Oliver Cromwell & the current elections
I must confess to having enormous admiration for that most controversial of figures, Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), about whom two or three new books have appeared this year. The reason for my admiration will become plain in part from the following extract from A Declaration of the Army of England upon their March into Scotland To all that are Saints, and partakers of the faith of God’s Elect, in Scotland, which was issued July 19, 1650. In it Cromwell made this excellent statement:
“Is all religion wrapped up in that or any one form? Doth that name, or thing, give the difference between those that are the members of Christ and those that are not? We think not so. We say, faith working by love is the true character of a Christian; and, God is our witness, in whomsoever we see any thing of Christ to be, there we reckon our duty to love, waiting for a more plentiful effusion of the Spirit of God to make all those Christians, who, by the malice of the world, are diversified, and by their own carnal-mindedness, do diversify themselves by several names of reproach, to be of one heart and one mind, worshipping God with one consent.”
With elections facing both Canada and the United States, some bitter words are being uttered by adherents of the different political persuasions. And even Christians have allowed what Cromwell here calls “the malice of the world” to influence them in harsh remarks about political opponents. I suppose this is a danger to which young men are prone and some of the comments I have read that have deeply disturbed me by their attitude have been written by younger brothers. But folly and malice are no respecters of age!
There are Christians today who make the heart of the gospel a political position or an economic perspective. Surely Christians may differ on such issues. As Cromwell rightly says: “Is all religion wrapped up in that or any one form?” He was talking about making ecclesial issues the heart of the gospel. In our day, some, and some who should know better, are making this political policy or that economic strategy essential to gospel truth.
The gospel touches on political and economic realities for sure—not one square inch of this universe is not owned by King Jesus, and we look forward to a glorious theocracy one day in the new heavens and the new earth in which there will be true liberty—but till then, we must learn as Christians to disagree in love on such secondary issues. Yes, have convictions; but love all who love the Lord Jesus.
If we cannot love our brothers and sisters who disagree with us in this and must hit them verbally with invective and name-calling, how on earth will we ever love those that reject the gospel and take very contrary positions to ours on matters far more weighty?
This entry was posted on Friday, October 10th, 2008 at 6:46 pm and is filed under 17th Century, Current Affairs, Puritans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
October 12th, 2008 at 10:03 am
While I’m sure Cromwell was an interesting historical figure, it shouldn’t be forgotten that this same man has much blood dripping from his hands from his brutal campaigns on Ireland and elsewhere.
Crawford Gribben has written on this often neglected side of Mr. Cromwell’s purported Christian holines.
It strikes me that your admiration for this man is one of tainted lenses that seems to forget his dark historical side as a man with blood dripping from his hands.
Please read Gribben’s latest book on Ireland and Cromwell in which he correctly critizes this myoptic retelling of Mr. Cromwell.
October 13th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
It is so fascinating why Cromwell is given the royal treatment of a Hagiography when there is Innocent Irish and Scottish blood dripping from his hands.
Why is this so? Please read Dr. Crawford Gribbens work on Ireland and Cromwell. This will wake you folks up.
October 13th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
“God’s Irishmen is an impressive book that makes an important contribution to both Irish and religious studies. Most significantly, Crawford Gribben’s work should put to rest the notion of a monolithic Cromwellian piety imposing its will on a largely resistant population. Additionally, God’s Irishmen lays a firm foundation for work that needs to be done on this period of Irish history from a variety of perspectives.” –Church History
October 13th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Michael:
Another disappointing element has to do with the absense of any public comment or acknowledgement of God’s providence on the part of the leaders who are known to be Christian or of religious convictions. We do not hear anyone calling upon the citizens to pray to God for help amid the difficulties facing our nations.
Whatever one thinks of Cromwell, he believed that God providentially acted in human history and put it into practice in his own life both privately and publicly.
Writings by or about Cromwell are online:
Writings by and about Cromwell at World Cat IdentitiesWritings by or about Cromwell at Internet Archive