The American Crisis, Part 1

It was first printed in the Pennsylvania Journal on December 19, 1776.The writing of this particular piece was of special historical interest as it was written during the retreat of General George Washington and his troops across the Delaware, and by order of the Commander, was read to his group of dispirited and suffering soldiers. Thomas Paine, the author, had written the American Crisis, and in doing so had waged literary warfare against the Hessians for the cause of freedom. It's opening sentence was adopted as the watchword of the movement on Trenton, a few days after its publication, and is believed to have inspired much of the courage which won that victory, and eventually would go down in history as the words that would salvage the revolution.

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and women. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated."


Just as our forefathers fought then, we fight now; but as the Apostle Paul said "...we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

There are two battlegrounds here, and the proverbial line in the sand has been drawn on each of these two fields of battle:

1. The Personal Battle
2. The Cultural Battle

The main strife within each of these two battles is caused by a difference in the way we see things, or our world view:

1. God Created Man
-or-
2. Man Created God

This will be the premise for our discussion...

Keep Moving Forward,

Rusty Robson

-- Post From My iPhone