Ben Franklin- Almost a Christian Worldview
There is a lot that could go on the side of showing a Christian worldview for both of these gentlemen but their comments about the deity of Christ is the determining factor in not including them in the Christian worldview. Franklin to Ezra Stiles, Philadelphia, March 9, 1790 [Franklin died April 17, 1790] “As to Jesus of Nazareth, my Opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think they System of Morals and his Religion, as he left them to us, the best the World ever saw or is likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various corrupting Changes, and I have, with most of the present Dissenters in England, some Doubts as to his Divinity.” Franklin goes on to say:”I shall only add, respecting myself, that having experienced the Goodness of that Being in conducting me prosperously thro’ a long life, I have no doubt of its Continuance in the next.” Franklin doubts or denies the deity of Jesus Christ yet believed he was going to heaven. One that truly calls himself or herself a Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus claimed to be God as seen in John 8:58 “Before Abraham was I AM.” In Hebrew, the word YHWH was translated as “I AM.” John 14:6 states, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In Acts 4:10b-12 Peter spoke the following before the Sanhedrin: “.It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else for there is no other name given under heaven to men by which we must be saved.”
Franklin could honestly say that he followed God according to his fashion but did not specifically follow Jesus Christ. In another entry, Franklin’s strong attestations to God in human events will be presented For someone to call themselves a Christian and deny the deity of Jesus Christ is like: A hunter that does not believe in killing animals A Muslim that does not believe that the Qu’ran is the Word of God A fish that does not believe in water A Catholic that does not believe what the Pope says A vegan that does not believe in eating vegetables Franklin did a load of good things in his life. His scientific inventions include electrical discoveries with lightning, the lightning rod, the Franklin stove, bifocals, etc.
In the political field he also had many special accomplishments. He helped start the first library in Philadelphia, the first fire company, became president of the Abolition Society in Pennsylvania. He stood for American independence and took a public debunking for it at the Privy Council in London and he never forgot it. He helped win the support of France during our struggle for independence and crossed the Atlantic at great peril. London probably would have a fine gallows prepared for him, or Tower of London special treatment, if he had been caught.
Personally I wish it were different. I wish Franklin had said that he trusted Christ for the forgiveness of his sins. I do not know if Mr. Franklin had a change of heart and mind after making his statement to Rev. Ezra Stiles. However, if it stands the way Franklin said it then, He died without the Saviour. It would be such a tragedy for someone to be so intelligent but so unwise. Franklin said here that he had really never studied it. He thought it needless to study it now. If one’s eternal destiny is at stake, he needed to study it. The world’s most intelligent man became unwise in the most important question of his existence. This reminds me of a sermon from Billy Graham entitled “Almost Persuaded.” Paul appeared before King Agrippa in the book of Acts26:28 and after giving him a presentation of the good news of Jesus Christ, Agrippa said the following to Paul: “Almost thou persuadeth me to become a Christian.” Almost did not cut it for Agrippa, nor will it help Franklin when he stands before Christ. Dear friend, choose Christ. Take the time to study about the sinless life, the sacrifice and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. You may be very intelligent but also be wise.
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