When George Washington was about to retire from the presidency, he wrote a Farewell Address to the people of the United States.

After the passage of 225 years, some of George Washington’s wisdom must be adjusted for changes in circumstances.

Most notably,  Washington counseled staying out of entangling alliances linked to Europe. But his advice was based on the circumstances of the late 1700s.

These circumstances changed irrevocably in the Twentieth Century. Jets and rockets, radios and TVs, cell phones and the internet made isolation from Europe and the rest of the world impossible—economically and militarily.

The impossibility of economic isolation became apparent in the Great Depression of the 1930s (which became worse and lasted longer because the United States hurt international trade by increasing tariffs). Therefore, after World War II the United States encouraged the largest expansion of wealth in history by reducing tariffs and by reducing trade barriers arising from laws and regulations.

The impossibility of military isolation became apparent on December 7, 1941, with the sinking of the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. Therefore, after World War II, the United States forged alliances to deter aggression. NATO is the most notably successful alliance in history. By limiting membership to democratic nations whose governments secure life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, NATO prevailed over the Soviet Union and its totalitarian allies.

The need to avoid economic and military isolation must not end today with the kind of selfish nationalism of “America First” that fostered the Great Depression and World War II. Unlike sailing ships, the conditions that require global economic institutions and alliances among democratic nations are not going to go away.

Similarly, George Washington’s warnings about political parties remain valid.

How can we discern which type of wisdom needs to be updated and which type of wisdom remains useful?

One key factor is whether the wisdom concerns scientific and technological items (such as sailing ships instead of rockets) or whether the wisdom concerns human nature (such as our love of power and money).

If you read the book of Proverbs you will realize that its enduring wisdom concerns human nature.

George Washington’s warning against political parties was grounded in his experiences with human nature in the movement that established the United States:

(1) agitating against the king in the 1770s;

(2) declaring independence from the British Empire in 1776;

(3) winning the War for American Independence by 1783;

(4) writing (1787) and ratifying (1790) the Constitution; and

(5) serving as President until his retirement in 1797.

And so, in his Farewell Address, he wrote:

I have already intimated to you the dangers of parties . . ., with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view and warn you in the most comprehensive manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally.

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled , or repressed; but in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of people to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation on the ruins of public liberty.

[Aside from this risk of creating a king or dictator,] the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.

It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passion.

When George Washington warned against the “baneful effects” of the spirit of party, it sounds as if he’d been reading the news in the Twenty-First Century.

We see a dictator ordering troops onto American streets such as in Los Angeles, D.C., and (soon) Chicago. We see a dictator undermining constitutional and legal restraints on his actions and pretensions. We see a dictator fomenting riot and insurrection such as on January 6th to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power. We see a dictator open the door to foreign influence and corruption such as the gift of a jet from Qatari, and from numerous corrupt business dealings between his family members and foreign entities, profiting personally from the President’s powers, decisions and actions.

We saw the Democratic Party deny the decline of the physical and mental health of an aging President from their party. And now we are seeing the Republican Party deny the decline of the physical and mental health of an aging President from their party.

As the wisdom of George Washington warned the American people as long ago as 1797, it is our continuing duty to discourage party spirit in all it forms, including the party spirit of the Democratic and Republican parties.

As I discuss in my blog “An Independent Path”:

In the United States today, many Christians are seeking alliances with a political party, an economic system, or an ideology as a “natural counterweight” to people who they fear. But alliances with political parties, economic systems, or ideologies are as counterproductive and futile as “capitulating to Assyria” or “depending on Egyptian aid”—strategies that the Prophet Isaiah condemned in favor of God’s people taking an independent path exclusively following the One LORD with all their heart, soul and strength.

America is a movement! Not a political party!

A movement establishing the ideal America first discovered by the hearts of Abraham, Moses and Jesus. The ideal America where:

—ALL people are blessed (Abraham; Genesis 12:3);

—ALL pharaohs are challenged to set ALL people free (Exodus 8:1);

—ALL hurting people are healed (Jesus; Luke 10:25-37); and

—where ALL means ALL! (Genesis 12:3; Isaiah 2:1-4; Matthew 28:18-20).

A movement where the strength of the LORD is made perfect in our weakness.

A movement where God’s grace is sufficient for us.

Not a political party that serves and unites the Powers of Money, the Powers of Religion, and the Powers of the Kingdoms of this World.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Do you believe in monotheism or polytheism? Why?

What are the implications of monotheism and polytheism for whether you follow an independent path in politics exclusively following the One LORD with all your heart, soul and strength? Why?

Do you equate following Trump or MAGA or Christian Nationalism with following the One LORD? Why? Why not?

Do you equate following Progressive politicians and political parties with following the One LORD? Why? Why not?

What are the implications for exclusively following a particular politician or political party from the realization that “all we like sheep have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6).

Are politicians and political parties included among the sheep who have gone astray? How? How not? Why? Why not?

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For related ideas, please read my blogs “Deceptive-Drawings-Designed-To-Deceive-and-Divide”, “Nationalism Is Patriotism Gone Astray”, “Alcatraz: Escaping By Using ‘Countervailing Powers’ Wisely”, and “Jesus Climbs the Temple Mount”.