Jumpstarter 9 of 10

Direct Answer The transcript shows that religious language can be used to baptize national causes on both sides of a conflict, proving that “God is on our side” claims can be self-deception; the test implied is whether our actions align with Christ’s commands toward fellow Christians and enemies.

Support from Transcript:

• He notes symmetry: Congress called for “a day of prayer and fasting,” and “King George called for the very same thing.”
• He says clergy on both sides told soldiers they were doing “God's will,” and “born again” believers in America supported the revolution while “born again” believers in England condemned it.
• He observes both camps interpreted events as divine proof: English victories “was proof that God was on their side,” and American victories were “proof” to Americans.
• He quotes John Wesley’s outrage at Christians killing “flesh of their flesh and bone of their bone” over “the mode of taxation.”
• He ties the core issue to allegiance: most showed politics above Christianity, even killing fellow believers—contrary to Christ’s teaching.