I try to put myself in his place and image how he felt when he signed the oath. He was not a poor adventure-seeking young man who just wanted some excitement and yearned to 'see the world.' He was 36 years old, married, with children, and the owner of several estates and mills in Sussex County, Delaware.
And he was not a new immigrant. In fact, he was already a fourth-generation "American" (his great-grandfather left England in the 1640's with his extended family to come to the new land. So his family had already been here well over 100 years.)
So it probably didn't bother him too much to sign an oath saying he renounced his allegiance to King George III, and in fact, was going to war against the king to prove he meant what he signed.
But what about later immigrants? The ones who came in the 1760's and '70's? Did they feel hesitant to go to war against the king? Probably some did, and of course, many didn't support the war effort.
It's always a sort of puzzle to figure out how, as Christians, we should live in this world culture.
What should we support? In what ways should we participate? How vocal should we be?
Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light; He has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love.
Colossians 1:12-13
So we inhabit two kingdoms. St. Augustine called these the City of Man and the City of God. We straddle these right now. Ultimately the City of God will triumph.
St. Augustine said the purpose of government was to (1) restrain evil and (2) advance justice. Right now we need both kingdoms to work for the same ends. So our challenge is to keep our culture working in the directions that will also advance the Kingdom of God.
It's definitely easier to do this in our present culture here than it is in most other places in the world. So I am glad my ancestor signed the oath and took his position with the six hundred men who made up the Delaware Regiment of the American Revolution!
We have to do the same. Almost daily. We have to renew our oath to give up our allegiance to our worldly culture and to fight against Satan's reign. And we have to fight (contend, as Jude says) for God's Kingdom. And it is a real war we are waging against the evil forces that surround us.
Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:10-13
....I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:13
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This is the oath my ancestor, John Parker, signed (in 1776) when he joined General Washington's troops. The copy (not original) I have is very faded and hard to read. In a few places I was not able to figure out the exact words, but it reads generally like this:
I do swear that I do not hold myself bound to yield my allegiance or obedience to the King of Great Britain, his heirs or successors, and that I will be true and faithful to the State of Delaware and will to the utmost of my power support and maintain and defend the Freedom and Independence there and the government as now established against all open enemies and secret and traitorous conspiracies and will use my ultimate endeavors to discover and make known to the Governor or some of the judges of all treasonous or traitorous conspiracies or attempts____? against this State or the Government which may come to my knowledge. So help me God. (signed) -- John Parker
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