The Beliefs of John Robert Stevens

Regarding his own country, Stevens believed that God was behind the founding of the United States, “…as certainly as He was in the raising up of Israel in the Old Testament.”¹ Stevens desired …“to see the Stars and Stripes fly in the Kingdom.”² The United States—as well as many other nations—has a specific destiny in God, and Stevens had a deep faith that the country would always be true to its Godly roots. Stevens expressed his love for the founding document of the United States in this way:

When I read the Bill of Rights or the Declaration of Independence, I am deeply stirred. Under our flag glorious things have happened. America’s aid programs have kept many people in the world alive. But the greatest credit of America is the sacrifice that the Christians have made to send the gospel to all the world.³

Stevens believed that Christians had a duty to not only submit to their local government, but also to pray for those in governmental office. Romans 13:1 is very clear about this: “Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” He felt that a lack of respect for the government is a result of the rebelliousness of the age. However, those who have faith in the Lord could be the very cause of God moving in their nation.

Pray for America. Abraham asked God if He would destroy Sodom if He could find ten righteous persons. The answer was no (Genesis 18:32). Will God destroy the United States if He can find a remnant that are determined to glorify Him and see His will come forth? No. It is not the majority who are living in wickedness and sin that count; a minority can change the nation. That has always been true.⁴

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Stevens did not feel that an affiliation with any particular political party or agenda was necessary for the believer. Rather than focusing on politics, Stevens focused on the Kingdom of God. He believed that the only effective approach when it came to government was prayer. He taught that seeking the Lord and interceding for the United States is more powerful than trying to work through political channels. He used Ephesians 6:12 to point out how Christians are not fighting a war of “flesh and blood,” but one of the spirit. He stated that individuals in government should never be the focus, but that we should pray for the Lord’s will to be done in the nation, and the Lord would work His will.

The term government appears 437 times in Stevens’ written materials.
The term America appears 164 times in Stevens’ written materials.
The term United States appears 123 times in Stevens’ written materials.