" Christian Nation "

This is not to say that the community of the seventeenth and eighteenth century was flawless and utopian . On the contrary, they had lapses in morality then as we do today. However, the difference in motivation is huge. They really tried to live by an inner standard. The modern American is more  motivated by the conscience of others. And if given half the chance, would yield to a sinful opportunity. As an example, some time ago, an armored car crashed, spilling it’s contents on the street of a poor neighborhood in Florida. People rushed in from all around, picking up and running away with the money! The bank lost an enormous amount of money. Soon an appeal was made for the people to voluntarily surrender the ‘stolen’ money. The authorities even went house to house telling people, 'that if they had some of the money, the right thing to do would be to give it back'. Finally it made headline news when one poor lady voluntarily returned $12.00. She said “to keep it would be a bad example for her kids”. This lady, I believe, is an example of someone that has “inner” values and conscience. At first she was overwhelmed by temptation. But soon she relented and gave in to her conscience.

If our entire nation was absolutely full of people like this wonderful lady; if every Senator, every Congressman, every Mayor and our President was of an excellent spirit like this women, we still would not have a “Christian nation”! The fact is; There is no such place as a “Christian Nation”. There never has been, nor will there ever be. As believers know, all we have available to us is an invisible Kingdom. An invisible Head, and very fallible mortal examples of what is to come.

The History of Organized Religion

The critics of religion sometimes understand this better than we do! They say: “Organized religion is the cause of the worlds ills”. Well I wouldn’t go so far as to agree with that statement. But lets consider some related points:

In all of religious history, it cannot be found -when Fundamentalist religion, no matter what flavor, when in absolute political power, did not become cruel and coercive; Christianity included.

• The Church in it’s infancy humbly tolerated persecution until the emperor Constantine came to power and made Christianity fashionable. As the politics developed it became difficult for non-Christians to hold civil offices. In a short time Christianity organized and developed into what we now know as the Catholic church.

• As the Catholic institution developed, they hunted dissenters like animals, demanding, with the threat of torture and burning at the stake, that the apostates come back to the mother Church and turn from their heresies.

• Finally the Protestant church became established in places that were out of the reach of feuding Popes. They flourished and took over entire geographical areas. Much of Switzerland, Germany, France etc. These were now free to exercise their concept of a utopian ‘Christian’ state. Tragically, soon they were doing public beatings; banishment; confiscation of possessions. They also began hunting supposed heretics and putting them on trial. Even one favorite of modern Evangelicals, John Calvin, sat with his Elder peers, Judged and (some say 'unwillingly') condemned a fellow named Servertus to burning at the stake.

• Many Christians escaped persecution and came to the New World. There they warred with the indigenous people and settled into the land. They established their “Christian communities” and soon were burning witches at the stake!

Christianity is not the only religion at fault. Islam has a similar history. So does Judaism, and every religion that has become political. When Faith becomes nationalistic it cannot consequently act by love and liberty, but only by coercion and control. Faith then must be forced on people. This as an attempt to carry out religious ideology. Now religion is no longer personal; it becomes corporate and when it becomes corporate it becomes political and ceases to be the Church while evolving into just another organization; complete with political agendas. This, by the way, is at least part of the reason for what we call the “culture wars”: the ‘Christian right’ trying to create a Christian environment. While the Liberal left has it’s own ideology to promote; though not admitted, equally religious in nature. (Thus the famous phrase, ‘Politically correct’)

Many Christians are still attempting to reestablish their perception of what they think the ideal was in the 1700s, I.E. “A Christian nation”. It is my honest belief that if Christians had the political power they want; They would not afford the same religious liberty to other Faiths that Christians demand today. And what is the basis for this demand; That this was and still is a “Christian nation”.

If not a Christian nation then what?

So, what about our forefathers, weren’t they Christian? Obviously, that is a question that cannot be answered entirely. But there is one thing for certain, if modern Evangelical Fundamentalist used the current tests for orthodoxy and  knew about our forefathers religious involvements, very few or our forefathers would be judged fit for the kingdom of Heaven!

Of course there were many Christians among them. However the ratio was small enough to be certain they could not proclaim a ‘Christian nation’. At least as the reformers of today wish. A careful reader of American history will find that, though most were religious to some extent, it was Nationalism and Americanism that truly united them. In their writings much is said about God, ‘The Great Sovereign’ But little is said of ‘Jesus The Christ, Savior of the World’. When Jesus was mentioned it was the exception to the rule. Even today Jesus is honored in every major cult. So a mention of Jesus does not necessitate faith in Him.

Many of America's forefathers were Freemasons of the highest order. George Washington for one. This is why the Freemasons honored him with the building of the Washington monument, an obelisk, which Freemasons freely admit represents an erected penis. Freemasons have a creed which sounds much like Christianity. They are very moral and have values that mirror Christianity in many ways. But technically (Biblically) they are not ‘Christian’. And if one looks behind the scenes of Freemasonry it is easy to determine that their Soteriology and worship are far from Christian.

Now this is exactly the point. One of Freemason central tenets is that ‘One must believe in God’; However, "God", in the broadest sense is accepted, belief in God is mandatory. Atheists are excluded from membership. All religions are accepted as long as the member has ‘belief’. This was also true in George Washington’s day.

For a united America, this was a tremendous benefit of tolerance for other Faiths. However, not all temporal benefits are ultimately and lastingly good. This goes beyond tolerance. It is more like ‘your Faith is just as legitimate as mine’. Therefore, It is saying that some of the claims of Christianity are conveniently meaningless. Now here is the problem: Freemasonry is therefore naturally inclusive, but Christianity, if it is to be absolutely believed, is naturally exclusive. But having a 'Freemason' bent rather than a 'Christian' bent, was the only way the framers of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights could have ever come up with such documents. 

This is not to say, that I as a Christian, cannot be tolerant of others beliefs. But always, in the back of my mind, I am planning ways to rescue the sinner (regardless of his perceived faith) from the fires of Hell! And in addition, because of my faith, I cannot ever come to a place of brotherhood with such a person. There will always be limitations, clearly spoken of in the New Testament. Anyone who wholly believes their Bible must come to the same conclusion. It is not possible for any government to operate in this manner. 

Someone might ask, “Wouldn’t you wish that the United States were Christian”. To this I would answer, with my whole heart, ‘YES’. I always want life my way. But, I might as well wish that all Christians were rich and never needed to work. But this is neither God’s will, nor are we capable of handling such responsibility. We’ll just have to wait for the Millennium until we can experience anything resembling a Christian nation.

Why are the arguments in this essay important? Because God is not interested in a nation of professing Christians. He died for individuals. Individuals who reverence only one King; one Kingdom - on the basis of a personal faith. Who like Abraham "..looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Heb.11:10) 

When we have a "God and Country" type of mentality, it is a similar danger as 'God and money'. We cannot serve two masters or two Kingdoms. If this is attempted, we will find ourselves having to choose one or the other. (Remember Lot's wife ) That choice was supposed to have been made at our New Birth. Another reason this is important, is Christianity is not a Philosophy that one simply subscribes to. It is no even. a "way of life". Regardless how many love The Christian Faith as a good theory and a system for living; it is much more than this. The difference cannot be exaggerated, it's as different as man and beast. Christianity was made by God; While religious systems were made by man. Justification by creed and works vs. Justification by Grace. To assume that we can somehow develop meaningful worship into something national is just plain silly.

No, our founding fathers were generally not ‘Christian’: They were: Christian, Masons, Deists. Theists, Agnostics, Atheists and everything in between. But they knew something that many Christians do not know -how to get along with people of differing faiths. (except Indians) And how to write a document that assured freedom of personal conviction. They must have been students of religious history.

Quote: "The human conscience is immune to coercion" (unknown)

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