TEXT: I Peter 2:9

SUBJECT: Christian America?

Three weeks ago, a Federal Court ruled that making people recite the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional on the grounds that it establishes religion. Whether the judges are right or not, I’ll leave to people who know more about the law than I do.

What interests me, though, is the reaction the verdict has gotten from sincere, Bible-believing Americans. Many see it as another step away from the Christian America we once had and that the courts, the media, and others keep taking away from us.

Is the complaint just? Has America ever been a Christian nation? Has it ceased being one? If so, what should we be doing to get it back to its former glory?

These are the issues I want to explore in today’s talk. The answers won’t please everyone—I suspect—but I very firmly believe they’re what the Bible teaches. In thinking them through, let’s make I Thessalonians 5:21 the rule,

Before we can know if America used to be a Christian nation, is one, or ought to be one, we have to ask ourselves, What is it? What makes a country Christian?

I thought of four possible answers:

• Ideally, a Christian nation is one in which every person repents of his sins and believes in Jesus Christ.

• More realistically, a Christian country could be one in Covenant relationship with God. Israel is the example here. Most of its people were not saved, yet the nation belonged to the Lord in a special way.

• Historically, a Christian nation has often been one that formally professes the Lordship of Christ and tries to base it’s laws on the Bible or the traditions of the Church. Before the French Revolution, every nation in Europe was Christian in this sense. England was Protestant; Spain was Catholic; Russia was Orthodox; Germany was mixed.

• A Christian nation could be one in which many believers live and whose culture is influenced by the Bible.

Obviously, we don’t fit into the first one. Not every American has repented of his sins and trusted Jesus Christ for his salvation.

What about option number 2? Is America in Covenant with God? No it isn’t. Covenants between God and man are always made by God. It is He who chooses us and not we who choose Him—Psalm 33:12.

What about the third option? Does America formally profess the Lordship of Christ?

If by America, you mean the basic documents of our government, then no we don’t. The Constitution never mentions God and forbids the establishment of religion. The Declaration of Independence names a Creator, but gives Him no title but Nature’s God which was the term used most often (in those days) by the Deists who denied the Divinity of Christ. In other words, not Christians!

The Covenanters (who were the most Reformed and committed Scottish Presbyterians in America) denounced the Constitutution because of its infidelity. They wondered how a people could call itself Christian without plainly acknowledging the Lordship of Christ.

Thus, although many Americans have sincerely professed Christ, the nation—as such—never has.

The fourth option is the only one we can accept with any integrity. There are many saved Americans and the Bible has had a big influence on our government, culture, education, and public life in general.

The short answer is no it doesn’t.

Professing faith is good, but it doesn’t make one a Christian, Matthew 7:21.

Following selected parts of the Bible also does not make a person—or a nation—Christian. Israel in the First Century, was a conservative, religious society, very much influenced by the Bible. Yet of that people, the Lord said, Matthew 23:35-36,

The issues we most link to Christianity are, in fact, not distinctly Christian at all. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live in a country with no abortion, no pornography, no drug abuse, no drunkenness, and a very low crime rate? If you think so, drive up to SFO and hop the next plane to…Saudi Arabia!

Yes, the Bible has played a big part in the forming of American culture. But that doesn’t make the United States Christian.

It seems to me that there are four possibilities: We could (1) leave it, (2) overthrow it, (3) try to change it, or (4) make the best of it.

The first answer is just plain stupid. If you left America for a Christian country, where would you go? All nations are under the wrath of God. But even if you could find Atlantis or buy a small island in the Pacific, who’s to say you could make it—or keep it—Christian?

The Puritans who came to New England were remarkably godly men. They saw America as the New Jerusalem. But within two or three generations of their landing, New England was a hotbed of heresy.

You’re at liberty to emigrate if you want to, but doing it to find or found a Christian society is laughable.

The second answer is ungodly. Nowhere does the New Testament permit us to overthrow our rulers—even if they’re wicked men. The Roman Empire was founded on idolatry and its people were required to say Caesar is Lord. Yet in Romans 13 Paul says to submit to that government, pay your taxes, and honor the men who occupy high offices. If the rulers persecute us, we’re allowed to suffer for Christ or to flee them, but never to seek their overthrow.

The third answer is the one many Christians believe in, but is amazingly naïve. How can we have a Christian culture when the vast majority of our people are not saved? How can we expect rulers—who depend on popular support—to make and enforce laws the people don’t want?

Voting for the Republicans, listening to Rush Limbaugh, supporting James Dobson may slow down the rotting of our culture, but they will not result in a Christian America! If you’re pinning your hopes on such things, you’re a fool.

The fourth answer is—I think—the true one: make the best of it.

Accept the fact that the United States is not a Christian country, it never has been, and never will be—and so 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 home. They’re from Somewhere Else and going Somewhere Else. Philippians 3:20 says

If America is not a Christian nation, can believers have any part in its government or culture? They key word is "may". It stands for liberty.

Some Christians think it is a duty to stay informed, to vote and to campaign for the right candidates. But, if it’s a duty, you’ve got to find it in the Bible. And you can’t do that. The Word of God nowhere commands the Christian to take part in politics.

Someone objects to this: he says, "God commands us to be salt and light". Just for the record, He doesn’t command us to be salt and light, but says we are salt and light. But leaving that aside, can anyone seriously say that believers cannot be salt and light without being involved in politics? If you do, then you’ve also got to say that the Apostles—and the Lord Jesus Christ—failed as salt and light. For they never waded in on the political issues of the day.

If Christians are not commanded to take part in politics, then neither are we forbidden to do it. Saints in the Bible were involved with the affairs of the day. Think of Daniel, Mordecai, Esther, and The Most Excellent Theophilus.

Thus, if you’ve got the time and the interest in politics, by all means get into them as a Christian and try to do your fellow Americans some good.

But don’t look to politics as your Savior!

This is the great folly of our time—and of all times! Psalm 118:9 says,

Isaiah 2:22 is even plainer,

• The Civil War was fought—Lincoln said—

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

• President Wilson promised World War I would be

It didn’t.

• Neville Chamberlain came back from Munich waving a piece of paper signed by Hitler, ensuring,

A few months later, Germany and Great Britain were at war.

Lyndon Johnson promised to wipe out poverty and racism, but he didn’t. Jimmy Carter promised to clean up the corruption in Washington, D.C., but he didn’t. Bill Clinton promised to make abortion legal, safe, and rare. Well, two out of three ain’t bad!

The greatest political philosopher of the Twentieth Century is Roger Daltrey who said,

The sooner you learn that, the wiser you will be. No party, no politician, no movement, no human creation will make the world a wonderful place to live. Only Jesus Christ can do that. And He’ll do it—not when the right party is elected, but when He comes again. If you want a good world to live in, pray with John,

After the shocking events of September 11, people were calling for a renewed patriotism. All over town, I saw flags flying proudly and people singing God Bless America. I’ve got nothing against that. There’s nothing wrong with loving your country.

But I urge you to love your Other Country even more. What we need now is Christian patriots—not believers who wave the Red, White, and Blue so much, as siants 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 against foreigners—because everyone there came from Somewhere Else!

In denying that America is a Christian nation, the Bible takes nothing away from you. Rather, it gives you something more. It reminds you that you have a true homeland and a true people. For Christians are

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