Benedict ...

Benedict Arnold

In American history, there is a man who became famous for all the wrong reasons. You have probably heard his name, even if you don’t know the details of his life. Benedict Arnold is a name that brings to mind betrayal and treason; yet he actually was a gifted man and a great soldier.

- He was a general during the American Revolutionary War who fought under George Washington. Benedict Arnold was passed over for promotion, falsely accused by his rivals, deferred by those who could help, including George Washington, and deprived of recognition for his accomplishments. He wouldn’t admit that he had caused any of his problems. He always blamed someone else. So he finally decided to get revenge by switching sides to help the British. In fact, while he was the commander of West Point, he plotted to surrender it to the British. Before that happened, a British spy was captured carrying papers that exposed his plan; and Arnold barely escaped.

- The British rewarded him, but never completely trusted him. He earned a name for himself, but it is a reputation as a traitor. The man who started out as a brave soldier in the American Colonial Militia ended up dying as a British general in London. He had completely abandoned his allegiance to the land that would become the United States of America.

From a sermon by Matthew Grise, Understanding and Avoiding Apostasy, 5/28/2010