John Winthrop A Model Of Christian Charity Essay

John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer who arrived in Massachusetts on the Arbella, in, June 1630. As one of the founding leaders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, he was elected as the colony’s first Governor. He strongly believed in being united in a good cause and being an example to other nations around the world. Winthrop shows his strong belief in unity, in his sermon, “A Model of Christian Charity,” in 1630. With the passengers on the Arbella practically close to death and with no time for giving up, Winthrop addressed his sermon, “A Model of Christian Charity,” to inspire the passengers on how to overcome the struggles of the New World and the upcoming winter through their unity. However, unlike the strongly unified Puritans,

Americans today have a diversity of opinions and beliefs.
Winthrop would describe being an American as being unified.

While addressing his sermon on the Arbella, Winthrop explains, “For this end, we must be knit together, in this work, as one man” (Winthrop 1630). Just like anyone else doing something for the first time, the Puritans were worried and concerned about forming a colony in the New World. In need of comfort with their dilemma of being successful in their endeavor, the Puritans did not have much confidence. To motivate them, Winthrop shared his strong belief in being unified by describing how they must be as one and work together.
Working together and being as one, Winthrop believed that this will give them strength. This belief is shown, when Winthrop proclaims, “We shall find that the God of Israel is among us, when ten of us shall be able to resist a thousand of our enemies” (Winthrop 1630). Winthrop believed that being united through their religion will allow them to receive strength and be able to overcome the

impossible.
Winthrop concluded his sermon, with his belief that as they receive strength to overcome the impossible through their unity, then they will be an example to others. His claim of them being an example to others is conveyed, when he says, “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us” (Winthrop 1630). The importance of unity was stressed when Winthrop went on a broader spectrum that their unity will not only help each other, but also other nations who will see their example.
Unlike Winthrop’s description that being an American means being unified, today, Americans define being an American as having their own opinions and beliefs.

Everyday I see different examples of Americans having their own opinions and beliefs. Specific examples of this include differences in my religious beliefs and others and political views on gun control.
As part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, otherwise known as the Mormon church, I often do not share the same opinions or beliefs as other people. For example, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints follow a strict law of health, otherwise known as the Word of Wisdom, which prohibits them from partaking of alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea and illicit drugs. Other Christian religions do not follow or believe in a strict prohibition of these substances. In the Puritan world, such diversity of these beliefs would not be allowed, one or the other would be viewed as

heresy.
Another example of how Americans have their own opinions and beliefs is with political parties. Separated and divided, the country’s unity is often torn apart through the different political opinions people believe in. Gun control is a lightning rod topic, especially with all of the recent shootings, for example, like the shooting in San Bernardino. After this attack, some strongly believe that restrictions on purchasing and owning guns are not strong enough, and their ease of purchase allows too many to have access to guns and to use them to commit atrocities. Others, just a vehemently, argue that guns themselves do not kill and that restricting law abiding citizens from gun ownership will leave only the criminals who do not follow the law anyway to have guns, leaving law abiding citizens vulnerable.
Either big or small, conflicts are created between people with different opinions and beliefs, keeping us from being truly unified. Often, the result of these conflicts are the persecution or discrimination of others because they believe in something else that another does not believe in. These problems are not caused because of differences in opinions and beliefs, but they are merely caused from a lack of respect. Respecting others and their beliefs is very important to the growth of our society and will truly help unify us. Everyone, myself included, can be more respectful and less judgemental of others opinions and beliefs.