"W" is for Whitefield and the Many Mistakes that even Christians make

     Now largely forgotten, George Whitefield (1714-1770) was probably the most famous religious figure of the eighteenth century.  Newspapers called him the "marvel of the age".  Whitefield was a preacher capable of commanding thousands on two continents through the sheer power of his oratory.  In his lifetime, he preached at least 18,000 times to perhaps 10 million hearers.
     Whitefield had a grand idea, an orphan home and college to be located in
Georgia.  Expenses proved to be an impediment.  To make the project affordable, Whitefield used his considerable influence to help legalize slavery in Georgia and then used slaves to work at the orphanage.  To help raise money for the orphanage, he also employed slaves at his Providence Plantation. 
     Sometimes God does not provide.  What then?  Does the end justify the means?  Most certainly not.  Whitefield's efforts to legalize slavery in Georgia most surely resulted in untold suffering.  Even Christians can make mistakes, often the result of good intentions without the guidance of the restraining hand of God's Holy Spirit.
     Today we ought learn from the mistakes of past generations of Christians as well as from their successes.  Are you seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit and following that guidance even if the Spirit leads in a direction contrary to your prejudices?  This is a difficult challenge for Christian America today, as it has been in the past.
     Below, photos of drawings of the Bethesday Orphanage plans from the OCHF Library (click photo for larger image). 

"V" is for Visitors (from another world)

     Over the years, some non-biblical ideas have been attached to the Christian tradition.  Among the more interesting is an interpretation of Genesis 2:8 advanced by LDS Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), namely, that seeds and plants were brought to this world by visitors from another world.  The Genesis account (Genesis 2:8) states that God planted the Garden of Eden.  The Mormon account found in Pearl of Great Price/Abraham 5:8 indicates that "the gods"; i.e., a heavenly council, planted the garden.  This implies the intriguing concept that seeds and plants were brought to this world by visitors from another world, an idea that has been advanced by LDS Mormon theologians.
     The Mormons were organized on April 6, 1830, by Joseph Smith in Fayette, New York, following Smith's earlier discovery of an ancient account of the lost tribes of Israel in America written on leaves of gold by the hand of Mormon and sealed until revealed to Smith by the Angel Moroni, son of Mormon.  This account was written in "Reformed Egyption" for the American Indians "who were a remnant of the house of Israel", and for the Jews and Gentiles.
     It is said that Smith translated the plates by use of a "seer stone" which he placed in the bottom of a hat and then placed the hat over his face to view the translation.  The notion advanced by Smith's translation of the plates regarding the origin of the American Indians; i.e., that they are descendants of the lost tribes of Israel, was already in vogue and had been published prior to Joseph Smith's translation of the gold plates.  A general fascination with archeology and especially Egyptian antiquities was also in vogue at the time.  Below are photos of the OCHF Library's copy of Elias Boudinot's A Star in the West, or, A Humble Attempt to Discover the Long Lost Ten Tribes of Israel, published 1816, a book which may have influenced Smith (click photo for larger image).

 

 

     Mormons (LDS) believe that those who have not accepted the atoning work of Christ in this life and been baptized according to the ordinances of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will have a second opportunity for salvation after death.  Since baptism into the LDS Church is a required ordinance for salvation to be accomplished, and since a physical body must be baptized for fulfill the requirements of this ordinance, Mormons baptize the dead through proxy, thus affording those who have died without salvation the opportunity for salvation to be achieved after death.  This is God's Plan of Salvation as explained in The Deseret News Company's Tract #2, The Plan of Salvation, by Elder John Morgan, n.d., a copy of which is held by the OCHF Library (click photo for larger image).

 

 

 

     Many people today have, for a variety of reasons, concluded that all religions are of equal value.  This may make for a more "tolerant" society.  The viewpoint does, however, devalue Christianity by putting it on the same level as other religions.  The Apostle Paul clearly teaches that Christianity is unique.  Not that all varieties of Christianity are of equal validity.  Eccentricities such as advanced by Mormonism need to be evaluated both in terms of common sense and a thorough understanding of the underlying truths of the Bible.  While a successful American religion, Mormonism remains very much eccentric to the broader scope of our American experience and Christian Heritage. 





"U" is for Uncle Tom's Cabin

     Uncle Tom's Cabin was the best-selling novel of the 19th century and the second best-selling book of that century following the Bible.  Many
modern-day Americans have heard of Uncle Tom's Cabin, but few know it as the powerful statement of the Christian faith it is.  Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe was extroardinarily influential not only as an agent of social-change in America but also as a testimony of the Christian faith.  The term "Uncle Tom" has, in some circles, become synonymous with spineless subservience.  But anyone who truly reads the book will recognize something quite different in the character of the slave Uncle Tom.  His life is a model of bravery and faithfulness to the highest Christian priciples.  Would that we were all "Uncle Toms" in our faithfulness, our humility, our integrity, and our devotion to the Lord!
     Below, title page of one of the OCHF Library's copies of Uncle Tom's Cabin, and, an engraving from that book (click photos for larger image).

 

 

 

     Below, title page to one of the many popular 19th century songs inspired by the novel, this copy held by the OCHF Library (click photo for larger image)