A Christian Nation?

People often ask, “Is the United States a Christian Nation?” To answer this question we must first define what it means to be a “Christian Nation.” Then we need to make a distinction between our founding principles and later behavior.

Three Supreme Court decisions identified America as a “Christian Nation” or affirmed its citizens are a “Christian people.” This does not mean America is a theocracy or that all of its citizens are or must be followers of the Christian faith. Justice David Brewer, the author of a unanimous Supreme Court decision that affirmed America to be a Christian nation defined what “Christian Nation” meant. He explained that America is a Christian nation because the principles of the Bible shaped its values, culture, and institutions.

Seventeen presidents made official declarations affirming America as a Christian Nation. These range from the earliest presidents like Adams and Jefferson to contemporary presidents like Johnson and Nixon. Woodrow Wilson said, “America was born a Christian nation — America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture.” (To learn more about our founding see https://wallbuilders.com/america-christian-nation/)

We can affirm with confidence that America was founded as a Christian Nation. We cannot assert that we have always acted in accordance with those founding principles. The treatment of the indigenous people and the tolerance of slavery are two examples. However, the dark aspects of our history have one thing in common – they all represent behaviors inconsistent with our founding Biblical principles. (Regarding slavery see: https://wallbuilders.com/founding-fathers-slavery/) (Regarding Native Americans see: https://wallbuilders.com/no-revisionists-thanksgiving-not-day-mourning/)

There were churches that wrongly defended slavery and churches that rightly formed abolitionist societies. Just as today, there are churches that wrongly support abortion and those that rightly are pro-life and support the work of crisis pregnancy centers. Even these divisions are evidence that we are not a theocracy and the churches do not speak with a single voice.

The Bible describes another nation founded on Biblical principles that did not always behave in accordance with those principles — Israel. During the time of the Judges Israel repeatedly “forsook Yehovah God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods,” (Judges 2:11-13). King Solomon built shrines for his foreign wives to worship their native gods (1 Kings 11:1-8). Jeroboam set up golden calves to be worshiped in Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12:25-33). Evil Kings Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:1-4) and Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:1-9) set up idols in the temple in Jerusalem.

God’s response to the Jewish nation not acting in accordance the God’s law was chastisement and punishment. Should a Christian nation think He would not chastise it for violating Biblical principles? Thomas Jefferson stated, “Indeed I tremble for my country when reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep forever.”

We must individually commit and the church must call citizens back to live in accordance with Biblical teaching – to be once again a Christian nation.