Why calling the United states a Christian country is detrimental to Christianity.
The United states was clearly influenced by Christian principles; The pilgrims were escaping persecutions from Europe and while many of them practiced Christianity, they were still suffering persecution in Europe from state churches.
The founding fathers, some being Christians, made sure to separate the church from the state. They well knew of the carnage that comes as a result of having a state religion. And so, the US became one of the rare countries without a state religion. Each person was left to follow the dictate of his own conscience.
When you call a country by a specific religion, people associate all of its behaviors with said religion.
Note this example: Slavery was an institution in the United states; this would also mean that the brutality of slavery was accepted a Christian precept. Even the mistreatment of the Indians would have been considered a Christian precept. In fact, all of the wicked acts that our nation has committed would be considered “the work of Christianity” instead of something that brings dishonor to God.
Many people have turned away from God because of the behaviors of so called “Christian countries”. The crusades of the Middle Ages, the persecution of so called “heretics” burning at the stake, tortures, all being done by nations who claim to be Christian. Heinous crimes that should never be associated with the loving Jesus who gave His life that men might be saved.
“They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.” (John 16:2-3 NIV)
Jesus said people who commit such crimes know neither Him nor the Father. Did these so called “Christian nations” know Jesus?
This is why Jesus said, "..give back to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s and to God what is God’s.”(Matt. 22:21 NIV)
Christianity is focused on the kingdom of God, while the government is focused on maintaining earthly order and dominion. If it uses religion, it will use it to that end.
True Christianity on the other hand is not concerned with national greatness, but with the advancement of the kingdom of God.
True christianity would condemn slavery, the mistreatment of the Indians and other injustices commit by the state. True Christianity would recognize that we are all one human family and we are to treat each other the way Christ would treat us.
Furthermore, one is not born a Christian, but must be born again through an encounter with Christ. One is not a Christian simply because he is born into a certain country or family, but he must be born of water and of the Spirit. And so, it is difficult to have a Christian country since the majority citizens in any so called “Christian”
country” are not born of water and of the Spirit.
How do I know ?
Their fruits reflect it. A Christian country would be a heavenly place, a little heaven on earth. It would be a country where everyone is under the control of the Holy Spirit. Picture it: full of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.
It is possible to have a Muslim country, a Buddhist country, even an Atheistic country (as these belief systems, being earthly, can be enforced by the state). Even Islam, a religion that focuses on external behavior, can easily be enforced by the state; but it is impossible to have a Christian country. True Christianity can never be enforced by the state because it requires an internal transformation.
It is impossible simply because to be a true Christian means to be born from above.
While the United States is founded upon many Christian principles, it is not a Christian country because a country cannot be born again, only repentant individuals can.
We have Christians in the United States, but it is not a Christian nation.
The Christian does have a country, but it is a heavenly one.
If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:15,16 NIV)
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