On July 13th, 1787 (4 years after the end of the Revolution), a landmark set of laws and plans for the settling of the massive territory west of the Ohio River was put into effect by the United States Confederation Congress. It called for religious and civil liberty, the establishment of new governments in the new lands, a process for turning territories into Congressionally represented states, the proper treatment of Indians, the establishment of Bible-based schools, and the prohibition of slavery. It was a major stepping stone in the formation of the early United States, even while another convention met for the drafting and construction of the Constitution. The Ordinance would be echoed in the very writing of this document, especially in the Bill of Rights.

Following the conclusion of the Revolutionary War with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the U.S. now had a lot of unsettled territory on its hands. This was called the “Northwest Territory”, and consisted of hundreds of thousands of miles of land hemmed in by the Ohio River in the south, the Great Lakes in the north, and the Mississippi River in the west. It contained the land now occupied by the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.

Previously, in 1784, what was still called the Continental Congress, had made efforts for settling and selling this land, but a comprehensive and authoritative plan needed to be made. This was especially needed because of the massive debt the Congress was in. It hoped to use this virgin land to sell to the American citizens, as well as so it could pay back many of the soldiers from the Revolution who had yet to be compensated for their service. In addition, the Congress needed to resolve previous disputed claims by different states, when they had originally claimed territories for themselves, particularly Virgina. The solution was to put all the land under congressional control, and then found a first single government of the territory, to be divided up into towns, to be governed by legislatures, and eventually to be divided into full states with representatives in Congress.

This is a brief look at the background, drafting, and contents of the Northwest Ordinance.

On July 8th, 1775, the Second Continental Congress sent their Olive Branch Petition to King George III, in a last-ditch effort to persuade him to hold back the might of the British Army from waging war against the American colonies, and to let them live without hindrance. Although it inevitably failed to change anything about the British policies toward the colonies, it showed that there were many among the American leaders that still wanted harmony with the British government. In spite of this sentiment, they approved A Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms the next day, in order to defend their war of defense against the British occupiers. In effect, this document did much to contradict what they had just said in the Petition. It also provided a basic outline for some of their arguments for forming a new nation, as expressed in The Declaration of Independence. In this month of July and August, all dreams of peace were destroyed, and the minds of the colonists were steeled to wage a war that would secure them permanent and full separation from Great Britain, and the establishment of a new a sovereign nation governed by Christian and enlightenment principles, in the form of a democratic republic of liberty and laws. In this episode, we’ll look at the events leading up to and following “The Olive Branch Petition” and “The Declaration of Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms.”

The American Revolutionary War officially began 250 years ago in April of 1775 with the Battle of Lexington and Concord, an embarrassing defeat for the British forces that were garrisoned in Boston, Massachusetts. They retreated back to the mass of several thousand troops that were now going to be besieged by the Massachusetts militia, or minutemen. These militiamen now surrounded the city with fortifications, such as the important Bunker and Breed’s Hills, one of which was abandoned by the British. This fight had killed 65 British and 50 American soldiers. The next month, on May 10th, the delegates of the American colonies reunited after their first Continental Congress the previous September. Their goals were to agree on how they could defend themselves against further British attacks, how they could fund and supply the troops that were needed for their defense, and on how they could negotiate peace with Great Britain.

Who were these delegates at the Congress? The big names were all here – John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington. The men that were sent by their colonies were all well-educated and well-to-do, but came from various backgrounds. There were lawyers, farmers, soldiers, pastors, business-owners, and professional politicians all present. But what united them all was a concern with the safety and prosperity of their homelands, their colonies. They didn’t yet universally see themselves as fellow countrymen, besides being fellow British subjects. Rather, they saw themselves as citizens of their respective colonies, such as Massachusettsans, Pennsylvanians, Virginians, New Yorkers, and so on. However, as time went on, they began to increasingly see themselves as fellow Americans, as they united to defeat the British armies sent to suppress their efforts at self-government.

The Continental Congress was the embryo of what would later be called the Congress of the Confederation, and still later the Federal Government. It was basically a colonial parliament, which had no formal legal authority to make any decisions for the colonies, but derived its authority from the necessity of having a united body of legislators to make colony-wide decisions at this desperate time of war. So, they did indeed make many of the decisions for the colonies during the war. And this big decision in the beginning of July was to effectively declare war on Great Britain, and refuse any offer of peace at the price of their freedom.

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On July 3rd, 1754, a 22 year old George Washington surrendered his small group of soldiers to French forces after a humiliating and unsurprising defeat. Called the Battle of Fort Necessity, this was the first major one of the French and Indian War, which was the main military prelude to the American Revolution. 21 years later, July 3rd of 1775, he would take command of the American Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts.

As this year (2025) marks the two and a half century anniversary of one of the most significant events in all history, the American Revolution, beginning in 1775, I want to give you a new background lesson to explain that conflict by recounting the most significant event that contributed immediately to the circumstances that led to the revolution – the poorly-known French and Indian War, which was fought from 1754 to 1760. Why do I want to tell the story of the King’s hand in the conflict that established the United States? Because in spite of many arguments to the contrary, I believe the King did something special in setting up this nation as one of the few nations in history that have most honored, defended, and propagated His gospel through the liberty and industriousness of His body living within it. And because Americans, westerners, and all who have feel any influence from the U.S. should understand some of the history of how the King used its forming uphold truth and righteousness through some of the most courageous, wise, and industrious people that have ever lived on earth. And most of the basis for their uniqueness was the influence they had from the predominantly Christian and biblical education and training they were brought up with in the British colonies of North America. Therefore, let’s look at how the King first set the stage for the Revolution and the actions of its great men and women as we explore the King’s hand in the people of the young American states.

The French and Indian War between the British army and colonials, and the French and Indians, set some of the major conditions that led to the motivators for the colonists in seeking political and economic independence from Great Britain. It solidified Britain’s hold on North America with the takeover of Canada, led them to levy numerous new taxes on the colonists, contributed to the Indians’ various attitudes and stances toward the European people in the Revolution, and most importantly, served as a testing ground for many leaders and soldiers that would fight in the Revolutionary War on both the British and American sides. Key people participated in the events surrounding the war, including George Washington, Daniel Morgan, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Gage. The war shows us the great lengths men are willing to go to obtain wealth and land, protect national honor, and simply obey their superiors, even to the death. The number of lives that were either permanently deformed or lost throughout the almost decade-long war was about 8,000.

In this episode, I’ll tell you the summarized story of the worldwide prelude to the American Revolution.

Some sources for this episode:

The French and Indian War: Deciding the Fate of North America by Walter R. Borneman

Key Battles of American History podcast, French and Indian War series:

https://open.spotify.com/show/6rWhzpdYfx6and9bG9J24g?si=3a0206b0a4684eac

How did God bring the gospel to numerous Native American people in the early 1700s, which gave rise to greater efforts after the Revolution to preach to them? And what single man’s example was used by the Lord to inspire such missionary giants as William Carey, Robert M’Cheyne, and Henry Martyn? The answer to both of these questions is the missionary preacher David Brainerd, close friend of Jonathan Edwards, and the apostle to the Indians of Kaunaumeek, NY, the Forks of the Delaware, and Crossweeksung, New Jersey. Through his work and preaching, hundreds of Indians came to know the Lord, and an inspiring precedent for compassionate, all-consuming, and prayer-empowered missions was made. Brainerd’s diary, published by Edwards, has been the Lord’s means of inspiring scores of missionaries to set out to dangerous places, far from comfort, in order to win desperately lost souls for Himself.

In this episode, Chris VanDusen brings you a solo recounting of the life, impact, and lessons of the zealous young preacher, taken mainly from The Life and Diary of David Brainerd. From this story, you’ll learn how the Lord used and shaped a constantly depressed and frustrated young man to show the unbelieving and Christian people around him the glory of Jesus, and the power of a man that knows Him through prayer and Scripture. This will also serve as a precursor to future discussions about pre-Revolution America, and especially English-Indian relations.

Other Sources Used in this Episode:

David Brainerd: His Message for Today by Oswald J. Smith

⁠The Life and Ministry of David Brainerd: A Brief Chronology

How did God bring the gospel to numerous Native American people in the early 1700s, which gave rise to greater efforts after the Revolution to preach to them? And what single man’s example was used by the Lord to inspire such missionary giants as William Carey, Robert M’Cheyne, and Henry Martyn? The answer to both of these questions is the missionary preacher David Brainerd, close friend of Jonathan Edwards, and the apostle to the Indians of Kaunaumeek, NY, the Forks of the Delaware, and Crossweeksung, New Jersey. Through his work and preaching, hundreds of Indians came to know the Lord, and an inspiring precedent for compassionate, all-consuming, and prayer-empowered missions was made. Brainerd’s diary, published by Edwards, has been the Lord’s means of inspiring scores of missionaries to set out to dangerous places, far from comfort, in order to win desperately lost souls for Himself.

In this episode, Chris VanDusen brings you a solo recounting of the life, impact, and lessons of the zealous young preacher, taken mainly from The Life and Diary of David Brainerd. From this story, you’ll learn how the Lord used and shaped a constantly depressed and frustrated young man to show the unbelieving and Christian people around him the glory of Jesus, and the power of a man that knows Him through prayer and Scripture. This will also serve as a precursor to future discussions about pre-Revolution America, and especially English-Indian relations.

Other Sources Used in this Episode:

David Brainerd: His Message for Today by Oswald J. Smith

The Life and Ministry of David Brainerd: A Brief Chronology

When the English colonists began to settle in the eastern coast of North America, there were many indigenous tribes inhabiting the region, of varying attitudes and influence. The major difference between the colonists and the Indians was one of religion. Most of the colonists aspired to bring the good news of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ to people who had never learned it before. This included the American Indians, who were enslaved to the deceptions and burdens of pagan, polytheistic, nature-worship. In spite of the professed purposes of many of the English colonists, they largely failed to bring the gospel to their new native neighbors in the New World. This was especially grievous for the Puritans of New England, who were some of the most pious and evangelistic of the English colonists. For decades, since their first settlement in 1620 at Plymouth Plantation, they mostly neglected their obligation to preach the gospel to the perishing Indians around them. There are many reasons for this, including an prideful notion that the Indians were beyond hope.

After being so apathetic for decades, finally in the 1640s, the Puritans began to endeavor to reach the natives with the gospel. One of the first of these pioneering missionaries was John Eliot, a Cambridge-educated Bible teacher and linguist, who spent two years learning the Indian language of Algonquian. Finally, the day came when he preached the gospel in their own tongue, and many were converted. From this point forward, the New England Indians began to turn to the Lord Jesus for salvation, and several Christian Indian towns were established.

In spite of these efforts, only few Christians dared to go to the Indians to preach to them, and win them to Jesus. Among those few were the Moravians of Germany, and individuals such as David Brainerd and Jonathan Edwards. It’s these rare and courageous brothers and sisters that Chris and Casey discuss in this episode.

This is a brief overview of Christian missions to the Indians from the mid-1600s to the mid- 1700s, focusing on John Eliot, King Philip’s War, the Moravians, and David Brainerd. Learn how the Christian colonists of the American colonies preached the gospel to Indians, and how this played a part in the forming and establishment of the Revolutionary American States.

Connect with us at [email protected] or on Facebook in The King's Hand in History Students Group:

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/193MeRHdVu/

Sources used in this episode:

https://www.evangelical-times.org/john-eliot-puritan-missionary-to-the-indians/

http://bdhp.moravian.edu/community_records/christianindians/narrative.html

https://shamokindiary.blogs.bucknell.edu/contextual-materials/moravians-and-native-americans-at-the-confluence/

C.S. Lewis stands as one of the most influential Christian authors and thinkers of the past 100 years, authoring such classic works as Mere Christianity and The Chronicles of Narnia. Yet one important book that is little known among Christians and thinkers alike is a small work called The Abolition of Man. This book was recently commended by The Theology Pugcast podcast, and was once named by National Review as one of the top 100 important books of the 20th century. It’s a vivid and persuasive defense of objective, universal values and standards, and a prophetic critique of the current prevailing dominance of scientism, subjectivism, and post-modernism. In it, Lewis compellingly argues for an objective set of values for human life, as well as for an ardent defense against the arrogant humanistic progressivism of our western secular culture. Christians and non-Christians alike can learn a lot from it about upholding what is objectively good and true, pursuing the right goals in educating children and people, and understanding the motives between the ostensibly well-intentioned efforts of social elites to transform westerners’ values and behaviors.

In this discussion, Chris and Casey discuss this book in detail after giving a brief background of the life of C.S. Lewis. They note the insightful ideas that Lewis conveys, and also note the glaring deficiencies in his arguments. As well as highlighting how Lewis skillfully defends the objective moral standard and value system built into the consciences of all people, we point out that he fails to provide a Christ-centered and biblically-supported argument for the indispensable value of the gospel, nor points to the hope that is found in the redemption and return of the Lord Jesus. However, if you want to learn how to think and argue about the important topics of education, morality, and western social conditions, then this is worth your time to learn about.

Today, there’s a great need for western Christians to get back to following the practices of the churches in the New Testament. Our western evangelical culture is largely hindered by unbiblical structures, conceptions, and customs having to do with our churches. By far, the most unbiblical and dangerous among these is the idea of a divide between a “clergy” or “ministry” and a “laity,” or normal Christians. What does it take to combat errors like this? To find out, we can look to a small group of believers who took radical steps to follow the teachings of the apostles in the early 1800s.

The group Chris and Casey discuss in this episode are lesser known, but have had a huge impact on western evangelical Christianity throughout the centuries. They began in 1820s Ireland, with the formation of small Christian groups that separated from the Anglican Church to celebrate the Lord’s Supper in their homes. Then, a group like this was formed in Plymouth, England, under the leadership of John N. Darby. What distinguished them from most of their contemporaries was their refusal to wear a denominational label, their rejection of a separate class of professional leaders, and their practice of allowing any gifted man to offer a word of encouragement or instruction. Although they developed as they went, their fundamental tenets remained the same – keep the Lord’s Supper at the center, allow all believers to exercise their gifts in their meetings, and keep the assembly leaders as a humble group of mature men who simply exercise unique leadership gifts as the elders and shepherds.

We discuss the history of the Brethren movement, from their beginnings in Ireland, to their separation into the Open and Exclusive Brethren, and then to the beginnings and spread of Darby's Dispensationalism in the 1800s. You will also learn about the great faults and mistakes that were made in the early days, as well as in more recent times. Then, we talk about how we can employ their good ideas and practices today.

Please consider subscribing and sharing this podcast to spread the knowledge of the King’s working hand to more people!

What have Baptist Christians historically believed since they began as a distinct sect of Christianity? Today, you’ll get many diverse and competing answers to this question. Yet, found among the annals of history, there are a few documents written by Baptists that have long served as the landmark ones to define what most Baptists have believed throughout the centuries. These “confessions of faith,” from the beginning of their use, have guided Baptist Christians in their understanding of Scripture, and have stood as a witnesses to non-Baptists of what it means to rightly and reverently understand and apply Scripture to Christian living. In spite of many believers’ ignorance and lack of interest in these confessions, they are excellent resources for our study, understanding, and application of Scripture today. They show us what our Christian forefathers believed, preached, taught, and lived to defend, even to the death.

The first widespread and popularized Baptist confession of faith is the 1644 London Baptist Confession. It was published to distinguish Calvinistic Baptists from the Anabaptists, since these congregations were wrongly associated with them, risking their ostracization and criticism as political troublemakers and insurrectionists. In order to counter these concerns the Calvinistic Baptist churches of London decided to agree upon their major doctrines, compile them into a coherent document, and publish it to the English world. Two years later, they slightly revised it in the 1646 London Baptist Confession.

Arguably, this is the most comprehensive, concise, clear, and biblical historical Baptist confession of faith. So in this episode, Casey and Chris do a survey of its highlights, and how it can be applied in our Christian lives today. We trust it will encourage, challenge, and instruct you in studying, understanding, and applying God’s Word, to the glory of the Lord Jesus.

Here's a free version of the confession for your reading and study:

1646 London Baptist Confession of Faith | The Reformed Reader

Do you know who arguably were the most influential group in English and American history for the popularization and legislation of religious freedom? The answer is the Baptists. Surprisingly, they were one of the most persecuted religious groups in 17th century England and America, and did the most to advocate and call for religious liberty through their suffering at the hands of fellow Protestants. Further, the Baptists were the first Protestants to make major efforts to fund, equip, and send missionaries to non-European lands, beginning with the Baptist Missionary Society and the preacher William Carey in the late 1700s. Today, Baptists make up the largest official Protestant group in the U.S., and are make up a large percentage of global Christians.

But how did the Baptist sect begin? They didn’t come directly out of the Reformation, like Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Anglicans. Rather, they were set on their course of more consistent Christianity through the influence of the Dutch Anabaptists, and began in the early 1600s, while the Puritan revival of England was going on. Throughout this century, they suffered cruel persecution, zealously preached the Gospel of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and grew to become one of most influential Protestant sects in England by the end of the century. Among them, godly and courageous leaders promoted and defended their cause, such as Thomas Helwys, John Spilsbury, William Kiffin, Hanserd Knollys, and Benjamin Coxe. In this episode, you’ll learn how the Baptists went from a small sect returning from exile, to a major Christian group in England that helped to lead the way to bring freedom of conscience to Great Britain, and to the American colonies. The story of the first Baptists is one that should encourage you to seek the greatest understanding of, and faithfulness to, the teachings of the New Testament, and to live them out with love and courage.

The major source used on this topic was:

The Early Baptists: A Comparative Study of the Anabaptist and English Baptist Movements by Dan Nelson