In any election year (especially one as tumultuous and exhausting as 2016), there will be claims and counter-claims about what values and principles should guide the United States of America.
And such debates inevitably lead to appeals to the history and heritage of our country. What principles guided the founding fathers? Were the founding fathers Christians? Were the founding documents Christian in nature?
Thus we come to the next phrase in our “Taking Back Christianese” series: “America is a Christian nation.”
Our purpose in this post (as in all the posts in this series) is simply to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of this phrase. We will do this by asking three questions: (1) Why do people use this phrase? (2) What is correct or helpful about this phrase? and (3) What is problematic about this phrase?
Why Do People Use This Phrase?
There are a number of reasons this phrase is used by believers. Some may simply use it historically. It is a phrase that attempts to capture some historical truths about our country and how it was conceived. As for whether this phrase accurately captures such truths, that is something we will address below.
But other believers may use it as more of an argument. Given the rapid moral and cultural decline of our country, the idea that “America is a Christian nation” is designed to stem the tide. It is a way of pushing back against the secularization all around us by reminding people that things were not always this way. It reminds people that Christians were, at one time, not viewed as cultural pariahs.
What is Correct or Helpful about This Phrase?
One of the challenges of this phrase is that people can mean dramatically different things when they use it. So it might be helpful to get some of the options on the table. The following list (not exhaustive) moves from the most stringent interpretation of the phrase to the most lax:
1. It could mean that America is a theocracy, a nation specially and distinctively under the direct rule of God. In this way, America is a new “Israel” of sorts.
2. It could mean that America was (and is) a nation that officially embraces the Christian religion as the religion of the land, though not a formal theocracy.
3. It could mean that all the founding fathers of America were committed Christians, even though they did not make it the religion of the nation.
4. It could mean that America was founded on the principles (particularly moral ones) laid out in the Christian worldview, even though not all the founding fathers (or citizens) were Christians.
5. It could mean that America was merely influenced by Christianity at its founding because some of the founding fathers happened to be Christians (and most of the populace was also Christian). But, this influence was merely a circumstance of the times and is not essential to the way the nation was conceived or structured. Thus, there is no reason to think that America ought to follow Christian ideas today.
A quick analysis of the above list:
#1 is out due to the biblical uniqueness of Israel.
#2 is out because America was designed to have no official state-sponsored religion.
#3 is out because we know there were a number of founding fathers who were not Christians but Deists or rationalists (e.g., Jefferson, Franklin, et al.).
#5 is out because any honest appraisal of the founding fathers (and the documents they produced) demonstrates that the Christian worldview was not merely a disposable circumstance, but central to structure and values of America’s founding.
So we are left with some version of #4. And I say “version” because even within #4 there are substantial differences (which we will not try to resolve here). Even so, #4 does highlight some potential positive uses of the phrase. Let me mention three.
First, the phrase rightly captures the fact that a nation has to be built on some worldview. There is no such thing as value-less, principle-free, worldview-neutral nation.
Every nation (and every person for that matter) has to make decisions about what is right or wrong, good or evil, moral and immoral. And those decisions have to be based on some ultimate view of reality. And those decisions will affect whether a country survives or perishes.
Second, the phrase is a helpful reminder that Christian ideas, and Christian values, ought not to be viewed by our culture as peculiar or dangerous (even if one disagrees with them). The current trend of our culture is to portray Christian thinking as fundamentally un-American and worthy of condemnation. It is out of sync with American values, we are told. But, even the most superficial familiarity with America’s founding suggests such sentiments are profoundly misguided.
Third, the phrase demonstrates that appeals to God, to religion, and to religious principles are not out of place when debating the future of this nation. Such topics belong in the public square. The founding fathers did precisely this. So why should it be regarded as out of bounds today?
What is Problematic about This Phrase?
Of course, even with these positives, this phrase is ripe for abuse. And there is one danger that stands out above the rest.
Some Christians use this phrase in a manner that come dangerously close to #1 or #2 above. And that runs the dangers of linking the health of the church to the health of America. Or, even worse, linking loyalty to America with loyalty to Christ. The church and state become an undifferentiated lump.
This is a major theological (not to mention political) mistake. And history has shown that the Kingdom of Christ cannot be aligned with any one geo-political nation. And so Christians must be careful not to let nationalism be their defining characteristic.
To be clear, there is nothing wrong with loyalty and commitment and even excitement about one’s own country. Indeed, it is commendable. But, that can never override the fact that, as Christians, we are fundamentally citizens of a different country, a heavenly one.
The book of Hebrews tells us that this is how the saints of old thought:
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city (Heb 11:16).
So, in the end, America is a a nation founded on Christian principles and ideas. But it is not a theocracy, nor is Christianity the national religion, nor are all its citizens Christians. So, it is a Christian nation in certain ways, but not in others. And Christians must walk that narrow and dangerous boundary in between.
Buddy Hanson says
Dr. Kruger —
Your article accurately presented the “new school Presbyterian” position of looking at the world through Pilgrim eyes. I prefer the “old school Presbyterian” view of the (original) Puritans as expressed in Q.191 of the Larger Catechism. Since we’re celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, I would have thought that you wouldn’t have swept the original Presbyterians under the current Pilgrim cultural rug.
I am currently completing a rough draft of Our Only Hope is to Live by God’s great intentions, not by our good intentions: God really exists and He really is smarter than we are! You may not have time to scan through the entire manuscript, but you may be interested in Chapter Sixteen — The Three P’s: Are you a Premillennialist, a Pilgrim, or a Puritan (12 pages).
If so, I would be happy to email it to you.
JL Torrey says
Mr Hanson-
Thank you for your comment. I feel as though I’m eavesdropping on your conversation but I suppose that’s what public comments are all about. You have greatly peaked my interest with your book title and chapter sixteen title. I would be honored if you would grant me the privilege of an early reading of your work. Whether it be in full or in part it would be greatly appreciated. If this is agreeable with you I will give you my email address.
Buddy Hanson says
Thank you for asking! I’m “too close” to the manuscript and would love to have some fresh eyes take a look.
Let me know where to send the chapter,
For the Kingdom,
Buddy
Guymon says
Dr. Gregg Frazer deals with this more in depth in his critique of that pseudo-historian David Barton at this link:
http://wp.production.patheos.com/blogs/warrenthrockmorton/files/2014/11/Americas-Godly-Heritage-review-by-Gregg-Frazer.pdf
Bill Fortenberry says
Gregg’s thesis is filled with flaws, and I’ve addressed many of them in various articles on my website: http://www.increasinglearning.com/apps/search?q=frazer
Bryant Williams III says
Michael,
Pretty good post. One quibble, though. The worldview that is proposed should be “JUDEO-Christian.” This “Judeo-Christian” worldview more accurately reflects the foundation of the America since Christianity is a direct descendant of Judaism. It is reflected in the laws from the OT to the NT to our founding.
Jean Shultz says
Amen!
EhB says
# 6 that regardless of the governance a nation is composed of people. The majority of whom were and/or are Christian.
# 6 is out. In addition to the committed believers all the pagans from Europe sailed over as well.
Justin Garcia says
Good stuff. One question. What do you do with Enlightenment thinkers like Rousseau and Locke who clearly had a strong influence on guys like Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson who were the philosophical heavyweights of American thought during the formation of the United States? It seems to me that Enlightenment thinking as well as natural law theory had just as much influence on the shaping of America as much as Christianity did.
Dante says
As God is sovereign in his bestowal of saving grace, so he is sovereign in his showing of common grace (Matt 5:45). He raises up rulers and tears down nations at his command. Instead of speaking of Judeo-Christian, I suggest thinking of America’s history and flourishing as being of God’s common grace. God shows common to and through non-christians of all types (hence its ‘common’ nature, Psa 145:9). In common grace God restrains the expressions of our depravity and grants virtues like peace and justice. As Calvin noted, God gives gifts of understanding and skill to unbelievers by which they can serve all people and from whom we can learn. God willed to show much common grace to America but is withdrawing this goodness and mercy from us as seen in the fierce and growing rebellion against the Lord. There are two kingdoms and only God’s is promised to never be shaken. While the church is now judged by the world, the world will be judged by its Creator (1 Pet 4:17-19).
Jordan Lorence says
You have to also factor in the significant impact of the Great Awakening on the thinking of many Americans, including the Founders. The Founders grew up in a society strongly impacted by the preaching of George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, the Wesleys and others. Whitefield, was one of the most well known people in the 13 colonies during the 1730s-1760s. The theology of the main evangelists of the Great Awakening influenced many people to believe, for example, in the depravity of the human heart. This doctrine expressed itself during the drafting of the Constitution as a need for separation of powers in the government, dividing power among three branches of government, and federalism, dividing power between the states and the federal government, etc. Any talk about the Enlightenment and Rousseau influencing some of the Founders should be augmented by discussion of the much stronger cultural influence of the Great Awakening on all of the Founders at that time.
Justin Garcia says
Agreed. I guess i was referring specifically to the authors of the Declaration of Independence (Adams, Franklin & Jefferson) who were most likely deists as opposed to James Madison, a Calvinist and author of the Virginia Plan which was used as a foundation for the Bill of Rights. They (Adams, Franklin and Jefferson) each had their own version of Christianity which in my opinion is contrary to the Gospel and the Historic Christian Faith. They in particular derived much of their political and personal philosophy from Enlightenment ideas. I also agree that much of what is deduced from natural law theory agrees with a biblical worldview but it also diverges sharply in other matters with historic Christianity. “All truth is God’s truth” is definitely true however that doesn’t mean that there are not ideas antithetical to God’s truth in the founding of our country. Beliefs which have been widened over time and are perhaps now the most antithetical to Christianity as they ever have been in the history of our great country. But the door was opened at the very founding and that is something that should not be ignored.
But yes, I totally agree that in its founding Judeo-Christian thought was a huge part of that process, just not the only one.
Bill Fortenberry says
Justin, the French philosophers of the Enlightenment were resoundingly criticized by America’s founders. John Adams was particularly disdainful of them referring to them as ignorant cowards and “idiologian.” As far as I can tell, all of the Enlightenment authors praised by the founders were Christians. Locke, for example, wrote several books defending Christianity against the atheism of his French counterparts.
Also, neither Adams, Jefferson nor Franklin were Deists. Adams was a unitarian Christian. Jefferson held many Christian beliefs though I’m not certain whether he was actually a Christian himself, and Franklin was only a Deist for a few of his teen years. He soon abandoned that belief system as being highly illogical, and in 1735, he became a Christian at the age of 29. You can read more about Franklin’s conversion in my book “Franklin on Faith” which is the world’s only complete collection of Franklin’s writings on religion. It’s available on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1506127355
Emily says
Unfortunately, I get angry when Christians use the term “Christian nation”, so much so that I have been praying for a way to be able to discuss this issue with them in a way that is loving and not put them on the defensive. This article helps me understand so much more! Thank you!!
Brenda says
I strongly recommend John Fea’s book, Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? (now in its second edition).
Sandy Williams says
It may be helpful to speak of America being founded as a “free nation” rather than a “Christian nation”. The Baptist influence on the First Amendment is rooted in a view of God as the one who gives freedom. The idea of freedom comes from Christian influence, and the idea that faith cannot be coerced.
Dean says
I have often mulled over these things in my head, more so when seeking to understand history & the gospel (all 66 books) as a young Christian.
Similar circumstances apply to many nations in this regard that have been influenced by the gospel as it is proclaimed throughout the earth. In another way even Arab & Jewish nations are Christian as God rules over all.
The Christian nation is the church (God’s people) no matter their nationhood or patriachal heritage as they look to Christ & forsake the world.
One big melting pot is similar to the way ancient Rome went about its business model of pleasure, pain & productivity.I think France tried to borrow God’s morals at the same time as divorcing God centuries ago in its quest for liberty & freedom.
Pagan belief steeped in nature & the unnatural seems to be the new norm that sits deep in the heart of modern man/woman/… with all their mod cons and synthetic fabric.
As you say, there is no such thing as neutral & secularism with its anti God agenda seeks to impose political power just as much as corporate business.