Since the beginning of time, religious doctrine has dictated law. The Bible laid out the rules that people are to live by and these rules became law. The Bible also declared that disobedience to civil rulers was both a political sin and a transgression against God. Colonists struggled with their consciences and debated their own authority. They struggled to resolve varied interpretations of Scripture. In Romans Chapter 13, verse 1, St. Paul writes: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers”. Strictly interpreted, this would mean that people should be loyal not only to God, but to all authorities. Rulers, no matter how oppressive and ty

Revolution was in direct conflict with God’s word. It could not have been an easy decision for Colonists to decide to revolt against Great Britain. The Bible instructed them that it was their duty to submit to authority. Whether their submission should be absolute was subject to debate and created division between the Colonists.

rannical, were to be respected and obeyed. Contrarians debated whether this was the correct interpretation, or was the Bible really referring only to authorities that were living and ruling in a fair and humane manner? Characterizing the Patriots endeavors as “revolutionary” certainly put them in an unfavorable light and in potential defiance of Biblical doctrine. It created an inaccurate portrait of what they were truly trying to accomplish and would most likely have prevented them from getting the full support of their countrymen.

More importantly, a “revolution” could be interpreted as being in direct violation of the Scriptures. The Bible was very specific when speaking of submission to, and respect for, authority. Minister Jonathon Mayhew urged Colonists to “pay all due regard to the government over us.” By revolting against Great Britain, the Colonists risked suffering the wrath of God, something far worse than facing the wrath of their adversaries on earth.

All successful revolutions are both constructive and destructive. Americans in 1776 believed they had launched a revolution on behalf of constitutional principles that were being corrupted in Great Britain. In the eyes of Americans, Great Britain’s government lacked legitimacy in that it did not fairly represent the people it governed. By the end of 1776, British colonial governments collapsed. Revolutionary councils took the place of the crumbling governm

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