Then & Now Conflated

It was 1860. The Thomas Mitchell family was gathered at the Mitchell small farm. Mitchell was a yeoman farmer who had done better than most yeoman farmers and yet was by no means of the plantation class. His children and grandchildren were gathered with him on this Saturday. Tomorrow was a big day for the Mitchell family as the two newest grandchildren were being baptized at the 1st Presbyterian church in Columbia SC. Thomas was enjoying all the grandchildren busy about his feet. The oldest of the 12 grandchildren was 6 and while the youngest three were still at their Mother’s breast. God has blessed Thomas beyond his ability to understand God’s goodness. Not only was there the grandchildren but there was also the fact that all of his adult children and their spouses loved Christ and shared a Christian worldview. There was nothing more pleasing for Thomas to look across his small farm and see his grandchildren playing all the while discussing what was on the horizon for his family, his community, and his people.

Despite Thomas’ satisfaction with God’s blessings on his family still his mind was troubled… deeply troubled. It was apparent to all that a civil war was descending on his household. His children and grandchildren would not remain untouched by what Thomas feared was coming. So, while he was genuinely thankful for God’s blessing he knew that the storm clouds that had long gathered were about to let loose. What would happen to his family?

His son and sons-in-law were fighting men’s age. All three of them were armed to the teeth in the expectation of the hot civil war. Already the cold part of the civil war had begun and the temperature continued to rise.

There were reports of potential slave risings on several of the plantations. The slaves had taken up the motto of “Slaves Lives Matter,” and it had become a bit of a talisman that one could hear whispered among the slaves. There were even rumors that the international banking interest was secretly funding those provoking a slave revolt.

So, on this Saturday before the Lord’s day Thomas’ mind was a mix. Rejoicing in his family, but aware of the hatred of the seed of the serpent was all around he and his.

His adult children didn’t understand. Perhaps because they had more faith. Perhaps because with much learning comes much sorrow. Thomas Mitchel knew his history. He read closely on the French Revolution. He knew that in 1860 what was descending on his family was merely part II to the original production in Paris and all of France. He knew of the bloodshed. He knew of the cruel and sadistic treatment of the Revolutionaries against the Vendee — both dead and living — once they were finally conquered. He had nightmares where the guillotine terrorized him in his sleep. He knew the ultimate goal was to remove the Christian faith from the face of the earth. What would happen, not only to his family, but also the Christian families of his neighbors?

And it didn’t help that when he visited his family in the North so much of the Yankee clergy believed that “something needed to be done about those racist Southerners,” who weren’t buying all that was behind the motto of “Slaves Lives Matter.” Already free blacks in Northern cities were agitating by pulling down statues of Andrew Jackson and Columbus while demanding that Lincoln take Fredrick Douglas as his VP candidate. The free black voice had gained a real foothold in the Republican party.

Thomas was musing on all this when he heard his wife, Jane, call him for the evening meal. They gathered around the table, his three children, their spouses, Thomas and Jane and their 12 Grandchildren. Thomas gave thanks for God’s blessings. Thanked God for the Baptisms tomorrow. Thanked God for the careers of each of the men — careers that allowed their wives to be Mothers of their children and keepers of the home. Thanked God that He was the God of battle and finished by asking that God might keep them from unrealized fears and that God would forgive him specifically for seeing a future that was dark and troubled.

Author: jetbrane

I am a Pastor of a small Church in Mid-Michigan who delights in my family, my congregation and my calling. I am postmillennial in my eschatology. Paedo-Calvinist Covenantal in my Christianity Reformed in my Soteriology Presuppositional in my apologetics Familialist in my family theology Agrarian in my regional community social order belief Christianity creates culture and so Christendom in my national social order belief Mythic-Poetic / Grammatical Historical in my Hermeneutic Pre-modern, Medieval, & Feudal before Enlightenment, modernity, & postmodern Reconstructionist / Theonomic in my Worldview One part paleo-conservative / one part micro Libertarian in my politics Systematic and Biblical theology need one another but Systematics has pride of place Some of my favorite authors, Augustine, Turretin, Calvin, Tolkien, Chesterton, Nock, Tozer, Dabney, Bavinck, Wodehouse, Rushdoony, Bahnsen, Schaeffer, C. Van Til, H. Van Til, G. H. Clark, C. Dawson, H. Berman, R. Nash, C. G. Singer, R. Kipling, G. North, J. Edwards, S. Foote, F. Hayek, O. Guiness, J. Witte, M. Rothbard, Clyde Wilson, Mencken, Lasch, Postman, Gatto, T. Boston, Thomas Brooks, Terry Brooks, C. Hodge, J. Calhoun, Llyod-Jones, T. Sowell, A. McClaren, M. Muggeridge, C. F. H. Henry, F. Swarz, M. Henry, G. Marten, P. Schaff, T. S. Elliott, K. Van Hoozer, K. Gentry, etc. My passion is to write in such a way that the Lord Christ might be pleased. It is my hope that people will be challenged to reconsider what are considered the givens of the current culture. Your biggest help to me dear reader will be to often remind me that God is Sovereign and that all that is, is because it pleases him. View all posts by jetbrane