Remember Your State: It Has a Providential History

One of the beautiful aspects of the Biblical Classical way of learning is that we learn to see God’s Sovereignty in all things. Without a doubt, Heavenly Father has been and still is involved in the lives of individuals and nations. In fact, as the parent-teacher researches and reads primary documents, he or she discovers God’s Providence in the Gospel spreading to his or her state. I know because it happens to me and at times it brings me to tears. It brings me to my knees in worship and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father.

The Story of Liberty

It’s important to note that history is about Christ. If I recall correctly, credit goes to Rosalie J. Slater (co-founder of The Foundation for American Christian Education) for saying that history is about Christ—it is His Story. Whereas it is not about autonomous man.

More often than not, people make history about this event or that event. And it’s about this person or that person at this date on a timeline. For some, it’s super easy to teach history in this way. After all, many of us are taught that this is the way to view it.

But, no, it’s really about Christ and His work in the lives of individuals and nations. It’s about the internal working He does and the out working as a result. As we study history and geography, we look to see how God made provision for His Gospel to spread westward.

No matter what happens to individuals—the vapors in the wind that each of us are—His Word does not disappear and His kingdom continues to grow. So, again, it’s about Christ and His story. Praise His name that He continues to save the lost!

A fellow homeschool mom who is certified in The Principle Approach®(1) had shared in a lesson of hers about a certain pastor and how he teaches the basic plot of the Bible to his children. Of note, the following idea is from Pastor Doug Wilson of Christ Church:

“Kill the dragon, get the girl.”

In essence, this is how it is:

The dragon (that old serpent; Rev. 20:2)

Is killed by Christ (He is the Knight on a white horse; Rev. 19:11)

And, He saves us from our sins to be His bride (individuals make up the Church; Rev. 19:7)

Therefore, Christ kills the dragon and gets the girl. He defeats Satan and saves His people. Christ throws down death, then throws a huge marriage feast.

How We Spend Our Time

In His story, it matters how individuals spend their time between when they are saved by Christ and that blessed future marriage feast we look forward to.

With this in mind, every story has at least one antagonist. So, we remember that there are those against Christ and liberty who violate God’s principles.

We also remember that there are those who love and follow Christ who honor God’s principles. Do Christians sometimes sin or error or violate God’s principles? Unfortunately, yes this happens at times. However, we look to see if there is redemptive work in the life of the individual and how he or she chooses to respond to Holy God.

Learn and Remember Your State’s Story of Liberty

Oftentimes, when students go to learn about their state they study basic facts about it:

It was brought into the union on *this* date

Its state bird is *this*

The state tree is *this*

Its state flower is *this*

Etc.

But, where in all of this do students learn about God and His Providence, plan, and purpose? Yes, we can point out how God created the state land, the bird, tree, and the flower chosen to represent the state. Still, how are they being taught to think and reason Biblically about their state? And, what do they learn in order to reflect about all that God did through His Providence?

How did God orchestrate the Gospel getting to your state (in part, this is why map work is important)?

Whom did God invite to help with this work and how did individuals respond to Holy God?

How did God use individuals to help end slavery? Is there slavery of any kind going on today? If so, how is God using individuals to help put a stop to it?

What would have happened to your state and people living there (in its territory years) if it didn’t become a part of the union?

If it remained territory of any other government, would the Gospel have made it to people? Would they be under a forced monarchical religion?

What other questions are there for you and your children to reason through?

And, what can you learn from studying about your state on the Chain of Christianity®(1)?

Remember Your State and Be Burdened for It

I’ve always loved my state—she’s the crown jewel of our union (in my honest opinion). But, she’s really, truly struggling with her character. Of course, this has to do with who or what is in control.

Since our state is suffering greatly, our family and other Christians here have been praying fervently for her. And, many of us are helping to educate other citizens on how to steward our state by the principles of American government—including the role of Precinct Committeemen Officers, and our Providential History as a nation.

But, it wasn’t until this summer that the Lord showed me His love for this state, her people, and burdened my heart for her. And, He has been using the circumstances of this past year to teach me a lot. While many across the nation are discarding her and counting her lost, God isn’t done with her. In fact, Heavenly Father is using my state’s Providential History to reach my heart for her.

Our family could move. In a variety of ways, things have happened this past year in such a way that we thought we’d go to another state. Surely we could carry on work for our Lord and Savior even in another state. But, we paused and asked: “Lord, what will You have us do?” It seems that with a planned trip that we made in order to shop another state, God seems to have plans for us to remain here at this time; I don’t know for how long though. Our response with complete surrender: “Okay, Lord! Show us, lead us, teach us.”

God Providentially Provides for States and His People

At times, it hasn’t been easy to wait on the Lord. And, we’re really not certain how He will be providing for us in this season. One thing I do know is this: He has been working in me to think and respond more like a missionary.

For many reasons, missionaries are often thought highly of by the faith community. Christians say things like:

“I admire how much they will lay down their life and go far away to serve the Lord in missions.”

“What self-less people.”

“Let’s pray for them as they go to disciple the nations.”

“Wow, so n’ so missionary family went through x, y, z and God did amazing things.”

“God always provides for missionaries—financially and otherwise. They totally rely on the Lord.”

Yet . . . a small number of Christians from around the world travel around the world to do missions. And . . . a small number of Christians within our own country see America as a mission field itself. That all said, many Christians staying put at home aren’t homeland-missionaries and they don’t rely upon God in the same way.

I’m not a betting woman, but I’m pretty sure that if you live in a struggling state that He’s not done with your state either. The question is, how are you involved to help improve things like the culture, civics, etc.? We have the Bible y’all—and it’s full of language that is a tool for liberty. We best wise up and apply it.

For those living in the easier states, there’s a battle coming your way. Be involved through education to help restore liberty and civics to help keep things at bay.

Are You a Missionary to Your State?

It’s time for a Word study, friends! Let’s define missionary to for individual reflective reasoning.

Webster’s 1828 defines missionary as:

“MIS’SIONARY, noun One sent to propagate religion. Christian missionaries are called missionaries of the cross.”

Since missionary comes from the word mission, how about we define the Key Word word mission as well?

“MIS’SION, noun [Latin missio, from mitto, to send.] 1. A sending or being sent, usually the latter; a being sent or delegated by authority, with certain powers for transacting business; commission; as sent on a foreign mission

How to begin, how to accomplish best

His end of being on earth, and mission high.

2. Persons sent; any number of persons appointed by authority to perform any service; particularly, the persons sent to propagate religion, or evangelize the heathen. The societies for propagating the gospel have missions in almost every country. Last week a mission sailed for the Sandwich isles. We have domestic missions and foreign missions.”

Following this further, let’s define the Key Word sent.

“SENT, preterit tense and participle passive of send.”

Well then, okay, let’s look up send.

“SEND, verb transitive preterit tense and participle passive sent.

3. To cause to go or pass from place to place; as, to send a messenger from London to Madrid.

4. To commission, authorize or direct to go and act.

7. To propagate; to diffuse.

8. To emit; as flowers send forth their fragrance”

Fellow Christians, haven’t each of us been sent to fulfill the Great Commission? I know we pronounce it as cŭmmission; but, doesn’t it change your perspective when you say it as CŌ-Mission? As in: we are Co-Misisonaries in the Lord’s work—committing to doing it. And, does this have to be in a foreign-to-us land? Not.at.all.

Webster’s seventh definition of sent makes me think of the mindset of the Pilgrims, that they . . .

“[C]ame to a great hope and inward zeal they had of laying some good foundation, or at least to make some way thereunto, for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world–yea, though they should be but even stepping stones unto others for the performing of so great a work.” -Governor William Bradford

They were going to diffuse—to pour out and spread the Gospel like a river. Indeed, they were going to let the Gospel way of life flow freely from them, extending in all directions.

Remember God’s Providence is at Hand in Your State Today

We can’t always see what God is doing. Unquestionably, there are some things happening today that cause people to shrug off certain states as completely lost. But, we can be certain that the Holy Spirit is always at work. And, whether someone wants to admit it or not the Holy Spirit is doing a work in that individual. Maybe it’s a constant uneasiness and a lack of peace because of sin. Or, maybe it’s growth in the sanctification process. But, we know that there is much to harvest and that the laborers are few.

As you remember your state, think of where you can be a missionary of the Gospel and liberty and then serve in that capacity. Needless to say, keep praying. Continue onward with learning of God’s Providence and then teach it everywhere to anyone who will listen—others will catch the vision. God be with you! Yes, may God be with us all!

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