We’ve seen that those nations known as Christian nations don’t actually base their laws on the Ten Commandments. But what about the teachings of Jesus? Maybe that’s the trick; to be Christian nations, they need to follow the teachings of Jesus. Don’t they?
But which ones? Which teachings of Jesus? When the proponents of the Christian nation theory talk about the Sermon on the Mount, for example, they usually say, “Of course, Jesus never meant for those things to be applied to civil government.” I tend to agree… unless those nations claim to be Christian. Can you be Christian and not follow Christ’s teachings? Not according to Jesus.
Those same people will turn around and claim that their nation “upholds Christian ideals.” Again I ask which ones? Non-retaliation? Loving enemies? Giving to all who ask? Putting the needs of others ahead of our own? (I’m waiting to hear that from a Christian politician: “Naturally America must put the needs of the rest of the world ahead of our own.”) Giving up your life? No, I can’t see that “Christian nations” meet this test, either.
Or is there something I’m missing? In what way do so-called Christian nations uphold the teachings of Jesus? Or am I expecting too much? Is there a way to be Christian and not follow Christ’s teachings?
“Is there a way to be Christian and not follow Christ’s teachings?”
Yeah Tim, some people have figured a way, they may have to distort the teachings of Christ a little but, what the hey? Grace, Grace, and Grace. Since the word grace was substituted for, forgiveness there seems to be the thought that since you just can’t deserve grace, why try. now we might need to do a little something of our own to be granted forgiveness, but not grace, that is all a one sided deal, and Jesus made that deal and can’t renege, so why worry if we follow the message, a deal is a deal.
“Is there a way to be Christian and not follow Christ’s teachings?”
I don’t think so…We either pledge allegiance to Jesus of Nazareth of to a “worldly regime”. While respecting the nation in which I live because Jesus teaches me to love and respect others, I strive daily pledging allegiance to Jesus. Great post Sir!
Again, I think being Christian begins with the fundamental issue of whether I/we live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. By placing ourselves under Jesus’ Lordship, we give up the right to pick and choose which teachings we will follow and which ones we will set asside or redefine. Refusing to set asside or redefine any of Jesus’ teachings does not mean we will adhere to all of his teachings correctly and consistantly. What it means is that we acknowledge our failures and rebuke ourselves in hopes of changing in the future by following those teaching which we previously failed to do.
I can’t speak for every nation or group that claims to be Christian but as for the nation of which I am a citizen of (the USA), I do not see it as a whole nation striving to live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. There are certainly groups of people within this nation who do. We call them local churches and many of those local churches belong to a larger fellowship of churches which also as a whole strive to live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. However, where this becomes troubling is that some (perhaps many) of the people in these local churches seem able to check that Lordship and leave it at the door when it comes down to matters of civil government which is why few would vote for any politician who would dare suggest that we put the needs of the rest of the world before our own national needs or that we lay our weapons down and love those who seek to terrorize us with acts of war.
So again, I ask…is our nation a Christian nation? How would Jeuss answer that question?
Grace and peace,
Rex
Tim,
This is my third response. I have left one at the end of the other two blogs by this title.
Can a Nation be Christian? Do we mean by this completely and totally? Can a congregation be Christian? Jesus said there would be tares among the wheat. Is this a description of a totally Christian church? Is my point clear? Some years ago a preacher preached in a small country community where only about 150 souls lived. Of that 150 there were about 120-130 that met every Sunday to worship God. Was that a Christian community?
I am convinced that our founding fathers of the USA did believe that they were founding a nation based on the Judeo-Christian principles. And I can flood this blog site with quotes that prove it.To my knowledge Washington, the Adam’s cousins, Franklin, even Jefferson never used the term Christian nation. But there is no question in my mind that they believed that God birthed this nation.
As for following the sermon on the mount, I would say that our nation can follow what is laid out there along with the rest of God’s word to the best of our ability and we would certainly be better off as a nation. Would we keep it perfectly? Of course not. Who of us does? Has our nation done unChristian things? Of course. Again, who of us has not.
Surely the nation that trys to live by Christian principles to the best of its ability will be better off than the one that does not.
In HIM,
Gerry
Thanks for all the comments.
Gerry, I think my answer to your three comments is in the fourth post in this series.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
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