“Ismellarat — An Anti-Federalist Interpretation of American History”

is unique as an evangelical video production that challenges the U.S.

Constitution as a Christian document thesis held by many evangelical Christians.  Produced by a team of Evangelicals, it seeks to prove that historical revisionism could be a more serious problem among Christian authors than among secularists. 

<b>Baptized Federalism</b>

Readers of most contemporary authors on American Christian history are in for a shock.  The video challenges almost everything they’ve been taught about the meaning of American history.  The documentary takes issue with the “baptized Federalism” which is common to many of today’s “Christian America” authors.  It asserts that too often strong Christians have allowed their patriotism to cloud their biblical discernment on this vital issue.

Approximately 31 minutes in run time, this DVD challenges the prevailing opinion among Christians that the United States Constitution represents the epitome of biblical civil government. It explores why Patrick Henry and other strong Christians of the founding era opposed ratification of the Constitution so vigorously.

The legendary Patrick Henry argued almost single-handedly against ratification for 23 days in the Virginia Ratifying Convention.  Patrick Henry had better oratory, but Madison had better organization Many of his prophetic warnings have transpired: an imperial Supreme Court, two levels of oppressive taxation, a bloody civil war.  Plus an expansionist interpretation of the General Welfare Clause and the so-called Elastic Clause. 

The film reports why Patrick Henry rejected James Madison’s invitation to the Constitutional Convention itself with the pithy retort, “I smelt a rat.”  It answers the question, What was the rat that Patrick Henry “smelt”?  Includes interviews with radio personality Larry Pratt, Christian historian Dr. George Grant, and others. 

<b>Christian Revisionism</b>

Historical revisionism could be a bigger problem among Evangelical Christians than among secular humanists.  Here is evidence the film supplies for this assertion.  Some of the telltale marks of Christian revisionism include….

      1) Relying heavily on secondary evidence such as after-the-fact religious quotes and self-congratulatory statements by the founders and their Federalist cheerleaders.

      2) Downplaying primary source documents, such as the “Federalist Papers” and “Notes From the Federal Convention,” which almost never refer to the Bible in their discussions of civil government.  Then concluding that “the founders used the Bible as their great political textbook.”

      3) Ignoring the strong Evangelical and anti-Federalist resistance to the Constitution, which existed at the time of ratification.  Then “baptizing” the Constitution as the undisputed epitome of biblical civil government.   

Thus, the video suggests that many contemporary “Christian America authors are in reality promoting a form of Christian historical revisionism.