Are We a Christian Nation? 

With all the attacks on Christmas, the Boy Scouts, on religion in general, and the impact it is having on the world today, I feel it necessary to show we are and always have been a Christian nation.
 
Charles Carrol, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence wrote:
  “Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure…are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments.”
 
We have been hearing from our political leaders that we are not a Christian nation.  It seems we are heading that way. Our children can’t pray in school, and some people in the country want to forbid the name of God in public places, such as a copy of the Ten Commandments being displayed in a courthouse.  We can’t even have the Cross displayed on government land! The list goes on and on. 
 Acts 5:26-32 says…”Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council.  And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine…..But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than man….”

Just like Israel, we as a nation are turning our backs on God.  When Israel turned away from God, He delivered them to the Philistines. Then the Philistines captured the Arc, which was for the Glory of God. 1 Samuel 4:21 says….”The glory has departed from Israel”. This could we be true of our nation if we continue on this path.

In 1628 the Puritans broke from the Church of England and moved to the New World in order to establish a country where they were free to worship as they chose. Puritans were a number of religious groups advocating more “Purity” of worship and doctrine. In other words, truth from the Bible not the pulpit.

As time went on, the British were controlling America economically, politically and religiously.

When the colonists decided they had enough of good old King George, they set out to create a new country, to be founded on personal freedoms, with limited government interference and control. They also wanted the ability to worship as a Christian nation in the manner decreed by Jesus Christ in the Holy Bible.

Are you aware that 52 of the 55 signers of The Declaration of Independence were orthodox, deeply committed Christians?  The other three all believed in God, but had not declared a specific church. 

In 1792, the United State Congress approved a resolution which stated:  “The congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.  They purchased and imported 20,000 bibles to be made available to the American People.

Patrick Henry is best know for his quote, “Give me liberty or give me death”. Our schools have chosen to eliminate his entire speech from the current textbooks with the exception of his famous line. His 1775 speech reads as follows:

 “An appeal to arms and the God of host is all that is left us.  But we shall not fight our battle alone.  There is a just God that presides over the destinies of nations.  The battle is not of the strong alone.  Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?  Forbid it almighty God.  I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.” That was Patrick Henry’s speech!!!  

Did Patrick Henry believe in God?  In 1777 he wrote:  “It cannot be emphasized too strongly  or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here.”  Patrick Henry was trying to influence the thinking of an entire population, so why would he continually invoke the name of God, if he weren’t addressing religious people?

George Washington in his farewell address as our First President, on September 19, 1796 said:
“It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible.  Of all the dispositions and habits that lead to political prosperity, our religion and morality are the indispensable supporters.  Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.  Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that our national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

John Jay, our first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, believed that when we select our national leaders, if we are to preserve our Nation, we must select Christians. He said; “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian Nation, to select and prefer Christians for their leaders.”

Thomas Jefferson wrote in his Bible; “I am a Christian, that is to say a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus.  I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our Creator and, I hope, to the pure doctrine of Jesus also.”

Now is there any doubt that this great country was founded on Christian principles and Christian ethics?

While we have much to admire and love and be thankful for in being able to call America our home, our nation is rapidly drifting from its biblical foundations.  Our freedom to serve God and to promote the gospel in our land is disintegrating.  We are engaged in a great spiritual battle that threatens our country, our families, and our lives.  Only God’s intervention will return America to a solid footing and restore a moral nation where righteousness will be praised.

As believers in Jesus, we must take seriously our responsibility to put God first, not only in our homes but also in our national affairs.
  Matthew 5:13-16 says: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden……Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

President Thomas Jefferson once stated:

“The practice of morality being necessary for the well-being of society, God had taken care to impress its precepts so indelibly on our hearts that they shall not be effaced by the subtleties of our brain.  We all agree in the obligation of the moral precepts of Jesus, and nowhere will they be found delivered in greater purity than in His discourses.”

Our Founding Fathers knew the power and purpose of prayer. From our nation’s beginning through time of war and tragedy, we have been called to pray that the hand of Almighty God might show forth His mercy and intervene with His grace.  Today is not different.  Second Chronicles 7:14 is important to us as a nation.  This is so important that Dwight D. Eisenhower put his hand on Chronicles 7:14 during his presidential oath of office in 1953, as did Ronald Reagan in his oath in 1981 and again in 1985.  It says: “…If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Within the God-given wisdom of our founding documents, we have been granted clear and certain processes for bringing about change concerning things that we perceive as wrong for our land.  Participating within the process for change is the ultimate key to its success.  The scripture is clear on this.  James 4:17 says: “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”


We need the moral strength to take back our country in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Matthew 5:11 says: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”


Benjamin Rush was a prominent Presbyterian doctor and professor of chemistry in Philadelphia. He was one of our founding fathers and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.  He said, “ The most basic democratic participation of citizenry is voting.  Unfortunately, the church and people of faith often vote at an alarmingly low rate.  When people of faith fail to vote, is it any wonder that policies are enacted that are contrary to the believers core values?”

Referring to the coronation of King Saul, 1 Samuel 12:13 says, “…here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired…”


A prayer for those who wish to spread this message:

Dear Lord let us be willing to be used by You to help turn this great nation back to your Glory. Let us stand up and make our lives to be the strength in our families and neighborhoods and workplaces. Let us all go forth and make an effort to bring our state and national leaders back into the righteousness that God had proclaimed to our Founding Fathers. God wants to come and bless us, to forgive our sins and heal our nation. Please oh Lord, give all who read this the courage and strength to go forward and tell all who will listen, that we must bring our country back to the Lord our God, Jesus Christ.

Amen



Email: leonandsandie@gmail.com