and the French Revolution end with Napoleon?  At the core of the American Revolution was the idea that man’s liberties came from God not man.  The Great Awakening had prepared the colonists for the American Revolution and had grounded them in the Word and personal piety.  The principals of which the nation were founded were general Christian principals.

The American and French Revolutions "The general principles, on which the Fathers achieved independence, were the only Principles in which that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could Unite, and these Principles only could be intended by them… And what were these general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity, in which all these Sects were United: And the general Principles of English and American Liberty, in which all those young Men United, and which had United all Parties in America, in Majorities sufficient to assert and maintain her Independence. Now I will avow, that I then believe, and now believe, that those general Principles of Christianity, are as eternal and immutable, as the Existence and Attributes of God; and that those Principles of Liberty, are as unalterable as human Nature and our terrestrial, mundane System." --John Adams on June 28, 1813, excerpt from a letter to Thomas Jefferson.

The American and French Revolutions  The French Revolution was founded on an Enlightenment ideal based on a flawed idea of Christianity: Deism.  Deism is not a specific religion but rather a particular perspective on the nature of God. Deists believe that a creator god does exist, but that after the motions of the universe were set in place he retreated, having no further interaction with the created universe or the beings within it. Reason replaces faith. Since God is not involved with creation man must rely on himself to affect change.  From Deism it’s a quick journey to no belief in God and a secular society which is what the French Revolution is known for.