A Christian Nation

The United States is a Christian nation.

I've always felt a little uncomfortable with this statement. First, calling objects or things "Christian" is kind of weird. If a country can be christian can a table be one? A house? My Nintendo blesses me each day with good feelings and fun, maybe it's a christian?

Below are a few of my thoughts on the subject. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Full disclosure, I am a card-carrying Christian.

Laws

I think it could be argued that the laws of a country identify what it values and what it believes to be important. People, either directly or through our representatives, decide what the laws should be. It's the consensus of all adult persons on what is right and what is wrong.

Below is a list of the Ten Commandments. I have struck through the ones that are legal here.

1. You shall have no other gods before me. 
2. You shall not worship idols. 
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. 
4. Remember the sabbath and keep it holy. 
5. Honor your father and mother. 
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery. 
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness.
10. You shall not covet. 

The list of above gets even worse when you take into account Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, where he clarifies that lusting counts as adultery, and that hating someone counts as murder.

Also, there are no laws saying that one must be a Christian or any religion for that matter.

People

There are a lot Christians in the US. According to Gallup the country is about 74% Christian, which is a lot. But it's also not everyone. That leaves a solid 26% of people who don't accepts the tenants of Christianity.

You could argue that Christians, Jews, Muslims, and a lot of other people share the same morality. We all think murder is bad, right? But that's not Christianity. Christianity is Christ.

If there's one thing we believe and that you'll hear a lot about in church is that following Jesus isn't about following a set of rules, but about a relationship with a saviour. So while we might all agree you shouldn't steal things, a Christian this does not make.

Should the US Be a Christian?

Coming from a Christian, I can tell you that it's hard to do. The rules are kind of tough and most of the time it's more concerned with your inner self than your outer. Or, as my wife would say, it's the thought behind the gift. Not the gift itself.

There are things a Christian has to do that a country cannot. Turning the other cheek. Giving everything to follow Jesus. Not murdering.

If another country attacked us we wouldn't be too happy with the president if he said, no, sorry guys, I'm going to turn the other cheek. Or if someone steels our coat to give them our shirt as well (not sure what the country equivalent of that would be). Our country would be over ran and ransacked in a week.

History is full of countries that tried to be christian. Each one is a dismal failure, with the religion being coopted to control people and take power. It ends up making both the country and the religion look very, very bad. The Crusades and Inquisition are not bright spots in the history of the faith.

Thanks for reading.
Steve