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Writer's pictureJennifer Delvaux

A Foundational Myth

One of the greatest myths held by a portion of our nation’s population is that we are a Christian nation.


To an extent, yes. In the sense that the majority of those first people who colonized the original colonies were Protestants from England, yes. Critical caveat - the colonizers were Christians. Obviously the Indigenous peoples' spiritualities were dismissed. In addition the faiths and spiritualities of the enslaved peoples kidnapped from Africa were equally dismissed. So even as those folks claim a “Christian Founding” they are ignoring the near extermination of the indigenous population and the enslavement of another set of peoples…neither of which are actually Christian practices despite some incredibly warped theological acrobatics during the colonial era.


However, even if we ignore the caveat this does not give our nation an identity as a “Christian Nation.” That sort of title was actually something the Founding Fathers actively worked against. The context our nation was founded in was one where the colonies struggled against a monarch tied with the Church of England, lending an ecclesial and divine voice to any legal and governmental proclamations. To go against the state, could easily be construed as going against God.


Thus these men who articulated first the Articles of Confederation and then eventually the Constitution sought how to lay the groundwork that articulated that while an individual may have a particular set of morals which can influence their public ethics, they clearly, unequivocally stated that there is no state religion. 


In fact most of these men had very interesting, if not irregular views, on religion. Thomas Jefferson could arguably be said to not in fact be a Christian given that he edited the Gospels to remove all the mystical (Christological) actions out - miracles, resurrection, ascension. This left the human person of Jesus - a wise historical figure to be sure, but not the Christ of the Christian Church. He left behind two volumes, Philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth and The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, clearly reducing Jesus to a philosopher.


There is a grave danger of trying to turn our nation into a Christian nation. It begs the question, which Christian interpretation? Which denomination? And within that denomination, which person’s interpretation? 


Even if we were to agree on those logistical issues, those skip the theological and much more critical one - is it even Christian to claim a nation? I’ve read the Bible cover to cover multiple times. I’ve studied the Gospels. I’ve read commentaries and works of theologians and I can say that Jesus never said he came to establish a nation.


I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. John 10:10


For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45


For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10


I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. John 12:46


When I look at all those reasons Jesus gave for why he came into this world, it seems to me we can see where we can follow in his footsteps to help our sisters and brothers in our nation - to help those that are suffering, to help those struggling in this life, to help those who are lost (those who are without family, in need of mental help support, veterans left without adequate care, children in poverty, refugees, those affected by climate change, the many left marginalized by our society), and the call to bring light and love to all. 


Perhaps we should concern ourselves with that work instead of some myth that we humans created of a Christian nation. Because what Christ did say he will ask us on the last day was not whether we created a Christian nation, he promised us that we will be asked if we fed the hungry, clothed the naked, gave the thirsty drink, visited the imprisoned, and cared for the least of our sisters and brothers. That is abundantly clear. That is the judgment of the nations.

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