I do not trust the anecdotal stories of a man who lies so casually to advance his political goals. Yet even if this exchange actually went as Eddie describes, the truth is the Pilgrims did come for monetary, or economic reasons. Their voyage was funded by economic interests that they were expected to repay. The monetary reasons were starker when they were living in Holland as they were forced to do long hours for low pay in the cloth industry. They undertook the journey to America to try and give their families a better life. Were there also religious goals mixed in? Sure, no one is arguing that they were not religious but to pretend that was their sole reason is historically asinine. What Eddie Hyatt traffics in is not "true history" but rather pretending God wants him to twist history to somehow make the case for the modern-day apostate church. Eddie also does his usual nonsense about quoting himself, as if that passes academic rigor. It does not. Look, what he is doing here is selectively choosing quotes that he thinks proves his point while ignoring those that do not. The Pilgrims left England for religious reason and went to Holland. They primarily left Holland however, for economic reasons.
"The Pilgrims practiced what modern missiologists would call "friendship evangelism." They made friends, not only with Squanto, but with countless other individuals and tribes. They established a treaty with the Wampanoag tribe in which they promised to defend each other if either was attacked by an outside aggressor. Dr. Samuel Eliot Morison says the Pilgrims treated the natives with "A combination of justice, wisdom and mercy" (Hyatt, 38). A number of Native Americans came and lived among the Pilgrims. These included Squanto, Samoset and Hobomok, who served the Pilgrims as guides and interpreters. Living in Plymouth, they would have attended the church services of the Pilgrims. Their friendship evangelism bore fruit. Bradford told of Squanto falling sick and dying. The Pilgrims cared for Squanto in his sickness, and Bradford said that before he passed, Squanto asked him to pray for him that he would go to the God in heaven he had learned about from the Pilgrims. Bradford described Squanto's death as "a great loss."' - Eddie Hyatt
Friendship evangelism? Is he serious? Anyone with a shred of knowledge of history knows that is ridiculous. The Wampanoag tribe actually were the reasons the Pilgrims survived the first the first winter. It is true that there was some friendship in what was a complex relationship but to pretend that everything was puppies and rainbows is historically ignorant. Yes, there was a peace treaty but there was also rampant disease spread by the Pilgrims, the desecration of graves for the purpose of robbing them and of course the theft of their land. I am sure that many of the natives who had Christianity forced upon them would differ about being treated with justice, wisdom and mercy.
"The Pilgrims' commitment to missions contributed to the fact that the first Bible published in the New World was not an English-language Bible but one in the Massachusetts language. It was published in 1660 for the purpose of reaching the native people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Pilgrims' commitment to missions has had far-reaching ramifications and contributed to America becoming the greatest missionary-sending nation in history. This missionary vision, which began with the Pilgrims, became so pronounced that it caught the attention of the U.S. Supreme Court. In the 1892 ruling of "Church of the Holy Trinity vs. the United States," the nation's highest court stated, The churches and church organizations which abound in every city, town, and hamlet . . . and the gigantic missionary associations, with general support, and aiming to establish Christian missions in every quarter of the globe add a mass of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation (Hyatt, "1726: The Year that Defined America," 170). Yes, the Pilgrims were fleeing persecution in England, but that was only part of the story. They had a proactive missionary vision that was pulling them forward. They clearly stated that they had come to America, "For the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith." In retrospect, it is obvious that they were successful in their mission. It is also obvious that the modern, self-obsessed American church needs to acquire a missionary vision of its own. After all, the Great Commission, in which Jesus commanded us to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19a, NIV), has never expired." - Eddie Hyatt
Once again, it may be easy to find a singular quote that you think supports your NAR dominionist dream, and Eddie has cited this specific quote before. That does not mean it was ever a "Christian nation" and why is this point being made in a discussion about the Pilgrims, who arrived 150 years earlier than the revolution? Stealing people's land in the name of Jesus is not evangelism, let alone "friendship evangelism." Missionary work is not forcing your beliefs on people either. Look, history is often a lot more complicated than people who are trying to use it make it out to be. Persecution was only part of the Pilgrims story. There also was a desire to spread Christianity, no doubt. There also however were real economic drivers. In fact, if there were no economic hardships in Holland, they probably never take the voyage. Even though they did say it was for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith, they also swore all due submission and obedience to the general good of the colony, something Eddie would probably label as communistic or socialism. The Great Commission was not marching orders to force Christianity upon unbelievers. That was the egregious error of the Crusades. We share the gospel, and show the love of Christ in our lives and stealing people's land while robbing their graves? Yeah, that is not showing the love of Jesus. Neither is pretending the Pilgrims represent an imperative for modern day Christians to somehow do as they did. How historically oblivious. How clearly deceptive.
Happy Thanksgiving all!
Reverend Anthony Wade - November 28, 2024
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