Curt Flewelling, FISM News
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A new Pew Research Center study found that 45% of respondents said that America “should be” a Christian nation.
Furthermore, 60% of U.S. adults say they believe the founders “originally intended” for the U.S. to be a Christian nation. However, those who hold these views are hardly in agreement when it comes to defining what that actually means.
The most popular definition of a “Christian nation”, with 34% of the votes, was a nation that is “guided by Christian beliefs/values.” That definition was followed by “Christian-based laws/governance” with 18% of the votes, and “guided by belief/values (not specifically Christian)” with 12%.
Sadly, 11% of voters — including 21% of those who do not want a Christian nation — defined it by negative attributes such as bigotry, authoritarianism, and white supremacy.
Pew also surveyed respondents about the intermingling of religion and government. A strong 77% felt that churches should not endorse political candidates for office. Most churches in America hold this opinion as well, as doing so could jeopardize their 501(c)(3) charitable organization status.
However, 67% say that houses of worship should keep out of political matters entirely. This is a tall order for churches as the Bible itself speaks directly to many of the hot-button issues that our country currently faces.
When asked if the Bible should have an influence on U.S. law, those who said the U.S. should be a Christian nation responded “yes” overwhelmingly. More than 3-out-of-4 (76%) either thought the Bible should have a great deal of influence (54%) or at least some influence (22%).
Although the First Amendment clearly states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, the debate concerning the Bible’s place in American law rages on.
The Ten Commandments have been front and center in and around American courthouses for centuries. And even though the Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that they can no longer be displayed in these venues, the court did however rule that “Biblical laws” could be displayed in a historical context.
Several Supreme Court justices over the years have acknowledged the Bible’s significance in American history. Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and William Rehnquist have all said that there is nothing wrong with the government asserting God’s supremacy.
Rehnquist in particular acknowledged the historical significance of the Ten Commandments in his dissenting opinion in McCreary County v. ACLU in which he said, “According to Judeo-Christian belief, the Ten Commandments were given to Moses by God on Mt. Siani. But Moses was a lawgiver as well as a religious leader. And the Ten Commandments have an undeniable historical meaning.”
Editor’s Biblical Analysis
If we, as Christians, wish to live in a Christian nation, our focus must be on obeying Christ’s Great Commission.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20)
We cannot expect to win souls and hearts for Christ through legislation or regulation. Rather, you must “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” and “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31).
As some of the numbers in this study show, many of us who profess Christ with our lips are failing greatly at these commandments. As noted above, more than 1-in-5 respondents who do not want a Christian nation, and 11% overall, believe that Christianity is defined by — or at least linked to — bigotry, authoritarianism, and white supremacy.
Oh Christian, how we are failing to spread the Gospel of Christ Jesus if so many of our countrymen and women believe our faith is defined by things that are, in fact, in total opposition to true faith in Christ.
Concerning bigotry and “white supremacy,” God makes no distinctions between nationalities and He saves all who call on His name. However, we must preach His Gospel so that nonbelievers can hear and believe (Romans 10:12-14). As shown above, Christ called us to make disciples of all nations. That leaves no place for racial partiality.
As for authoritarianism, the Bible does call us to be subject to governing authorities (Romans 13:1). However, our ultimate authority is in Christ Jesus. When the authority of any man or government calls us to disobey the commandments of God, we are called to obey Him, just as Peter and the apostles did when faced with that issue (Acts 5:29). For we believe only one man is King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:15) and His kingdom will last forever (Hebrews 1:8).
So, believers, if we desire a Christian nation, our first priority must be loving our neighbors, preaching the Gospel, and making disciples of those who currently do not believe. We should focus and work on changing hearts, souls, and minds. When the people of our nation are filled with the Holy Spirit, He will fulfill His will for this nation.