A Christian Nation

[Sam]

We hear lots of references to the United States being a Christian nation. We hear how the Pilgrims drew up the Mayflower Contract and dedicated themselves and their new community in the new world to God. We hear lots of quotes from early leaders about the necessity of God being in our society, our laws, and our educational system. We hear about General Washington's prayers and the prayers of those who created our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. We hear about calls to fasting and prayer by presidents through the years. So many things lead us to think of this as a Christian or a Godly nation. But, what about the doctrine of "Manifest Destiny" where it was openly taught that God had given this land to white Protestants and therefore by His direction, the civilization that existed here was systematically destroyed by genocide and ethnic cleansing? How about the way the Native Americans were treated through the years? Can a nation that developed and grew through the slaughter of people like that be considered a Christian or Godly nation?

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by Sam

We hear lots of references to the United States being a Christian nation. We hear how the Pilgrims drew up the Mayflower Contract and dedicated themselves and their new community in the new world to God. We hear lots of quotes from early leaders about the necessity of God being in our society, our laws, and our educational system. We hear about General Washington's prayers and the prayers of those who created our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. We hear about calls to fasting and prayer by presidents through the years. So many things lead us to think of this as a Christian or a Godly nation. But, what about the doctrine of "Manifest Destiny" where it was openly taught that God had given this land to white Protestants and therefore by His direction, the civilization that existed here was systematically destroyed by genocide and ethnic cleansing? How about the way the Native Americans were treated through the years? Can a nation that developed and grew through the slaughter of people like that be considered a Christian or Godly nation?

First of all, every christian makes mistakes and leaders, because of their position make big mistakes. The bigger the leader the bigger the mistake and sin. Were the children of Israel not 'christian' because of their mistakes and sins?

Saying this, there is also a lot of mis-information about our history. You should consult "The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History".

The constitution was not an explicitly christian document, at least for me. Many of the compacts were much more to my liking and I believe that some were Christian. I believe that many of the signers were Christians and the signers as a whole, had a general moral outlook that was not nearly as humanistic as today. I do think that the men who signed never could have imagined an America as it is today.

Originally Posted by Sam

We hear lots of references to the United States being a Christian nation. We hear how the Pilgrims drew up the Mayflower Contract and dedicated themselves and their new community in the new world to God. We hear lots of quotes from early leaders about the necessity of God being in our society, our laws, and our educational system. We hear about General Washington's prayers and the prayers of those who created our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. We hear about calls to fasting and prayer by presidents through the years. So many things lead us to think of this as a Christian or a Godly nation. But, what about the doctrine of "Manifest Destiny" where it was openly taught that God had given this land to white Protestants and therefore by His direction, the civilization that existed here was systematically destroyed by genocide and ethnic cleansing? How about the way the Native Americans were treated through the years? Can a nation that developed and grew through the slaughter of people like that be considered a Christian or Godly nation?

We are not a Godly/Christian Nation, are Constitution was not writing by Christian men! What we deemed as Godly/Christian in this country is a joke!

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Sam

We hear lots of references to the United States being a Christian nation. We hear how the Pilgrims drew up the Mayflower Contract and dedicated themselves and their new community in the new world to God. We hear lots of quotes from early leaders about the necessity of God being in our society, our laws, and our educational system. We hear about General Washington's prayers and the prayers of those who created our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. We hear about calls to fasting and prayer by presidents through the years. So many things lead us to think of this as a Christian or a Godly nation. But, what about the doctrine of "Manifest Destiny" where it was openly taught that God had given this land to white Protestants and therefore by His direction, the civilization that existed here was systematically destroyed by genocide and ethnic cleansing? How about the way the Native Americans were treated through the years? Can a nation that developed and grew through the slaughter of people like that be considered a Christian or Godly nation?

My understanding is that the Native Americans were wicked people. While there is much sympathy for them in the culture today, they murdered each other and were a very brutal people. That doesn't make all that was done to them right, but may be like Saddam Hussein and his evil sons, their cup got full and God used the Europeans to take them out. This does not make the Europeans righteous, God has a history of using one nation to judge another. The Romans taking out the Jews in 70 AD is one example, they were mercilessly persecuting the Jewish Christians, even encouraging and abetting the Romans in pursuing the Jewish believers.

Originally Posted by crakjak

My understanding is that the Native Americans were wicked people. While there is much sympathy for them in the culture today, they murdered each other and were a very brutal people. That doesn't make all that was done to them right, but may be like Saddam Hussein and his evil sons, their cup got full and God used the Europeans to take them out. This does not make the Europeans righteous, God has a history of using one nation to judge another. The Romans taking out the Jews in 70 AD is one example, they were mercilessly persecuting the Jewish Christians, even encouraging and abetting the Romans in pursuing the Jewish believers.

My thoughts exactly, although I'll bet it was spun to more than a few how Israel, at God's command, destroyed heathen nations..men...women....and children to justify what was done here.

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by CupCake

We are not a Godly/Christian Nation, are Constitution was not writing by Christian men! What we deemed as Godly/Christian in this country is a joke!

While I agree that the constitution is not a Christian document many(not all) of the signers were Christian. Some were deists and some were out and out pagans.

BTW, some of the state constitutions were much more Christian. A few overtly so.

Originally Posted by Sam

We hear lots of references to the United States being a Christian nation. We hear how the Pilgrims drew up the Mayflower Contract and dedicated themselves and their new community in the new world to God. We hear lots of quotes from early leaders about the necessity of God being in our society, our laws, and our educational system. We hear about General Washington's prayers and the prayers of those who created our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. We hear about calls to fasting and prayer by presidents through the years. So many things lead us to think of this as a Christian or a Godly nation. But, what about the doctrine of "Manifest Destiny" where it was openly taught that God had given this land to white Protestants and therefore by His direction, the civilization that existed here was systematically destroyed by genocide and ethnic cleansing? How about the way the Native Americans were treated through the years? Can a nation that developed and grew through the slaughter of people like that be considered a Christian or Godly nation?

The Mayflower Compact has nothing whatsoever to do with the forming of the United States of America. The Puritans who established the colony in Massachusetts weren't establishing the United States of America, they were establishing a British colony.

That certain of the founding fathers prayed or went to church doesn't mean that the nation formed by the Constitution is a Christian nation. In fact, if one actually reads the words of the Constitution and its first 10 amendments, there is nothing that even remotely resembles a "Christian" form of government (actually, there is nothing in the New Testament that identifies a "Christian" form of government either).

The United States of America is not, and has never been, a Christian or godly nation.

[Falla39]

This was posted on another thread but I believe it bears repeating under

the heading of this thread.

I'm thankful.... for being able to live in a country where I can worship God freely....


Amen, Bro. Malvaro,

And more Americans need to realize how profound your statement

really is! My late father of four children at the time, spent time in

the Philippeans and in Japan in the 1940's. I was five years old when

he went overseas and started to school while he was gone. God brought

him back home safely to raise eleven children (all living) and to found and

pastor a home missions church (he worked and paid into the work of God)

as well as provide for his growing family. He never depended on welfare,

or others to provide for what he had birthed. He and Mom trusted God to

provide for their children. Dad worked and Mom stayed in the home and

took care of the children and the home. Dad still had time for family alter.

When he started the mission he took the family alter and his family to a

small storefront to share the message of hope to the small community he

would raise his family in. We haven't been in a storefront since six years

after the work started. The "Ark" Dad "built" to the saving of his own

house, still stands and has provided refuge from the storms of life for

most of my family who remained there. Oh, there are still storms but that

is a part of life. But we have a Refuge (Christ Jesus) to run to in the times

of storm!!! Thank God for His provisions! And except He build the house

they labour in vain that build. And except the Lord keep the city, the

watchman waketh in vain. AND EXCEPT THE LORD KEEP AMERICA... YOU

CAN FORGET IT!!!

GOD HAS BLESSED AMERICA FOR OVER TWO HUNDRED YEARS!!!

ISN'T TO ABOUT TIME AMERICA BLESSED GOD!!

Thank You, Dear Lord God for Your many, many blessings!!!

Falla39

The important question which urges itself upon our national conscience is not "Was America founded as a Christian nation?" but rather "Should America be a Christian nation?"

So many people look at this issue from the wrong perspective. If America was founded as a Christian, what difference would it make? Most people today would oppose "getting the nation back on track" in such a case. And suppose America was NOT founded as a Christian nation... the same people would still (perhaps even more vehemently) oppose America being a Christian nation today.

Frankly, it doesn't much matter whether the nation was founded as a Christian nation, or whether the Founding Fathers intended America to be a Christian nation. We can bring out the real facts of the case, if we desired, which would show that the nation was, largely, intended to be a free, Christian nation. And that the adoption of the federal Constitution was in essence a betrayal of those original intentions (as, in fact, many of the delegates to the Convention argued, including the venerable Patrick Henry).

But none of that is even relevant to our pressing national crisis today. For the present truth is this: that all men are called unto obedience to Christ, whether they be peasant or President (Matthew 28), and that all nations are to be judged by Christ's standard (Matthew 25, Psalm 2).

So the question before the nation is not "Were you ever once a Christian nation?" but rather "Will you ever be a Christian nation?"

Sadly, even those who profess to be servants of Christ as "lord of lords and king of kings" openly oppose any lordship of the self same Christ over the nation or its magistrates and rulers.

Psalm 2 concludes with a warning to the rulers and governors of nations: Embrace the Son of God, OR ELSE. And God's Word does not return unto Him void.

Originally Posted by Eliseus

The important question which urges itself upon our national conscience is not "Was America founded as a Christian nation?" but rather "Should America be a Christian nation?"

So many people look at this issue from the wrong perspective. If America was founded as a Christian, what difference would it make? Most people today would oppose "getting the nation back on track" in such a case. And suppose America was NOT founded as a Christian nation... the same people would still (perhaps even more vehemently) oppose America being a Christian nation today.

Frankly, it doesn't much matter whether the nation was founded as a Christian nation, or whether the Founding Fathers intended America to be a Christian nation. We can bring out the real facts of the case, if we desired, which would show that the nation was, largely, intended to be a free, Christian nation. And that the adoption of the federal Constitution was in essence a betrayal of those original intentions (as, in fact, many of the delegates to the Convention argued, including the venerable Patrick Henry).

But none of that is even relevant to our pressing national crisis today. For the present truth is this: that all men are called unto obedience to Christ, whether they be peasant or President (Matthew 28), and that all nations are to be judged by Christ's standard (Matthew 25, Psalm 2).

So the question before the nation is not "Were you ever once a Christian nation?" but rather "Will you ever be a Christian nation?"

Sadly, even those who profess to be servants of Christ as "lord of lords and king of kings" openly oppose any lordship of the self same Christ over the nation or its magistrates and rulers.

Psalm 2 concludes with a warning to the rulers and governors of nations: Embrace the Son of God, OR ELSE. And God's Word does not return unto Him void.

I don't see any evidence in the New Testament to show that there even is such a thing as a "Christian nation." Salvation is offered to individuals, not to geopolitical entities.