What Defines a “Christian Nation”?
First of all, what defines a Christian? Is it anyone who just wants to avoid hell, is it someone who struggles daily to obey Christ, or is it something in between (Matt 7:19-23)? What percentage of a nation’s population must be Christian to qualify it as a Christian nation? (Is anything less than 100% worthy of recognition?) If it goes below that percentage, is it no longer a Christian nation? (How many Christian nations are there?)
Is it founded by armed rebellion (Rom 13:1-7) against a nation that acknowledges the lordship of Christ or does it refuse to war against fellow Christians? Is it a theocracy - God’s choice for the nation of Israel? Does it recognize that freedom of religion allows the worship of other gods and that our God is a jealous God? (Indeed, there is no freedom of religion in the kingdom of God nor was there in the nation of Israel.) Do its founding documents establish Christianity as the state religion and cite the Bible as its source of law? Do they make reference to either "Jesus" or to "Christ"? Does its flag bear a cross? Does it require all immigrants seeking citizenship to be Christians? Is there a requirement that its leaders be Christian? Does its government literally adhere to the teachings of Christ (a basic requirement for any nation claiming to be founded on Christian principles)?
Does it place obedience to Christ above life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness (John 12:25-26)? Does it love its enemies and not resist evil persons or does it respond to them the same way as do non-Christian nations? If the latter, is its ruler infallible in all areas or only in the decision to go to war? Is this infallibility like that of the kings of Israel? Are its weapons different from the weapons of the world (2 Cor 10:3-4)? Does it refuse to possess weapons that can destroy entire populations indiscriminately, or to to export conventional weapons to other nations to use for their own agendas? Does it overcome evil with good? Does it feed its enemies when they are hungry and give them drink when they are thirsty? Does it refuse to rejoice at the downfall of its enemies? Does it trust in God rather than the pre-Christian rationalization that the end justifies the means? Does it reject torture regardless of its effectiveness? Must it have a strong military in order to “trust” in God? Or can it even be an authority that bears the sword if all who take up the sword will perish by the sword?
Does it love its neighbors as itself? Does it respect the lives and property of citizens of other nations the same as those of its own citizens? Does it extend the same legal protections to non-citizens in its custody as it does to its own citizens? Does it refrain from intimidating, coercing, or deceiving other nations? Is its foreign policy free of the vices that start most wars: fear, pride, vengeance or greed, masquerading as justice?
Does it need to convince anyone that it’s a Christian nation or is it obvious? Does it reject pride for humility? Does it resist the temptation to believe its Christians do more for the kingdom of God (and presumably deserve greater blessing) than Christians in other nations? Does it give all glory to God rather than taking the credit for its successes? Are its monuments to God rather than men (or Liberty)? Does it confess its sins and repent of them? Does it value cooperation over competition? Is it skeptical of economic systems that are driven by greed? Does it eschew the accumulation of wealth and status and instead seek holiness? Does it honor “those who do the will of my Father” above entertainers and sports stars? Is it diligent to avoid pagan traditions in its holidays (mixing the profane with the holy)? Is it exemplary in its low crime and divorce rates? Is it more interested in reconciling murderers to God than in putting them to death, desiring that none should perish? Do its citizens refuse to sue one another? Does its history reflect respect for ethnic minorities? Does its citizens’ love for one another make it stand out from other nations and draw them to Christ? Does it look like the kingdom of God?
Or does a “Christian nation” just have to be founded by “Christians”?
Why is it necessary to proclaim America a “Christian nation”?
This is, perhaps, the most important question of all. Even if we can agree that Christian principles influenced the nation’s founders, how does that influence our obedience to Christ? And what are those principles that originated during the ministry of Christ that are unique and separate from the Jewish principles that preceded them, thus keeping America from being called a “Jewish nation”? Where are these uniquely-Christian principles* in the founding documents?
One possible reason for insisting we’re a Christian nation is to assure ourselves that we have God’s stamp of approval on the things we do. Some fear that if America is not a Christian nation then God will withhold His Blessing or even send judgment. If they’re right, our task is not to convince others that America is a Christian nation, but to convince God. Since Christians cannot rely upon the cooperation of non-Christians (who are not impressed by proclamations of Christian nationhood) to help in that endeavor, it would be up to us to do a better job of emulating Christ.
I would suggest that recognition of America as a (the?) Christian nation is only important if there is a desire to impose Christian behavior on non-Christians or to defeat constitutional challenges to references to Christianity on public property. Until 1947 we got away with monopolizing the public square. Since then, non-Christians have pointed out that (under current law) either all religions should be allowed to place their symbols there or none at all. For those who believe that the founders' intent is being misinterpreted the solution is to make it unequivocal. The only honest way to return to the old monopoly and to impose Christian behavior on non-Christians is to repeal the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and replace it with one that establishes Christianity (as loosely defined as necessary) as the State Religion. This is not likely to happen in a republic, so proponents would be faced with the dilemma of forfeiting beloved democracy to establish a legally-Christian nation that would put all argument to rest. Or would it?
Anyone running for high political office must compromise Christian principles to win and hold office. Candidates seeking conformity to the image of Christ will be rejected by the electorate. Indeed, if Jesus himself came back incognito and ran for president as a third-party candidate, many Christians would not vote for him and his Sermon on the Mount platform. It is better for Christians to be ruled by non-Christians (as in Paul's day) than for Christians to compromise their principles to rule. If a “Christian nation” behaves like a non-Christian nation, what’s the point? All are kingdoms of the world. Rather than placing our hope and identity in an earthly kingdom, we should assume that we are living under the pagan Roman Empire or Babylon and work to transform lives through the kingdom of God (the true Christian nation), even as we seek to influence the state.
The bottom line is this: if we as Christians are losing our influence on society it is because we are not making a compelling case for following Jesus. Throwing tantrums and making demands to preserve that influence appears self-serving and is counterproductive for humble servants of Christ.
*For example, in Matthew 5:38-39 Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’ [old, Jewish principle]. But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also [new, Christian principle].” This command has never been embraced by a majority of American Christians and certainly not by the United States Government.