Since the advent of email, we get lots of articles and prefabricated forwards challenging us to take a stand against first one thing and another. One blog which I subscribe to is called BiblePlaces.com, and today they sent a very unusual link about tourism: http://www.caspari.com/new/en/resources/media-review/854-january-27-2014-media-review Note one article I have copied below.
History
The Jerusalem Post, January 21, 2014
Eli Kavon, an American Jew, reflects on the Christian nature of the American Revolution, in his attempt to come to terms with the foundations upon which his country was built. Kavon explains that the American Revolution was a religious war, one that the “New Israelites” [i.e. the Protestant immigrants to America] fought against the “demonic evil” represented by the British. Many sermons preached during the Revolution reveal this bent in American thinking at the time. These sermons leaned heavily on “the militant Christ of Luther” as is manifested in the book of Revelation. “In an attempt to convince Americans that Jesus never condoned pacifism,” writes Kavon, “ministers cited Revelation 19. This particular chapter features Jesus as the ‘militant victor.’ This was a Christ wielding ‘a sharp sword’ that would ‘smite the nations’ in judgment, laying down ‘the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.’ … Americans martyred themselves on the field of battle, inspired by the image of a Jesus who fought evil, not a meek, ‘turn the other cheek’ teacher.” All this, explains Kavon, ought to make American Jews feel rather uncomfortable, especially since “the Christ as ‘militant victor’ is the same force that persecuted Jews as the ‘sons of the Devil,’ in the extreme hatred of Jews evoked by Luther in his later writings.” However, Jews ought to recognize that these are facts of history, and “face this reality with honesty, grace and a sense of history not distorted by an out-of-date and insecure apologetic stance.”
Translated from the latest Caspari Center Media Review includes a brief summary from the Hebrew-language Yerushalayim Shelanu of tourism to Israel in 2012.
HOW DOES THE HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF PRE-1776 PHILOSOPHY COMPARE TO Matthew 5:27-48?
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
KJV
MULIEBRAL VIEWPOINT 
As much as the U.S. likes to think the Revolution was a justified action, even the reasons offered for the Revolution (given in the first part of the Constitution) do not justify the action. The Bible clearly teaches us to be subject the government that is in power (Rom. 13:1-4) and does not allow us to overthrow our government, regardless of how corrupt their are (One could easily argue that the Roman government at the time or Rom. 13 was a very corrupt government). Later, the Romans would persecute the church and the church was not given the right to overthrow the government.
We must understand that God is in control. And, God will punish those who are evil and reward those who are righteous. As Nebuchadnezzar learned in Dan. 4, God rules in the kingdoms of men. Our job as Christians, especially, is to be good citizens, and live righteously regardless of what is going on around us. We are truly to be shining lights in a world of darkness.
Charles Coats, Weberville, MI
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If you are not familiar with the “Black Robed Regiment” from the 18th century, do a quick Google search on this group of people. Those who live in America should also do a bit of research on how the Declaration of Independence reflects numerous sermon topics from the two decades prior to the American Revolution. Then there is a great quote from John Adams you might ponder; he described several ministers as “characters who were most ardent and influential in the awakening and a revival of American principles and convictions that led to American independence.”
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