At the early ramping up to the American Revolution the Moravians in America sought to be both passive and aloof from the beating war drums. They were, after all, pacifists - but not totally. They did own guns for defense from robbers, Indians and wild animals. But they rejected participation in warfare against an army.
With the war at their doorstep they placed their fate in the hands of their Lord and Savior - Jesus. The Salem Diary captures this spirit well. Consider:
They praised “the many instances of His wonderful help, counsel and direction in the past year. Had he not been this to us, had the Guardian of Israel not watched over us and turned aside the evil which the enemy planned against us, we would have perished.”
The Salem Diary in 1776 read: “We must say with truth and humility that our dear Lord has not only lightened the heavy load, but when misfortune and harm was (sic) threatening, He either turned it aside or made it work to our advantage.”
These early Moravians were clear about what they should do - they must follow and obey their earthly ruler as Scripture teaches. The Moravians would comply with whoever made up the rightful government be it King George or the Colonial government.
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