Are we a Christian Nation?
POSTED Nov 14, 12:11 PM
It is not about the Ten Commandments
George F. Ganey, III
09/02/2003
Are we a Christian Nation? History will bear out that our nation's founders (most of whom were Christians) did establish our nation upon Christian principles. It was not founded upon Christianity, but rather upon Christian principles. Does that make us a Christian nation? No! I wish it did, but it doesn't. History will bear out that education in our country began on the basis of teaching children how to read the Bible. Almost all the early universities and colleges were Christian theological schools. Does that make us a Christian nation? No! I wish it did, but it doesn't.
What does make us a Christian nation? The only thing that makes us a Christian nation in the loosest sense is the fact that up until recent years Christianity was protected by our government. In very few, if any, other nations has Christianity been protected and defended like it has here. That is what the First Ammendment is all about - protecting Christianity, specifically, protecting it from the Congress.
Now all that has changed. Christianity is no longer protected - it is now attacked and under fire from all sides, even from within the government itself. It is okay to have a copy of the Koran in your office or in the schoolroom, to discuss it and even teach it, but it is not okay to have the Bible on your desk at work or at school. It is okay to have a statue of the Greek goddess Athena at the Alabama State Courthouse, but not okay to have the Ten Commandments Monument on display.
The whole issue in Alabama is no longer about the Ten Commandments. Nor is it even about Judge Roy Moore's defiance of Federal Judge's order. What it is about is States' Rights. Jack Walker was right in his comments.
But let's return to the question at hand - Are we a Christian nation? Well, we certainly throw God's name around a lot as a nation. His name is on our money, His name is used in the oaths of office for virtually all levels of government and the civil magistrate. We open and close sessions of congress with prayer to God. But we also as a nation condone and even promote abortion. We also condone pornography, adultery, and aberrant sexual behavior. No wonder the Islamic world hates us. We say we trust in God, yet we allow rampant sin and evil in our streets, in our halls of government, and in our homes.
If we were ever even supposed to be a Christian nation, we have failed miserably to be a Christian nation. We in the church must accept the blame. We in the church have failed miserably to uphold and teach to our children a Christian World and Life view. We have failed to teach them the Ten Commandments as well as the rest of God's Word. And now we are paying the price.
So the real question is not whether or not we are a Christian nation. The real question is will we ever become a Christian nation. Will we step up to the plate and take the responsibility that God has given us to exert a godly influence on the world around us for Christ's glory? Signing petitions is great - voting for godly leaders is wonderful. But the most powerful thing we can do is to pray. Even though 2 Chronicles 7:14 was not written to America, the principles therein do apply to all Christians everywhere, not nationally, but spiritually.
