CHAPTER THREE

Is America a Christian Nation?

LET’S BEGIN BY ANSWERING THIS QUESTION. AS we do, it’s important not to begin with the Declaration of Independence era (1776) as some do. For example, many point out, and rightly so, that some of the Framers of the Constitution were “religious” but not Christians. They use this argument to suggest that America was not founded on Christian principles, and that many of the founding documents in the late 1700s supported a broad range of views and beliefs rather than Christian doctrine. However, America’s roots were established much earlier. 

To adequately evaluate America’s heritage, we must turn back time hundreds of years before 1776 when the seeds of our political system were being planted. The Pilgrims and Puritans, deeply committed to the Judeo-Christian faith and strongly influenced by Christian principles, emerged when the religious climate in Europe changed in the early 1500s. This was a time when many Christians returned to the authority of God’s Word and the purity of biblical doctrine. These two groups eventually arrived in America in the early 1600s. Their prayers, journals, and writings, such as the Mayflower Compact, indicate that their intent was the furtherance of the good news (Gospel) of Christ and His teachings. Therefore, we must draw the conclusion that America was influenced greatly by the Judeo-Christian faith and the Bible.

With that said, I’m hesitant to label America a “Christian nation.” Christians are followers of Christ, whereas a nation is a group of people who share a common identity, and often, a common origin. Some of the founders, such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, were not considered Christians. For this reason, America was not a Christian nation in the sense that every citizen or Founder was a Christian or was required to be one, but America is often labeled a Christian nation because her foundation was built on biblical principles and Christian character.

Newsweek magazine, on December 27, 1982, in an article entitled, How the Bible Made America, made this revealing statement, “historians are discovering that the Bible, perhaps even more than the Constitution, is our Founding document.” Undoubtedly, the Bible is the solid rock upon which our republic rests. For those who doubt this and believe that statements in the Declaration of Independence such as “the laws of nature and of nature’s God” were products of the enlightenment, deism, or secularism, you may want to read quotes from founders such as Alexander Hamilton, Noah Webster, John Jay, William Findley, Rufus King, and James Wilson. All attested to the fact that “the laws of nature and of nature’s God” refer to laws given by God Himself. John Quincy Adams stated that the phrase assumes the existence of a God, the moral ruler of the universe, and a rule of right and wrong. As a matter of fact, if a proposed article for the Constitution was not supported by, or rooted in the Bible, it was not considered. In their early writings, many of the Founding Fathers quoted or referenced the Bible nearly four times more than any other source.8 No enlightenment, deism, or secularism here—only God and His Word.

To understand the core values of a nation, one must simply look to the beliefs set forth during its conception, and, in the case of America, during the transitional years of the American Revolution. Judge for yourself how far we have drifted from the original intent of early Americans. Consider the following:

Then: First introduced in 1766, William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws, served as the legal reference for the Founders, as well as for many early American lawyers. Blackstone’s commentaries were deeply rooted in biblical principles. It’s been said that Blackstone was the first to use the phrase, “the laws of nature and of nature’s God.”

Then: John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, said, “Unto Him who is the author and giver of all good, I render sincere and humble thanks for His manifold and unmerited blessings, and especially for our redemption and salvation by His beloved Son.”10

Then: Noah Webster, the Founding Father of American Scholarship and Education, said, “In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government, ought to be instructed . . . .”12  He believed so strongly in this that he often gave Scripture references when he defined words in his colossal work: American Dictionary of the English Language. (I highly recommend the 1828 edition of this helpful resource.)

Now: Many students are criticized when they read their Bibles in public, or at school. Christianity is challenged, mocked, and ridiculed while most other beliefs are accepted and embraced. Sadly, in order to be politically correct, Noah Webster’s Scripture references have been withdrawn from recent editions.

Then: The Delaware Constitution initially required that everyone appointed to public office must say, “I do profess faith in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ his only Son . . . .” Many other Constitutions such as Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and Connecticut all acknowledged their reliance on God.13

­­­­­­Then: Early Americans felt that it was impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. They often petitioned God for guidance, direction, and encouragement. Fisher Aimes, author of the First Amendment, openly declared, “Should not the bible regain the place it once held as a school book?”14  

Now: Bible displays, as well as Ten Commandment monuments, are often ruled unconstitutional in courthouses and other public places. Mr. Aimes would no doubt disagree with these rulings.

Then: In 1790, Dr. Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence, said this about public schools, “But the religion I mean to recommend in this place is that of the New Testament . . . .”15

Then: “The first and primary duty of government is to protect innocent human life” (Thomas Jefferson). “Nobody has the freedom to choose to do what’s morally wrong” (Abraham Lincoln).

Unbelievable! And we’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg. (To review more quotes from American history, visit the section entitled Wisdom Worth Repeating.) It’s extremely disheartening to see how far we have drifted. Clearly, most of America’s founders and early settlers wanted the Bible, prayer, and biblical principles so entrenched within society that nothing would remove them. This is why John Adams, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, rightly said, “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were . . . the general principles of Christianity.”17

The list could go on and on: From Harvard to Yale, from the Supreme Court to the local courts and the public school system, historically, the theme remained the same—God’s Word was to be the foundation on which America was built! For example, although the home was where the majority of early Americans were educated, the Boston Latin School (established in 1636 by Rev. John Cotton), the first school outside the home, taught students the Word of God. In 1647, the Old Deluder Law established the first biblically based public schools in America. The Colonists believed that they could protect their civil liberties by eliminating biblical illiteracy.

As yet another example, consider the 1642 Rules and Precepts of Harvard University founded by Reverend John Harvard: “Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3).” The Rules continue, “and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning.” What would those at Harvard say today?

Additionally, one can simply review The Works of John Witherspoon to get a glimpse into the biblical mindset of many of the Founders. Reverend Witherspoon, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, achieved a great reputation as an educator and a religious leader. He is known as “the man who trained the Founding Fathers.”

I’m not suggesting that the Founders were without fault, or that they were all Christians; they were human and made mistakes, but in general, most were committed to God’s wisdom when they set forth the foundation for government, and ultimately, the nation. A brief review of their last wills and testaments will confirm this. It’s amazing to see how many of these men acknowledged God and their Savior, Jesus Christ. Additionally, the Founders introduced approximately 1,400 official prayer proclamations prior to 1815. (At some point, the issue of slavery often arises, and rightly so; it was, and is, a formidable mark on our nation’s history. However, many Founders were opposed to slavery and diligently fought for abolition. It’s important to note some of them—see Appendix II.)

Patrick Henry, an American orator and statesman, and a leading patriot of the American Revolution, is often credited with saying, “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”18 This is why 24 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence received what, today, would be considered a seminary education. This also explains why the Supreme Court, in the early 1800s, ruled that public schools should teach the Bible.19 Noah Webster went so far as to say that “education is useless without the Bible.”

History, as well as the original intent of the Founders, does not allow us to separate God’s Word from governing our nation. The Founders chose a republic over a democracy for this very reason. A democracy governs by direct vote of the majority of the people; principle-centered leadership was to govern America’s republic. Representatives were to vote and administrate according to unchanging biblical principles, not by feelings or opinion polls. Murder, stealing, lying, and so forth are always wrong regardless of how the majority may vote. This isn’t a popular stance, or an easy one, but it’s the right one! We need more people in leadership who recognize the urgent need to return to biblical principles.

Unlike today, many early political leaders were not ashamed to admit the true source of America’s strength—they were biblically correct, rather than politically correct. They were statesmen, not politicians. A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation. Can you imagine politicians truly acknowledging Jesus today; it would be unheard of. Granted, there are a few, and I thank them for their stance.

You may wonder, “Where is he going with this?” Straight to the point: Think of what this will mean to our children and grandchildren. If we fail to stand up for what is right—right now, we may see a time in our history when our freedoms, and theirs, will vanish. With the acceptance of same-sex marriage and failure to protect the unborn, that time may be close at hand. Psalm 11:3 states, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” And the last half of Isaiah 7:9 affirms, If you do not stand firm in your faith and convictions, you will not be able stand at all. Again, this battle is for the very soul of our nation. It’s our choice—will we stand or fall?