The Greatest Sin in History

Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. ~ Acts 8:22

It is by the mixture of counterfeit religion with true, not discerned and distinguished, that the Devil has had his greatest advantage against the cause and kingdom of Christ. ~ Jonathan Edwards

What was the greatest public sin committed by Christians in American history? Numerous corporate decisions made by American Christians could vie for this dubious honor. For me, the colonial witchcraft trials in Salem Village that begin in 1692 top the list.

Edmund Morgan, a distinguished historian of early America, writes,

Salem has never been able to keep the story of the witchcraft trials to itself. For nearly three centuries the story has excited the imagination and curiosity of men and women throughout the Western world. It somehow strikes a chord that we all respond to, whether with indignation or sorrow or sympathy. It opens a window not only on Salem, not only on Puritan New England, but on the human condition.

The infamous trials took place during a time of significant transition and tension in the Bay Colony. The Colony had recently lost its right to self government, church leaders could not agree on a form of government for their fledging churches, and the younger generation was, as Morgan maintains, “going to the proverbial dogs, frolicking in taverns instead of going to church.”

The Bible clearly states that Satan is real (Job 1, 2), demons are at work (Matthew 7-12), and mediums and the necromancers exist (1 Samuel 15:23; 28:3-25). Some Salem witches may have been guilty. There is every indication that genuine, supernatural, demonic activity uniquely manifested itself in the lives of several people in Salem Village. The evidences and paraphernalia of witchcraft were unmistakable. But the concern degenerated into a panic. Innocent people of all ages were bullied, slandered, and killed. A number of trials were notorious travesties of justice.

That part of the story is well documented. What secular historians have tended to ignore is what happened five years after the termination of the trials. The entire community prayed, fasted, and repented of its sins. Morgan says,

The Salem witch trials may one day look like one of the prouder episodes in our history simply because the whole society was willing to recognize its complicity. In spite of [Judge] Samuel Sewell’s desire to take the blame and shame on himself, it was the whole society that fasted and prayed in acknowledgment of guilt and did not seek to shuffle the blame on the members of their duly constituted tribunal.

Christians today have much to learn from our colonial American brothers and sisters. Imagine an entire community today coming together to pray, fast, and repent, publicly recognizing the dangers of self-righteousness and need for contrition and forgiveness. I wonder.


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