"America's Christian History"

 

In the previous post, we visited the idea of Christian influence upon this nation in its formative years. We suggested the need to make a distinction between a self-professed Christian nation and a true official Christian State. 

A Christian State we are not, nor were we ever intended to be by the founders of this nation who set the final governing documents in place.

I believe that will be evident by a simple overview of the documents by which we are governed. However, one cannot possibly view our history without recognizing the overwhelming influence Christianity had on the formation of our system and the culture of which it consisted.  In these next few posts, I want to examine what this looked like in those formative years and the many that followed. 

Being familiar with the nature of Christianity and understanding the historic teaching associated with it, a Christian State was not the goal. They understood the nature of one's religious concerns was a matter of the conscience, not a matter of the State. To declare the United States a Christian State and institute a Christian standard of belief in a State Church supported and controlled by the State would be and always has been a disaster. It would not advance of the cause of Christ or the increase of His Church. One is not a Christian by the order of the State or by any form of compulsion or manipulation. One is a Christian by the conviction of his own conscience as he hears and understands the Gospel. He is therefore drawn to it by the passions of his own soul and the conviction of his own heart, this the State has no part in. 

However, there was a conscious effort by the powers being exerted at the formation of this country to provide a rich society in which Christianity could flourish and prosper. That was the intent and purpose of both the First Amendment of the Constitution and its continuing body of governance. They didn't want the government doing Church, but in no way wanted the government to restrict the Church in the least. This is a unique and delicate system to maintain as Church and State have a tendency to merge in a religious society and then compete for the said authority. With various struggles, this system was maintained very successfully for some time. The more recent times have seen a degrading of this Church / State relationship as both the Church and the State have themselves changed from their formative years in the nation. 

If we as a nation are not a Christian State and never have been, in what sense do we then have so many claims to our identity as being a Christian nation? It is my hope that understanding will become clearer in our study. Let us begin with the following declaration from 1864.

"The story of Christianity in America is one of the most astonishing chapters in the annals of the world. The events of Providence in reserving and preparing the country of these United States to be the theater of its development and triumph, constitute one of the most remarkable passages of modern history.

This is a Christian nation, first in name, and secondly because of the many and mighty elements of a pure Christianity which have given it character and shaped its destiny from the beginning. It is preeminently and the land of the Bible, of the Christian church, and of the Christian Sabbath. It is the land of great and extensive and oft-repeated revivals of a spiritual religion, the land of a free conscience and of free speech, the land of noble charities and of manifold and earnest efforts for the elevation and welfare of the human race. The chief security and glory of the United States of America has been, is now, and will be forever, the prevalence and domination of the Christian Faith." - Morris, B.F., author. Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United State, first published 1864. 

May the Grace of God be with each of you,

David