A Christian Nation Or A Nation Of Christians
I was recently stirred by a presentation of Rep. J. Randy Forbes of the 4th district of Virginia. Congressman Forbes brought a stirring presentation to the House of Representatives as he proposed bill HR 397 which would institute the first week of May as “America’s Spiritual Heritage Week”. Representative Forbes eloquently laid out the historical role that faith in God, the bible and prayer have had in your nation’s history. His case was laid with examples that started with the founding fathers of our nation and weaved its way through all three branches of government. In his presentation Rep. Forbes cited many examples from sitting Presidents of the United States of America.
You will find people who find a resolution like this repugnant and others who will find it refreshing. I personally find it refreshing in an era when many would be led to believe that God has no bearing on the affairs of our nation or any other nation for that matter. There is no doubt if you believe the bible that even the most wicked of leaders are ultimately accountable to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. While I know that our president is not a king, and our country is not the nation of Israel, it is clear in history and scripture that God does have his hands upon the direction of nations, especially as it involves the nation of Israel. This is not a political issue, but a biblical issue.
Having said that, there is much debate about the United States being a “Christian Nation”. Last weekend I mentioned that the United States was not a Christian and it never has been. While that may sound shocking coming from a preacher of the gospel, there is a good reason to make the distinction. First, let me say that I have no problem with the general concept that America is a “Christian nation” in the sense that we are a nation built upon the Judeo-Christian ethic. I realize that without God our nation would not exist, and without God’s providence, divine protection and guidance we would deteriorate faster than we already are. I have travelled the world and you certainly can see that God has and does bless the people of this great nation. However, nations can’t be Christians only people can be Christians.
The reason it is important to understand that the United States has historically been a nation of Christians rather than a Christian Nation is because our favor with God rest’s in the relationship its citizens have with their creator. I praise God the founders of our nation understood, supported and encouraged God to rule in the lives of it’s citizens. Faith is reflected in our government when Christ is allowed to be Lord of its citizens. This is why I do appreciate so very much the historical evidence presented in HR 397. It reflects the influence of Christ in the citizens of our nation from its inception until now. It also documents the favor our government has had toward God and the citizens they represent who historically have been Christians in the biblical sense of the word.
So what about now? It really doesn’t matter if we have been a “Nation of Christians” if we don’t continue to be so. In the United States of America, the individual believer and the local New Testament church have everything to do with our so called status as a “nation of Christians”. Christian’s are not born, they are born again according to John 3:3, Galatians 6:15, 1 Peter 1:23-25. The fortunate thing about true bible Christianity is that it is not dependent on the religion, race, nationality or the origin of your physical birth. Nicodemus was a Jew, but he had to be born again to see the kingdom of God. The Philippian jail or was a pagan Roman gentile but he had to be born again to see the kingdom of God. The bible is clear that it doesn’t matter if you are Jew or Greek, American or Asian the death of Jesus was for all and to all that will call upon the name of Christ as Lord and Savior.
Statistically Europe will be a “Muslim” continent in the next 25 years. While that may be true if the Lord tarries, it is absolutely not a possibility if those born into Islam make a conscience decision to follow Christ as adults. A biblical movement of God’s Spirit in Europe could change Islamic immigrants into born again Christians. The great thing about the term “Christian” as it is found in the scripture is that it is not applied to nations but to individuals who profess to know and follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior without respect to the origin of their nationality or religious status.
Acts 11:26
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Historically the term Christian started out as a derogatory term used to describe the followers of “that way” (Acts 9:9, 23). The church at Antioch contained a diverse group of believers from many ethnic backgrounds but they all found unity in Christ. They behaved themselves as Christ and were accused and maligned as being little Christ’s or mini messiah’s. The pagan Roman government never embraced the concept of biblical Christianity. Throughout history the term “Christian” has come to mean many other things than that which the bible describes in Acts 11:26. You can be a Muslim because you were born to a Muslim home, you can be Greek or Russian Orthodox because you are born into those religions and baptized as a baby, you can be a Roman Catholic because you are born and baptized as an infant into the Roman church but you cannot be a biblical Christian unless you are born again!
So what is my point? You are not a Christian because you are born in the United States any more than you are a Christian because you were baptized as a baby. Nationality and church membership are not what God is looking for! He is looking for people willing to lay down their own righteousness and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their souls. If you don’t believe Jesus is God then you cannot possibly be a biblical Christian. He is not a prophet, or a good teacher, He is who he claims to be, The Son of God. He suffered and bled in my place on the cross, He was died, was buried and rose again the third day according to the scripture and many eye witness accounts. Those who are Christians have understood that Jesus is their sacrifice for sin and have forsaken religion for a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Preaching the gospel and making disciples of all nations (people groups) is the only way to ensure that any nation is a nation of Christians. No member of clergy or politician can proclaim a nation to be Christian. That seal is reserved to those who have made the cognitive and resolute decision to recieve Jesus Christ as thier Lord and Savior. While political resolutions and public acknowledgment of our biblical heritage are indeed nice, only the perpetual influence of biblically born again believers in our free society will honor God and bless the citizens and the endeavors of the great nation of the United States of America or any other nation.
You will find people who find a resolution like this repugnant and others who will find it refreshing. I personally find it refreshing in an era when many would be led to believe that God has no bearing on the affairs of our nation or any other nation for that matter. There is no doubt if you believe the bible that even the most wicked of leaders are ultimately accountable to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. While I know that our president is not a king, and our country is not the nation of Israel, it is clear in history and scripture that God does have his hands upon the direction of nations, especially as it involves the nation of Israel. This is not a political issue, but a biblical issue.
Having said that, there is much debate about the United States being a “Christian Nation”. Last weekend I mentioned that the United States was not a Christian and it never has been. While that may sound shocking coming from a preacher of the gospel, there is a good reason to make the distinction. First, let me say that I have no problem with the general concept that America is a “Christian nation” in the sense that we are a nation built upon the Judeo-Christian ethic. I realize that without God our nation would not exist, and without God’s providence, divine protection and guidance we would deteriorate faster than we already are. I have travelled the world and you certainly can see that God has and does bless the people of this great nation. However, nations can’t be Christians only people can be Christians.
The reason it is important to understand that the United States has historically been a nation of Christians rather than a Christian Nation is because our favor with God rest’s in the relationship its citizens have with their creator. I praise God the founders of our nation understood, supported and encouraged God to rule in the lives of it’s citizens. Faith is reflected in our government when Christ is allowed to be Lord of its citizens. This is why I do appreciate so very much the historical evidence presented in HR 397. It reflects the influence of Christ in the citizens of our nation from its inception until now. It also documents the favor our government has had toward God and the citizens they represent who historically have been Christians in the biblical sense of the word.
So what about now? It really doesn’t matter if we have been a “Nation of Christians” if we don’t continue to be so. In the United States of America, the individual believer and the local New Testament church have everything to do with our so called status as a “nation of Christians”. Christian’s are not born, they are born again according to John 3:3, Galatians 6:15, 1 Peter 1:23-25. The fortunate thing about true bible Christianity is that it is not dependent on the religion, race, nationality or the origin of your physical birth. Nicodemus was a Jew, but he had to be born again to see the kingdom of God. The Philippian jail or was a pagan Roman gentile but he had to be born again to see the kingdom of God. The bible is clear that it doesn’t matter if you are Jew or Greek, American or Asian the death of Jesus was for all and to all that will call upon the name of Christ as Lord and Savior.
Statistically Europe will be a “Muslim” continent in the next 25 years. While that may be true if the Lord tarries, it is absolutely not a possibility if those born into Islam make a conscience decision to follow Christ as adults. A biblical movement of God’s Spirit in Europe could change Islamic immigrants into born again Christians. The great thing about the term “Christian” as it is found in the scripture is that it is not applied to nations but to individuals who profess to know and follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior without respect to the origin of their nationality or religious status.
Acts 11:26
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Historically the term Christian started out as a derogatory term used to describe the followers of “that way” (Acts 9:9, 23). The church at Antioch contained a diverse group of believers from many ethnic backgrounds but they all found unity in Christ. They behaved themselves as Christ and were accused and maligned as being little Christ’s or mini messiah’s. The pagan Roman government never embraced the concept of biblical Christianity. Throughout history the term “Christian” has come to mean many other things than that which the bible describes in Acts 11:26. You can be a Muslim because you were born to a Muslim home, you can be Greek or Russian Orthodox because you are born into those religions and baptized as a baby, you can be a Roman Catholic because you are born and baptized as an infant into the Roman church but you cannot be a biblical Christian unless you are born again!
So what is my point? You are not a Christian because you are born in the United States any more than you are a Christian because you were baptized as a baby. Nationality and church membership are not what God is looking for! He is looking for people willing to lay down their own righteousness and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their souls. If you don’t believe Jesus is God then you cannot possibly be a biblical Christian. He is not a prophet, or a good teacher, He is who he claims to be, The Son of God. He suffered and bled in my place on the cross, He was died, was buried and rose again the third day according to the scripture and many eye witness accounts. Those who are Christians have understood that Jesus is their sacrifice for sin and have forsaken religion for a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Preaching the gospel and making disciples of all nations (people groups) is the only way to ensure that any nation is a nation of Christians. No member of clergy or politician can proclaim a nation to be Christian. That seal is reserved to those who have made the cognitive and resolute decision to recieve Jesus Christ as thier Lord and Savior. While political resolutions and public acknowledgment of our biblical heritage are indeed nice, only the perpetual influence of biblically born again believers in our free society will honor God and bless the citizens and the endeavors of the great nation of the United States of America or any other nation.
Labels: Christian Nation, Nation of Christians
posted by HBF at 10:28 AM
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