Did the American Revolution Go Against Scripture?
Bible Study
Audio By Carbonatix
By Barbara Latta, Crosswalk.com
As we approach the 250th year of American independence, we have much to celebrate.
Yet, some critics of America’s fight have used Romans 13:1-5 to support their opinion:
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. (NIV)
Did the Founding Fathers and militia violate these Scriptures?
Biblical Basis for American Founding
The reason Europeans came to America in the first place was to free themselves from religious persecution. Henry VIII, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth I all imposed laws that prohibited the free expression of worship under the penalty of death. Those who opposed allegiance to royalty as the representation of God were beheaded, burned at the stake, and tortured in various ways. James I even enacted the Divine Right of Kings which declared that the king stood in the place of God and couldn’t be questioned or opposed.
Many church fathers, such as Martin Luther and Scottish theologian Samuel Rutherford, published documents opposing political violation of believer’s rights hundreds of years before America was founded. Until the Geneva Bible was printed in 1557 as the New Testament and the complete Bible in 1560, ordinary citizens couldn’t read the Scriptures for themselves. This was one way the monarchies controlled the population.
The institution of government was established by God to keep order in communities. But the Lord did not sanction governing authorities to set themselves up as God. When governments enact laws that strip citizens of biblical expressions the people are not required to submit to those. Peter and John told the Pharisees, “We must obey God rather than human beings.” (Acts 5:29)
Basis for Colonists Discontent
Years after the first settlements, the growing nation governed by England was stretched thin by the strict and unfair regulations and taxes imposed upon them. Colonists were taxed in ways citizens in England were not. British soldiers had the right to enter homes, and the homeowners had no right to refuse them. They took food and treated the houses like hotels. Taxes on commodities were imposed on the colonists that were not imposed on the people in England, such as the Stamp Act. This tax was used to raise money to support the British soldiers stationed in the colonies. A tax was placed on any kind of document by purchasing a stamp but was only required of the British colony of America, and not those living in England.
Many other offenses were committed against Americans by the British military with the Americans having no defense against them. Troops were described by colonists as savage, cruel, and unnatural.
There was no representation in the British Parliament for the colonists even though it was a British colony.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/WoodyUpstate
Basis for the Stand Against an Offensive War
They sought reconciliation and representation with the British crown for ten or eleven years. They produced documents that were peacefully presented. They requested that slavery be abolished in the colonies, yet King George III refused. (This provision later had to be removed from the Declaration of Independence due to South Carolina and Georgia refusing to sign it if that condition remained).
Americans followed Scripture by not taking on an offensive war but one of defense. Despite their efforts to persuade King George to give them freedom and protection due to any British citizen, soldiers were sent to American soil to collect the taxes he imposed and to enforce laws that only applied to the colonies. The Americans were inflamed at the unfairness of these rigorous standards. Most taxes were required to be paid in British sterling which was hard to come by in the colonies.
An argument between a Redcoat and a wigmaker apprentice sparked the Boston Massacre of 1770. As a crowd gathered, soldiers fired killing five Americans.
The city of Charlestown was mostly burned to the ground in 1774 after British ships fired upon it. Concord, Lexington, and Williamsburg in 1775 were attacked after the colonist’s offer of reconciliation failed.
None of these battles were begun by the colonists. They formed a militia to defend themselves and their property. They believed they had the right to self-defense, but not to conduct an offensive war. In fact, the Lexington Minute Men were told not to fire unless fired upon.
A quote from Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon (a Declaration of Independence signer) stated:
“On the part of America, there was not the most distant thought of subverting the government or hurting the interest of the people of Great Britain, but of defending their own privileges from unjust encroachment; there was not the least desire of withdrawing their allegiance from the common sovereign till it became absolutely necessary—and indeed, it was his own choice.”
Scriptural Basis for War
Establishing a belief based on one Scripture results in a twisted doctrine rooted in man’s opinions. Any Scripture must be viewed considering the entire Bible and not taken out of context. Let’s view the Romans 13 verses considering the rest of the Word of God.
Many times in the Bible God told the Israelites to go to war against oppressive nations.
“Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” (Psalm 144:1)
When the Midianites oppressed them, the Lord told Gideon, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14)
Nehemiah had been commissioned by God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He faced contenders that sought to stop this progress. Nehemiah positioned men at parts of the walls and told them, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” (Nehemiah 4:14b)
Zechariah 9:8, “But I will encamp at my temple to guard against marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch.”
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” (Proverbs 29:2 NKJV)
The Revolutionary War was not fought as a rebellion against the establishment of government. The War (which was started by the British) was defense against the tyrannical iron fist of King George III who denied God-given rights to the colonists.
The Declaration of Independence, presented to the king, listed all the human rights that the monarchy violated against the colonists. Yet he still refused to acknowledge the unfairness of his reign over them.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1 NIV)
The colonist's fight was only against the ungodly rules of the British. If King George III had accepted the peaceful resolutions extended to him, war could have been prevented.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/4maksym
The Same Fight Exists Today
When ungodly people hold positions of leadership, they create ungodly laws. The colonists faced taxation without representation simply because an egocentric king wanted it that way.
The Bible states murder is wrong; however, today we have laws in America that protect those who provide abortions, yet jails those who oppose this horrific procedure. Simply praying outside a clinic has gotten some people arrested. Should we agree with this and violate God’s command simply because an unrighteous law was passed that promotes the murder of a baby?
The Constitution has been misinterpreted by lawyers, judges, and atheists to twist the intent of the Founding Fathers to match their own ideology such as separation of church and state.
This is another example of government misuse and is not in the Constitution. This phrase exists in a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to a group of Danbury Baptists who were afraid the government was going to interfere in their worship. Jefferson’s reply to them stated, “I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.”
The first Amendment was enacted to prevent the government from establishing a national religion. Citizens who want all references to God removed from our society have turned this phrase into their motto without admitting the Constitution declares no such intent. Rather the First Amendment protects worshippers from having their right to free worship revoked.
The verses used in Romans 13 don’t imply humans are to mindlessly be subject to the improper use of government by ungodly leaders. Wars have been fought for centuries to stop the oppression of Communism, Nazism, and Marxism. If armies had not stood against these cruel and inhumane forms of control, the world would be a prison of darkness. But because of brave leaders who were willing to oppose evil, the light of God’s grace shines across the globe through free nations.
These few examples show us that fighting for God-given rights is not a violation of the Bible; rather opposing this violation opens the door for obedience to the Lord’s command to, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)
America’s 250th Birthday
America’s 250th birthday is an opportunity to celebrate our history and our freedom more than ever. The best way we can do this is to research the truth about our founding for ourselves instead of relying on the opinions of others.
Wallbuilders.com, founded by David Barton, houses thousands of original documents from our past that reflect the biblical values the United States is built upon. Reading the original documents instead of another person’s opinion about them provides the true intent of the framers of our Constitution. Yes, mistakes have been made because none are perfect. But the mistakes don’t reverse the foundational intent of American government.
America’s independence led to the growth of a nation that stood as a beacon to the rest of the world. The United States has defended countries who, like her, were in the throes of oppression of human rights. America has provided financial assistance, medical aid, food provision, and military protection to starving and developing nations, and sent missionaries around the world preaching the good news of Christ. Without her own freedom, none of this assistance would have been possible.
The colonists did not violate Scripture by defending themselves against British attacks. They only wanted the same privileges those living in Britain were given. Today we can defend our rights against the ungodly use of law the same way. We honor the institution of government, but we can defend our God-given liberty.
As we enjoy America’s birthday party, may we reflect upon the blessings from our heavenly Father that we live in today. Remember those who have sacrificed so we can live free of tyranny. May we hold on to the rights we have and defend our freedom against all enemies.
Happy Birthday, America!
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/VisionsofAmerica/Joe Sohm
Barbara Latta’s hunger for the Word of God drives her to search the Scriptures for truth instead of tradition. She loves researching the meaning of words and biblical culture for a deeper understanding of the Bible and the love of our Savior. She has earned a one-year certificate from Charis Bible College in Colorado and completed the Power Speaking Course through the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.
Her book, Redemption, the Heartbeat of Christmas: What the Birth of Christ Means to the World, was released in October 2025. She loves coffee, a good book, and gardening, which would be more fun if not for the weeds. Barbara and her husband enjoy life with two sons, one daughter-in-love, and an energetic granddaughter who keeps these retired people on their toes.
She writes about living in our identity in Christ at https://barbaralatta.blogspot.com/. You can follow Barbara on Facebook: Barbara Latta, author; X @barbaralatta; and Instagram blatta2.
