The strong faith of two men named George played a key role in shaping the United States of America. The first was George Whitefield, our spiritual founding father. He was a British evangelist who came to our shores to preach the gospel. As a result of his ministry, thousands of colonists came to Christ. It was the first great spiritual awakening in what would become known as the United States of America.
Between 1740 and 1742, before the United States was even a nation, the Great Awakening had a remarkable impact in New England. Historians estimate that 25,000 to 50,000 people were added to New England church membership as a result of the revival. With New Englandโs population only around 300,000 at the time, that means as many as one out of every six people in the region may have been reached in some way by the revival, in which George Whitefield played a leading role. The evangelistic wildfire left in its wake fertile spiritual ground on which the nation could be built. The Christian truths and principles that guided the lives of the new converts found their way into the nationโs DNA. They formed the cornerstone of the United States government.
John Adams, founding father and second president of the United States, wrote, โOur Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.โ
Our nation was forged in the flames of revival started by George Whitefield.
The second George is, of course, George Washingtonโcommander of the Continental Army, first president of the United States, and the father of our country. Washington was always quick to give the glory to God for his victories. He never tired of invoking the role of Providence in the formation of the United States of America. In fact, Washington directed that a special flag be flown by the ships of the U.S. Navy. The flag depicted a tree with branches stretching upward. The message of the flag was an appeal to Heaven, a reminder that the United States needed to call on God for its success and sustenance.
Unfortunately, that message got lost along the way. Our nation has drifted away from God and His guidance. The good news is that itโs not too late to go back to Him.
The apostle Peter preached to the people of Israel, โNow repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.ย Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiahโ (Acts 3:19โ20).
That same message is needed in our country today. Our nation, which was forged in a spiritual revival, needs to go through those flames again.
