Are We OR Were We A Christian Nation?

I think my Christianity has been called into question because of my post, “And We Call Ourselves A Christian Nation?”. But, I hold to this conviction that America was founded because of religion – in that people came to America to escape religious persecution.

THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT

"In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&.Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620."

There followed the signatures of 41 of the 102 passengers, 37 of whom were members of the "Separatists" who were fleeing religious persecution in Europe. This compact established the first basis in the new world for written laws. Half the colony failed to survive the first winter, but the remainder lived on and prospered.

America’s Heritage: Are We A Christian Nation?

Our Declaration of Independence and Constitution are based on Judeo-Christian teachings. The textbook of these teachings in the Holy Bible. It is the "Owners Manual" or "The Book of Instructions" for our nation. The Founding Fathers and many others in position of authority ever since have recertified that fact. "America is a Christian nation." This does not mean that all the people were or are Christian. It merely means that there was a Christian consensus and all our founding documents, laws, moral codes and institutions are based on Christian principles from the Bible.

John Derbyshire on National Review Online: The Last Christian Nation

Since the overwhelming majority of Americans in 1940 were Christians, we were in that sense a Christian nation. Even people who did not go to church were inclined to believe in a Deity who imposes moral order on the universe; to believe, in other words, that there is a certain way we are meant to live, and to that if we do not live that way, or at least give it our very best shot, we will suffer, in this world or the next. That moral order, most Americans further believed, was described in the Christian Bible.

Though there are many more Americans who do not go to church now, this is still a Christian nation in that same sense.** It may be the last Christian nation, in that or any other sense.

Jollyblogger has a great post, though, on what really constitutes a true ‘Christian nation’, via the scripture.

Jollyblogger writes about ‘the true Christian nation of the CHURCH:

But what sets our nation apart from all other nations the most is that our citizenship comes through our covenantal relationship with God. He has promised to be our God and we have promised to be His people. We can claim our citizenship as long as we adhere to the terms of the covenant, which are to enter into the covenant by faith in Jesus Christ. This is the citizenship test, will we have faith in Jesus. And we live by the terms of the covenant as we teach, learn and obey all the things Jesus has commanded us to do.

Knowing all of this, I believe it is improper for any other geo-political entity to refer to itself as a "holy" nation or as a "Christian" nation. A nation which does not base citizenship on faith in Jesus Christ cannot properly be called a "Christian" nation. The true Christian nation of the church has a redemptive calling which is different from the civil callings of the other nations.

Also, Common Sense has a post called Christian Nation, in which he says, " Isn’t it time a Christian nation started acting Christian?". He was speaking about the Religious Right being more wrong that right, because some religious leaders have made such statements that aren't what the Christian should be espousing.

Technorati| Christian Nation, Christianity, Church