Christian Nation?

Because Jesus lives in us, we have the capability to show His characteristics to a world that certainly needs to see what true compassion looks like, which needs to see the presence of a Savior who gave His life for all. Ephesians 4 offers these words:
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Those of us who have called upon Jesus now have been ushered in to a glorious life of salvation and service to our King.  We serve Him, as Psalm 100, with gladness, knowing that His inner presence brings us joy and peace.  We can love because Jesus has loved us, and we can go to His Word regularly for inspiration and direction.  We represent Him in our actions and attitudes, and can experience the satisfaction that comes from a life of obedience.  

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We have a challenge before us: to display Christian virtue, the fruit of the presence of Christ and His Word in us. 2nd Peter 1 lays it our for us:
(3) ...His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 

4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We recognize the First Amendment to the Constitution declares that Congress is commissioned to not do two things regarding the practice of religion: 1) it is not to establish a religion and 2) it is not to deny the free exercise of religion.  So often, we hear about the enforcement of the so-called "Establishment Clause," but government officials or entities who restrict freedom of religion are given a pass.

I believe the founders envisioned a country that did not have a state religion, but where religion was a integral part of life in a free country.  Because of the Judeo-Christian principles which were integrated into our Declaration of Independence and the moral tenor of the U.S. Constitution, you could, and I do, draw the conclusion that America is a "Christian nation."  That doesn't mean that all the residents are forced to be Christian or that other religions are not tolerated - I believe that phrase would refer to the principles consistent with the Bible that are hard-wired into our nation's founding.

But, the phrase, "separation of church and state," which is not in the Constitution, has become the cry of those that would want a totally or predominantly secularized nation.  That phrase, as it's been reported, was used by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to a group of Baptists in Connecticut, and underscored the importance of separating government from the church, to release religious people from undue restriction, rather than, as some have interpreted, separating the practice of religion from government. Ideally, a person's faith should guide him or her in the carrying out of his or her civic duties.

A new Pew Research poll examines the concept of "separation of church and state."  The summary opens with these words:

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution states that the country shall have no official religion. At the same time, Christians continue to make up a large majority of U.S. adults – despite some rapid decline in recent years – and historians, politicians and religious leaders continue to debate the role of religion in the founders’ vision and of Christianity in the nation’s identity.

Regarding the Constitution, according to the summary, "two-thirds of U.S. adults (67%) say the Constitution was written by humans and reflects their vision, not necessarily God’s vision." Only 18% said they believe it was inspired by God, leaving 15% either unsure or unwilling to weigh in.

The survey was taken in March, and the summary relates:

...three-in-ten say public school teachers should be allowed to lead students in Christian prayers, a practice that the Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional. Roughly one-in-five say that the federal government should stop enforcing the separation of church and state (19%) and that the U.S. Constitution was inspired by God (18%). And 15% go as far as to say the federal government should declare the U.S. a Christian nation.

The findings show, according to Pew, "Overall, more than half of U.S. adults (55%) express clear support for the principle of separation of church and state...This includes 28% who express a strong church-state separationist perspective...."  But, that does leave 45% with "mixed view," a "church-state integrationist perspective, or those that gave no opinion.  Only 14% expressed that integrationist viewpoint. 

Our deeply-held faith beliefs, based on Scripture, should inform all the activities in which we participate. And, those that work in government should ideally not have to check their Christian beliefs at the door. 

One of our founders, John Adams, the first Vice-President and second President of the United States adhered to that. The National Archives Founders Online website quotes John Adams as saying, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other..." The Regent University Center for Christian Thought and Action site says: "Simply put, the Founders knew that government was downstream from culture. A virtuous people would courageously defend the rights endowed by their Creator and restored by the blood of patriots. But a fearful people would readily cede these rights in exchange for a fleeting sense of security."  Where does our sense of morality come from, so that we operate as a "virtuous" people? I would say from the teachings of Scripture.  Scripture teaches us how to relate to a holy God and to one another for the common good - by loving our neighbor.  An "every person for himself or herself" philosophy leads to anarchy. We cannot exist as a virtuous nation if we are paralyzed by selfishness. 

So, we can be challenged daily to live as virtuous people - displaying those characteristics that are listed in 2nd Peter 1, so that we might demonstrate Christ in a compelling way and promote a civic virtue that is sorely needed in our culture.  We don't need to be separating the teachings of the Scriptures from civic life and our civic institutions, but need to make sure those teachings are appropriately integrated into our society.