A Christian Nation

Is America a Christian nation?

There are many cultural shifts happening these days within the United States that are shaking the country to its core. There are those who see these changes as opportunities for advancement of their personal beliefs. There are others who see these changes as a significant departure from the values and traditions which they believe helped make this country the only surviving superpower on the planet, a unique ‘experiment’ on the world stage. Through it all, both sides have waged a type of war to control what does – and equally important, what doesn’t – become the law of the land.

It is critical we understand the ideas and principles that were used to form the government of the United States, as it is these concepts which provided the government which has become (or at least used to be) the envy of the world. By understanding ‘where we came from’ we gain a better understanding of how current changes might deviate from our collective past, affecting our lives and the lives of our descendants. We will start by looking at the men involved in the American Revolution, the documents they wrote espousing what they believed, from where they drew their inspiration and how they themselves viewed the country they helped to form. Every tale has a starting point, so let’s get to it!

The initiation of the United States of America were the founding documents. These documents were formalized proclamations of the thoughts and intents of the people which formed them, and determined what was, and was not, acceptable as law to the people (the governed). These documents were enacted on both at state-by-state and federal levels. We will review the federal documents first, and then proceed to the individual states.

The US Declaration of Independence – When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

The DoI clearly states that there are certain rights among men which are unalienable, and that those rights have their origin from God Himself. The origin of law is an extremely important point to remember, as all subsequent laws and regulations had this overarching consideration in mind as they were being formed.

The US Constitution – This document originated from the need to specify state and federal specific rights and responsibilities concerning governmental structure and authority. Since the Constitution addresses primarily federal concerns, the main focus is on the duties and restrictions placed upon the federal government. The origin of unalienable rights had already been established in the DoI; even so, the USC still mentions the relationship (and restrictions) between God and the governed.

The Bill of Rights – Sentiments regarding powers and authority to be delegated to the government were divided at the time the US was being formed, between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Federalism was offered as a way to provide for a strong, centralized government. Anti-federalism was offered as a way to prevent a centralized government from exerting power over the individual states in the union. The BoR was presented as an assurance against an over-reaching federal structure. As in the USC, the BoR does not specifically mention God because it was already understood that the laws being formed were, ultimately, under His jurisdiction.

These three documents set the standard for all other federal and state charters formed at the time of the American Revolution, as well as for the following century and longer. The underlying theme is that God is the Ultimate Ruler, and men receive their freedoms based upon the rights which only God can ascribe. Next, we turn to the individual state constitutions by starting with the original 13 colonies.

References to the Lord have been placed in bold font.

Connecticut – The People of Connecticut acknowledging with gratitude, the good providence of God, in having permitted them to enjoy a free government; do, in order more effectually to define, secure, and perpetuate the liberties, rights and privileges which they have derived from their ancestors; hereby, after a careful consideration and revision, ordain and establish the following constitution and form of civil government.

Delaware – Through Divine goodness, all people have by nature the rights of worshiping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences, of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring and protecting reputation and property, and in general of obtaining objects suitable to their condition, without injury by one to another; and as these rights are essential to their welfare, for due exercise thereof, power is inherent in them; and therefore all just authority in the institutions of political society is derived from the people, and established with their consent, to advance their happiness; and they may for this end, as circumstances require, from time to time, alter their Constitution of government.

Georgia – To perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen and of the family, and transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty, we the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

Maryland – We, the People of the State of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration the best means of establishing a good Constitution in this State for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare:

Massachusetts – The end of the institution, maintenance, and administration of government, is to secure the existence of the body politic, to protect it, and to furnish the individuals who compose it with the power of enjoying in safety and tranquility their natural rights, and the blessings of life: and whenever these great objects are not obtained, the people have a right to alter the government, and to take measures necessary for their safety, prosperity and happiness.

The body politic is formed by a voluntary association of individuals: it is a social compact, by which the whole people covenants with each citizen, and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by certain laws for the common good. It is the duty of the people, therefore, in framing a constitution of government, to provide for an equitable mode of making laws, as well as for an impartial interpretation, and a faithful execution of them; that every man may, at all times, find his security in them.

We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the universe, in affording us, in the course of His providence, an opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without fraud, violence or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit, and solemn compact with each other; and of forming a new constitution of civil government, for ourselves and posterity; and devoutly imploring His direction in so interesting a design, do agree upon, ordain and establish the following Declaration of Rights, and Frame of Government, as the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

New Hampshire – *New Hampshire did not contain a preamble to their State Constitution. However, they enumerated rights in the Bill of Rights and through the Articles.

V. Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship GOD according to the dictates of his own conscience, and reason; and no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained in his person, liberty or estate for worshipping GOD, in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience, or for his religious profession, sentiments or persuasion; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or disturb others, in their religious worship.

VI. As morality and piety, rightly grounded on evangelical principles, will give the best and greatest security to government, and will lay in the hearts of men the strongest obligations to due subjection; and as the knowledge of these, is most likely to be propagated through a society by the institution of the public worship of the DEITY, and of public instruction in morality and religion; therefore, to promote those important purposes, the people of this state have a right to impower, and do hereby fully impower the legislature to authorize from time to time, the several towns, parishes, bodies corporate, or religious societies within this state, to make adequate provision at their own expence, for the support and maintenance of public protestant teachers of piety, religion and morality:

New Jersey – We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

New York – We The People of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our Freedom, in order to secure its blessings, DO ESTABLISH THIS CONSTITUTION.

North Carolina – We, the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for the preservation of the American Union and the existence of our civil, political and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those blessings to us and our posterity, do, for the more certain security thereof and for the better government of this State, ordain and establish this Constitution.

Pennsylvania – WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

Rhode Island – We, the people of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and to transmit the same, unimpaired, to succeeding generations, do ordain and establish this Constitution of government.

South Carolina – We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in Convention assembled, grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the preservation and perpetuation of the same.

Virginia – *Virginia did not contain a preamble to their entire State Constitution. However, they enumerated rights through the Articles of that Constitution, especially Section 16;

That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.

This is Part One of a multi-part series. Keep an eye out for the next installment!