New World and American ZionNew World and American Zion

CChristopher Columbus (1451-1506). hristopher Columbus (1451-1506).

From the very beginning, America was a From the very beginning, America was a mission field. The Spanish, French, and mission field. The Spanish, French, and English all believed it was their God-English all believed it was their God-ordained responsibility to evangelize the ordained responsibility to evangelize the New World. The first of these European New World. The first of these European missionaries was Christopher Columbus.missionaries was Christopher Columbus.

CChristopher Columbus hristopher Columbus

When Columbus landed in the When Columbus landed in the

New World, he believed he was New World, he believed he was

fulfilling an ancient prophecy. fulfilling an ancient prophecy.

He also believed the Gospel must first be He also believed the Gospel must first be

preached to all men. Therefore, if he could preached to all men. Therefore, if he could

find a shortcut to the East, missionaries could find a shortcut to the East, missionaries could

reach it faster. reach it faster.

CChristopher Columbus hristopher Columbus

Because of Columbus’s voyage Because of Columbus’s voyage

and the resulting Spanish and the resulting Spanish evangelistic efforts, Latin evangelistic efforts, Latin Columbus and Queen Columbus and Queen

IsabellaIsabella

America has a higher percentage of America has a higher percentage of

professing Christians than that of any other professing Christians than that of any other

region in the world.region in the world.

Puritan : John Cotton (1584-Puritan : John Cotton (1584-1652)1652)John Cotton attended Cambridge John Cotton attended Cambridge University, and after graduation University, and after graduation remained on as a lecturer. remained on as a lecturer.

John Cotton combined both the BibleJohn Cotton combined both the Bibleand natural law in celebrating God’s and natural law in celebrating God’s Promise to His Plantations.Promise to His Plantations.

His labor and his learning made him one of the most His labor and his learning made him one of the most influential leaders in the New World. influential leaders in the New World.

Puritan: John Winthrop 1588-1649Puritan: John Winthrop 1588-1649

An English gentleman,An English gentleman,

a lawyer, and the firsta lawyer, and the first

Governor of MassachusettsGovernor of Massachusetts

Bay Colony for over 12 years,Bay Colony for over 12 years,

Winthrop was a passionate Winthrop was a passionate

Puritan layman who tried to Puritan layman who tried to

bring his faith into practice andbring his faith into practice and

Establish a “City Upon a Hill” in the New World. Establish a “City Upon a Hill” in the New World.

John WinthropJohn Winthrop

Winthrop is most famous for hisWinthrop is most famous for his

"City upon a Hill" sermon in which"City upon a Hill" sermon in which

he declared that the Puritan he declared that the Puritan

colonists emigrating to the New colonists emigrating to the New

World were part of a special pact World were part of a special pact

with God to create a holy community.with God to create a holy community.

This speech is often seen as a forerunner to the This speech is often seen as a forerunner to the

concept of American exceptionalism.concept of American exceptionalism.

American Revolution of 1776American Revolution of 1776

Revolutionary leaders Revolutionary leaders

Benjamin Franklin (1706-90)Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) James Madison (1751-1836)James Madison (1751-1836) John Adams (1735-1826)John Adams (1735-1826) Thomas Paine (1737-1809)Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

They all were committed to a rational Christianity They all were committed to a rational Christianity

John Wesley (1703-91)John Wesley (1703-91)

John Wesley, English theologianJohn Wesley, English theologian and evangelist, was a founder of and evangelist, was a founder of Methodism.Methodism.

He had many followers and sent scores of He had many followers and sent scores of evangelists into the field. His impact was great and evangelists into the field. His impact was great and continues more directly to this day than the ones continues more directly to this day than the ones who began the rebirth itself. He was not the first of who began the rebirth itself. He was not the first of the first. He was the last of the first and the most the first. He was the last of the first and the most effective at European evangelism. effective at European evangelism.

John WesleyJohn Wesley

John Wesley took the interpretation John Wesley took the interpretation

of the word by Martin Luther and of the word by Martin Luther and

John Calvin to fruition for modern John Calvin to fruition for modern

evangelists of today. The word went from the evangelists of today. The word went from the Medieval Catholic Church to the Germans and on Medieval Catholic Church to the Germans and on to Switzerland and Holland before reaching to Switzerland and Holland before reaching England and culminating in American evangelism England and culminating in American evangelism today. That natural process gives us the benefit of today. That natural process gives us the benefit of everything learned throughout history. everything learned throughout history.

Methodist Church TodayMethodist Church Today

BritainBritain The Methodist Church today numbers over The Methodist Church today numbers over 300,000 members. Following divisions in the 19th 300,000 members. Following divisions in the 19th century, the main branches re-united in 1932. The century, the main branches re-united in 1932. The church is organised into 'circuits', themselves grouchurch is organised into 'circuits', themselves grouped into 33 Districts. ped into 33 Districts.

WorldwideWorldwide There are now Methodist churches in There are now Methodist churches in nearly every country in the world, and it is calculatnearly every country in the world, and it is calculated that the whole Methodist family numbers some ed that the whole Methodist family numbers some 70 million people. Over the last 40 years major are70 million people. Over the last 40 years major areas of growth have been in Latin America (783%), as of growth have been in Latin America (783%), Asia (690%) and Africa (450%)Asia (690%) and Africa (450%)

Joseph Smith (1805-44)Joseph Smith (1805-44)

Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith, was the founderwas the founder

of the Latter Day Saint movement,of the Latter Day Saint movement,

also known as Mormonism, andalso known as Mormonism, and

an important religious and politicalan important religious and political

figure during the 1830s and 1840s. figure during the 1830s and 1840s.

Joseph Smith Joseph Smith

In 1827, Smith began to gather a religious foIn 1827, Smith began to gather a religious following after announcing that an angel had sllowing after announcing that an angel had shown him a set of golden plates describing a hown him a set of golden plates describing a visit of Jesus to the indigenous peoples of thvisit of Jesus to the indigenous peoples of the Amercias.e Amercias.

In 1830, Smith published what he said was In 1830, Smith published what he said was a translation of these plates as the Book of a translation of these plates as the Book of MormonMormon

Book of MormonBook of Mormon

According to the Book of Mormon, the According to the Book of Mormon, the second coming of Christ to America, the second coming of Christ to America, the New Jerusalem, the City of Zion, would be New Jerusalem, the City of Zion, would be built on the America as the centre of the built on the America as the centre of the kingdom of the God earth.kingdom of the God earth.

By 1831Joseph Smith had identified the By 1831Joseph Smith had identified the precise location of the American Zion. precise location of the American Zion.

Joseph Smith Joseph Smith

Although Joseph Smith remained married to Although Joseph Smith remained married to Emma Smith until his death in 1844, Smith Emma Smith until his death in 1844, Smith taught and practiced polygamy, marrying taught and practiced polygamy, marrying several women throughout his ministry, several women throughout his ministry, including Helen Mar Kimball and Nancy including Helen Mar Kimball and Nancy Maria Winchester when they were only 14 Maria Winchester when they were only 14 years old. years old.

QuestionQuestion

It is always interesting to see some of It is always interesting to see some of legislators (who is the Christian) in using legislators (who is the Christian) in using the violent actions against the injustice, the violent actions against the injustice, should these encourage or not ? should these encourage or not ?