John Peter Muhlenberg Monologue

by Tim Frankovich

One nation under God.

God and country. No other nation in history has seen those two words more united than the United States of America. Are they united for you? Or have you forgotten the lessons that the history of this great nation has taught? Every time there is a great awakening of patriotism in America, it is accompanied by a great spiritual awakening.

No one knows this better than I do.

My name is John Peter Muhlenberg. In 1775, I was a Lutheran pastor in Virginia. My little congregation was FORCED to make the decision to stand up for God and country.

But the foundations for the Revolution had been laid twenty, thirty years before, when I was a child. Another momentous event took place that was the true beginning of our "one nation under God." This event was called "The Great Awakening."

Primarily under the preaching of George Whitefield, a tremendous revival swept the American Colonies. Thousands were becoming saved everywhere. And as they were saved, they were united. The thirteen individual Colonies became united in something that surpassed everything else - salvation through Jesus Christ. This unity became so important, that by the time of the Revolution, the Founders proclaimed it to be "self-evident - that all men are created equal."

So when King George III came along, violating that common belief, we were united against him. And united in our dependence on Almighty God.

The very first Continental Congress met in 1774 to discuss the grievances we had with England. And their very first act was to unite in prayer. As they gathered in one room to hear a local preacher give the opening prayer, they heard a horrible rumor - the British had opened fire on the city of Boston.

The preacher nervously read a few prayers, and then opened his book to the Psalm of the Day. It was Psalm 35.

(opens Bible)

"Plead my cause, Oh Lord, with them that strive with me, fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of buckler and shield, and rise up for my help. Draw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me; say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.'"

The result was instantaneous. The entire Congress fell into a desperately fervent prayer that lasted over an hour. And so things began.

You see, one of the moving forces behind the American Revolution was the pastors. The pastors were the leaders of the minute men. The pastors were preaching about King George's violations of our rights. Men such as myself who had grown up and felt God's calling during the Great Awakening were now calling for a different kind of awakening... An awakening of Patriotism. In the city of Boston, the very powderkeg of the Revolution, no less than twenty pastors admitted coming to Christ under the preaching of George Whitefield some years before. God had especially prepared us for such a time as this.

And so, the day came when I could no longer remain uninvolved. One Sunday morning, I came to the pulpit and began my sermon...

(opens Bible)

Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, beginning with verse 1. "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up..."

(closes Bible and sets it aside)

In the language of the Holy Writings, there is a time for all things. There is a time to preach... and a time to fight.

(steps to side and removes pastor's robe, revealing army uniform)

This is the time to fight. Sound the drums! I am going to join General Washington! Who goes with me?

(bows head, pause)

That day, I led 300 men of my community to join the Revolutionary army. When the war ended, six long years later... I cannot tell you how many were left. We lost so many in those early years... but we knew what we were fighting for! God and country!

And the motto of our Revolution? Our battle cry? It was this: No King but King Jesus!

As our tiny little army began to assemble, 56 men met in Philadelphia in July, 1776, and the final, irrevocable step was taken. The Declaration of Independence was drafted and signed. In it, we accused King George of violating "the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God." What did that mean? Very simply, taken from Blackstone's Commentaries on the Law, it meant "King George is violating the will of God and the laws of the Bible." THAT was our foundation. THAT was why we were patriots.

Is it time today for a rebirth of patriotism? Is it time for a Great Awakening in this land? One does not come without the other in this "one nation under God."

In the darkest hours of Valley Forge, General George Washington issued the following general orders to the troops:

"To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to laud the more distinguished Character of Christian."

Patriots. Christians. We were proud to be both. Are you?