Was the American revolution a true revolution

When Christians study the Revolutionary war, they are often confused by the fact that our Christian nation could be founded on Rebellion. Doesn’t the Bible say that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft? Are we not commanded in Romans 13:1 to submit to all authority because all authority is ordained by God. How could God bless a nation who from the very beginning seemed to violate His Word? Over the years, I have heard many explanations as to how it was possible for God to bless the American Revolution, but none were satisfactory. I believe an all powerful God would make it possible for His Christian nation to be founded in a Biblical way. In order to have a Biblical view of the American Revolution, we need to consider several things. First of all the word revolution in 1776 meant something a little different then it does today. When the colonists talked about revolution, most of them meant a return to a previous form of government. The colonists had enjoyed a great relationship with England, known as home rule. The British protected us, and provided most of our trade, and we were loyal to the king. However, we were able to write our own laws elect our own leaders, and enjoyed almost unlimited freedom. After the French and Indian war, England began to change that relationship with taxes, troops, and tea. All the colonists wanted was a return to home rule. The greatest proof of this was the Olive Branch petition. This document was sent to king George III after the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Basically it said that if the king removed his troops and allowed them to return to home rule, they would return to being his loyal subjects. They specifically said that they did not want independence. This was in May of 1775. What happened in the following year that made them change their minds so dramatically? The answer is found in King George’s reply to the Olive branch petition. The king and Parliament decided to force the colonists to give up their attempt to regain their freedom. They passed a law known as the Prohibitory Act of 1775. This law prohibited trade with the colonies and inadvertently removed America out of England’s control and authority. God in His wisdom and mercy had provided a way for America to declare its independence without being in rebellion to established authority. When Thomas Jefferson listed the reasons for America declaring its independence, he alluded to the Prohibitory act at least 3 times. “For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world.” In another part of the Declaration he stats, “He has abdicated government here, withdrawing his governors and declaring us out of his allegiance and protection.” It is clear that Jefferson and our other founding fathers understood what the Prohibitory act had done. Christians can never take matters into their own hands and get rid of their authority. Praise God that because of His intervention, our countries founders did not have to rebel against England in order to begin a new nation under God.