TEXT: I Peter 2:9

SUBJECT: Christian America?

Last Sunday afternoon, Geoff Volker spoke on the topic of Christian America. If you were here, you know the sermon stirred quite a bit of interest and more than a little disagreement. I want to return to it today and maybe, with the Lord’s help, we can think it through more carefully, and learn to conduct ourselves as we ought to as citizens of heaven who are living in the United States for the time being.

Before we decide if America is a Christian nation, if it used to be one, or if we should help to make it one, let’s be sure we know what we’re talking about.

I thought of four possibilities:

Ideally, of course, a Christian nation would be one in which every citizen repented of his sins and believed in Jesus Christ. Such a nation has never existed, of course, and we have no promise of one on this side of heaven.

More realistically, a Christian nation would be a people in formal covenant with God. In the Bible, Israel is the only Covenant Nation—even though the great majority of its members were not saved. Paul says

This was true in the best of times, when David and Solomon reigned over the united kingdom, and in the worst of times, when the nation was divided and wicked men—like Ahab—occupied the seat of power. Even then—the Bible says—

A Christian Nation could be one that publicly professes faith in Christ. Before the French Revolution in 1789, every country in Europe was Christian—in this sense. England was Protestant, Spain was Catholic, Russia was Eastern Orthodox, and Germany was mixed. But they all thought of themselves as Christian nations or part of Christendom, which means "The Kingdom of Christ on Earth".

A Christian Nation could be one in which many believers live and whose culture is influenced by the Bible. This is what most people are thinking of when they say America is a Christian Nation.

Obviously, we don’t fit into the first one—not every American is saved. That has never been true and we have no reason to hope it ever will be. The most fanatical Patriot does not believe that.

But what about the second option? Is America in Covenant with God? No it isn’t. Covenants between God and men are always made by God. It is He who chooses us and not we who choose Him.

But has God chosen America to be His own peculiar people? The Bible doesn’t say He has. If you point to the great blessings we have from Him, I say, Amen, yes we do. But then, of course, so did the Roman Empire. They had wealth, power, and stability too. But they were under the Judgment of God despite their worldly advantages.

What about Option Number Three—that America formally professes faith in Christ?

If by America, you mean our basic documents, then no we don’t. The Constitution does not mention God and forbids "the establishment of religion". The Declaration of Independence names a Creator, but gives Him no title except for Nature’s God which was the term used most often by Deists who affirmed the existence of God but who denied the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, not Christian!

The Covenanters (who were the most Reformed and committed Scottish Presbyterians) denounced the Constitution because of its infidelity. They wondered how in the world a nation could call itself Christian without publicly affirming the Lordship of Jesus Christ!

Many Americans have professed Christianity—and many are truly saved people—but America as a nation has never done that.

The Fourth Option is the only one we can accept with any integrity. There are many Christians in the United States and over the years the Bible has had a big influence in our government, culture, education, and public life in general.

I don’t think anyone can seriously disagree with this.

The short answer is no.

Professing faith does not make one a Christian. Our Lord Jesus put it this way, Matthew 7:21,

Following some selected parts of the Bible also does not make a person—or a people—Christian. For example, there is no doubt the Jews of the First Century prayed, fasted, and gave alms to the poor. Every one of these is a commandment of God! Yet the Lord said, Luke 50-51

Israel at the time was what many Christians are calling for—a traditional, conservative, religious society. And yet that society—not pagan Rome—crucified the Lord of Glory!

What social changes do most Christians want nowadays? First on the list is an end to abortion. Amen to this! Abortion is murder in the first degree and of the most unnatural and vicious kind. Yet Ireland has no abortion rights. Is it Christian? Or is it one of the most Catholic nations on earth?

Others demand modesty—especially female modesty. I agree with them. But that’s what The Taliban has. Is it Christian?

Hard work would be good, but is the Japanese Buddhist going to heaven?

I sure wish we could abolish drunkenness. They’ve done that in Saudi Arabia. Is that a Christian society?

The fact of the matter is: Having many professed believers and parts of the Bible in the culture does not make a nation Christian. Therefore, the United States of America is not a Christian Nation.

If abortion were outlawed tomorrow, if homosexuality were criminalized, if drug abuse was sharply curtailed, and if crime took a nosedive, what we’d probably have a better place to live, but the nation would be no more Christian with these things than we are today.

You see, Christianity is not "being good" (though we ought to be good). It is nothing less than union with Jesus Christ.

Many Americans are in union with Christ, but the United States is not—never has been and we have no promise that it ever will be.

Some would say "Leave it". The Pilgrims and Puritans said this about England and they sailed for a new land in which—they hoped—the Kingdom of God would be rebuilt in the world.

Whether they should have done this or not is a matter of opinion. But what isn’t a matter of opinion is this: they failed. If you read Puritan history, you’ll find that though the first generation was heroic for Christ, the second generation wasn’t. And within a few decades Christian New England became a hotbed for heresy.

Futhermore, the Bible nowhere commands us to leave an ungodly nation. The Lord commanded Abraham to do that—but we’re not Abraham!

One place, at least, seems to suggest we ought to stick it out, I Corinthians 5:9-10,

Picking up the verse, if you left America for a better place—a more Christian place—where would you go? In terms of morality and public religion, Europe is worse than we are! I believe more Christians live in Africa than on any other continent, yet no African country is Christian.

If you want to emigrate, that’s your business, but don’t think you’ll move to a Christian nation. You won’t; there is none on earth.

Leaving then, is not an option. But how about revolution? Maybe we could overthrow our wicked leaders and replace them with saved men. This might be done, but how would you square this with Romans 13:2?

If revolution were the right option, then Barabbas was a hero. Or the Apostles should have joined with the Zealots who—after the Day of Pentecost—might have overthrown the Roman rulers.

No, this is not the right option. If good men in the past did it—personal heroes even—then we only say that good men are not the standard. It is the Bible that determines right and wrong.

The third option is the one most sensible Christians take. If the government is bad, then work for a Christian one. What do we make of this?

If by work for a Christian government you mean preach the Gospel to our leaders, then yes, by all means do! Presidents and governors and mayors are all included in the Great Commission. Moreover, in II Timothy 2, Paul says

Including President Bush and Senator Kennedy, and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginzberg.

But, if you mean try to make the government and the culture Christian, then I say you’re wasting your time. Honest leaders are better than crooked leaders and good laws are better than bad ones—but if every official was honest and every law good, the government, culture and people of the United States would still be under the wrath of God!

If you want to work to make things better in society—God bless you, it’s good work—but don’t ever think making things better is the same thing as making things Christian.

The best option is, of course, the Bible one. Accept the fact that the United States is not a Christian nation—and live as

Pilgrims and strangers may enjoy the country they’re passing through—and may do some good in it too—but it’s not their country. They’re from somewhere else. And so are we,

The key word here is "ought"—that’s the word of duty. Is it my duty to vote? Or your duty to campaign for someone? Or run to office?

If it’s a duty, you’ve got to find it in the Bible. And no verse can be found. The Word of God nowhere commands the believer to vote, campaign, contribute, get involved or run for office.

But someone will say, "God commands us to be salt and light". Just for the record, God doesn’t that, He says we "are salt and light". Grammarians call this an indicative, not an imperative—it says what is, not what ought to be.

But leaving that aside, can anyone seriously say You cannot be salt and light without getting into politics? If you do say that, then the Apostles and the Lord Jesus Christ didn’t do the job.

Of course they may. Politics are neither commanded nor forbidden in the Bible. Thus, we’re free to get into them or stay out of them.

Saints in the Bible were involved in the politics of wicked nations. Think of Daniel, Esther, Mordecai, and "The Most Excellent Theophilus".

Must we take an interest in politics? No. May we? Yes. It s a matter of liberty, and Paul says,

We shouldn’t look to it for salvation in the next world or much happiness in this one. The Bible is very plain here,

This is the great folly of our time—and all times! The Civil War was fought—Lincoln said—

He won the war, but that did not secure self-government here or anywhere else.

President Wilson said the World War I was—

It wasn’t.

Neville Chamberlain came back from Munich with a piece of paper in his hand signed by Hitler, ensuring—

It didn’t.

The Civil Rights Movement promised freedom to all Americans. But it didn’t come through. The Contract with America promised reform—but nothing really changed. On and on it goes. Every politician, statesman, and talking head promises salvation through human works, and not one of them works out.

The greatest political philosopher of the Twentieth Century is Roger Daltrey. Here’s what he said about pinning your hopes on men, political parties, or revolutions,

Philip Melanchton was the dear friend and assistant to Martin Luther. When he saw the wonderful changes the Reformation brought to Saxony, he thought all the world would soon be saved. After years of stalemate, though, he had to admit,

The sooner you learn that, the smarter you’ll be. No party, no politician, no movement, no human creation will make the world a wonderful place to live. No, Jesus Christ is going to do that—and not gradually—but all at once when He comes again,

What then should we hope for from our public leaders? II Timothy 2:2 says,

That’s all we can hope for. If that’s what we’re looking for, we won’t be half as discontented as we are. That’s what we ought to pray for. And pray without ceasing.

The answer is no. It’s true that heaven is a Christian nation—a pure Monarchy in which the King loves His subjects and they love Him in return. Perfectly and forever.

But heaven is not only up in the air. It’s also on the ground. The King has come and set up a Royal Outpost in the world. And why shouldn’t He? He’s as much the King of Earth as He is the King of Heaven!

Believers live in Cities Royal right now. What Israel would have been if they had obeyed, we have become. Because our Lord Jesus Christ has obeyed for us. Right now—with all our faults—we are

Brothers and sisters, there is a Christian nation—and we’re all in it. But it’s not America, it’s the Kingdom of God which is occupied by everyone who serves the King, the Lord Jesus Christ.

After the shocking events of 9-11, people were calling for a renewed Patriotism. People all over town were waving flags, singing God bless America, and so on. I’ve got nothing against that, there’s nothing wrong with loving your country.

But I urge you to love you other country even better. What we need now is Christian Patriots—not believers who wave the Red, White, and Blue so much as Christians who love heaven—who set their priorities by it and who invite foreigners to immigrate. There’s plenty of room in heaven, plenty of resources, and no prejudice. Everyone is welcome there. Why don’t you go tell your friends about where you’re from and the King you serve?

That’s a patriotism you’ll never be ashamed of.