Was it biblical for the South to attempt to break away from the North?

I am not sure the Bible even enters the picture on why the South wanted to secede from the North, but I am looking for some answers. My understanding was that it had to do with individual state rights.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I believe that the South's actions were neither biblical nor unbiblcal.

 

Well, as Rick Warren would say, "We should never criticize a method God is blessing."

Since God blessed the Union's attempts to get the South back under control, I think we can safely conclude that the Union was right and the Confederacy was in sin.

 

I believe that if God had wanted the break, then it would have happened. But had/has a plan for a whole american states.

 

Then He "wanted" South VietNam to fall to the communists from the north and their allies? and the 58,000 Americans who died in resistence of such died in rebellion against God?

[ December 03, 2002, 02:10 PM: Message edited by: ChristianCynic ]

 

Did the North win? Does anyone win when so many die?

What influence on the united states did the results of the war have? I know what the history books say, but I am a foreigner looking at a civil action. If individual state rights were gained, then the South actually won. I think the war took on so many side bars that is up in the air as to who won.

God may be inside the combatants, but I doubt if God ever takes sides in war. Hence, it is not a biblical question, but moral decisions must be made.

Cheers,

Jim

 

The south had exactly the same biblical grounds to leave that the colonies had to declare themselves independent before the Revolutionary War.

[ December 03, 2002, 02:57 PM: Message edited by: russell55 ]

 

[ December 11, 2002, 10:20 AM: Message edited by: Jessie ]

 

[ December 11, 2002, 10:21 AM: Message edited by: Jessie ]

 

Legally, I think the southern states that seceded from the Union were okay, but in SC's official document declaring their decision, they turned the matter over to God. Problem is they had made their decision before they did this.

Biblically, I'll take a guess. The Bible instructs us to pray for those in authority which would aid in living a quiet and peaceable life.

1 Timothy 2:1  ¶I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Although "slavery" gets the big portion of blame for the civil war there were other reasons, one being the election of Abraham Lincoln as President. The South knew in advance where he stood on slavery.

You do know that most of that cotton came from Dixie which made the South feel they were carrying a whole lot of load.

But your question asked "Was it Biblical?" I'd have to say no, just like it wouldn't be Biblically correct for any states today to do what was done then. I know this is a trick question!!!

 

Both sides sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic and claimed it for their own. Both sides claimed to be biblically righteous in their pursuits and used those claims to motivate thousands of young men to march directly into the fire of the enemy- to kill and be killed by their own "brothers".

More Americans died in that war than all others combined, around 700,000 out of a population of around 30,000,000. A war of the same proportions today would result in almost 6,000,000 deaths. The three bloodiest battles, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, and Chancellorsville, lasted a total of nine days... with more men killed than over 15 years of Vietnam plus 3 years of Korea. The south lost 258,000 soldiers out of a white population of about 5,500,000. Approximately half of its men went to war. Around 10% of its male population died. Interestingly, something less than 10% of southerners were members of slave holding families.

I say all that to say this, we cannot possibly understand the motives of those who lived then. The world they lived in is completely alien to us. The southern scars ran so deep for so long not only because of the casualties but because of the feeling that the righteous cause of preserving liberty and protecting their homes had been lost. We may or may not agree that their cause was biblical... but what right do we have to judge?

The winners always write the history books. Many of us today are the product of over 100 years of history books telling kids that the Civil War was about slavery and that the righteous Union won over the evil Confederacy. We are in no position to be objective.

[ December 03, 2002, 05:49 PM: Message edited by: Scott J ]

 

[ December 11, 2002, 10:22 AM: Message edited by: Jessie ]

 

Interestingly, Lincoln said that both the North and South believe they're right, and both pray to the same God for providence. Lincoln then went on to quote Jesus by calling upon the both sides to not judge, lest we be judged. When asked if Lincoln thought God was on his side, his reply ws that he was more concerned with whether or not he was on God's side.

Lincoln asked us not to judge, and for the purpose of this thread, I will abide by that request.

 

Being from neither the North or the South but the West... I am wondering why a war that happened so long ago is such an active topic to discuss.

Why not discuss the Desert Storm War which was more recent? Or perhaps the war that is going on right now as we sit here clicking on our computers?

 

I lived in Jackson, Mississippi, during my pre-
teen years. At that time, emotionally and
verbally, the war was not over in any of the
South where I lived and where I traveled,
among friends and among strangers, in
church and in school.

I happened to live there when they celebrated
200 years since the war had begun. There was
a big parade, much gala, and a lot of partying.
I did think it strange that they celebrated the
beginning of that war, not its end.

 

Being from neither the North or the South but the West...

Ahhh, that would be me as well. The last time I was in the South, it was the South Coast Plaza shopping mall!!

However, I am a fan of Disneyland's "Great Moments with Mr Lincoln" (which was recently revamped to reenact the recitation of the Gettysburg Address).

 

Brother Scott J--interesting facts in your last post--it seems like every Civil War advocate today wishes to believe that every white Southerner had slaves--it just ain't so!! Only a minute minority held slaves---History books and articles read CORRECTLY will tell the very elementary reader that the war was not over slavery but over politics and industry and such things.

Let this southern boy from Louisiana--now living in Mississippi make a statement here--for all of you Dixie boys and girls--

The last flag that General Lee waved in General Grant's face was white!!!! We are a "disarmed" south looking to the north!! Long live the United States of America!!

Your friend,
Blackbird