One of my most visited posts is “George Washington & Political Parties”. I don’t know if the thoughts expressed therein ever helped anyone, but I was reading it today and was certainly given pause.
George Washington, as Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary War forces & our first President, continues to only earn more of my great & deep respect and admiration. With every new article, statement, or description relating to this man, I am profoundly impressed. It does not seem possible that what God hath wrought through our first & foremost Founding Father, could show itself yet more magnificent – but it does.
We learn not only about Washington, we also learn about God. We can learn about His heart for America, in seeing His hand in young George’s life, in the young Lieutenant Washington’s exploits, in George’s meeting of Martha, his wife-to-be…in oh so close! brushes with death, miracles in battle…and especially so in General Washington’s dauntless perseverance against all odds. If you aren’t a person who is interested in
learning about Revolutionary War battles in more detail, you wouldn’t know about the unrelenting obstacles & setbacks, cruel deprivations & deep discouragements, disappointments & betrayals. Sufferings about which we are blessed to not know the details, perhaps…those of us who have not served in active combat, nor will, are so protected by those who have. Washington & his men stood against the darkness, and with the Almighty’s Hand, prevailed.
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…so I thought I would re-post here some of our first President’s warnings concerning political parties.
“One of the expedients of party to acquire influence…is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts.”
You don’t have to look too far to see this principle thriving in today’s political climate!
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Washington warned that such ‘misrepresentations’ “…tend to render alien to each other those who ought to be bound together by fraternal affection.” Causing instead division in these United States.
He foresaw “cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men {being} enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government…” Wolves in sheep’s clothing?
{Quotes taken from George Washington’s Farewell Address (1796)}
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From my original post George Washington & Political Parties, I reproduce here my own wording:
“…with insight as piercing as the quickened & powerful word of God, discerning the thoughts & intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12), Washington lays bare the ‘spirit of party’, which he saw as being deeply rooted in human nature & passion, and aggravated by resentments. He understood “that love of power, and proneness to abuse it” found in human hearts, and believed the pitting of one faction against another could produce over time enough revenge, misery and ‘disorders’, as to impel the populace back towards monarchy.”
We should be alarmed at the mere thought of such a possibility. You need to know that God Himself did not want His people to be under any earthly monarchical ruler. (1 Samuel 8:7) He still does not want that. It’s not His style!! When you see any kind of movement trending – even inching! – in that direction, be concerned. Be concerned because there is a power behind it, that does not have your good at heart. There is a power behind it that ultimately desires to usurp the throne of the King of kings.
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Related posts:
The Kingdom of God, the Republic of America & You 