Is America a Christian Nation?

On Monday, Barack Obama stated that "We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."

This begs the question: "Is America a Christian nation?"

Let's look at the past and then the present.

William Bradford authored The Mayflower Compact in 1620. It reads:

"Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together..."

He also wrote that the Pilgrims were seeking: "The great hope, and for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world".

So obviously the Pilgrims established their colony on Christian principles.

Fast forward to the American Revolution

John Adams wrote: "The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity...I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God."

He also wrote of the Constitution: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Therefore, our Constitution was written for a Christian nation and becomes inadequate when that nation is no long Christian. Interesting.

John Quincy Adams delivered a speech in 1837 that stated: "Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation (Fourth of July) is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior (Christ)? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it no that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity?"

So Christianity is the cornerstone of our country's government? Interesting.

Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, wrote in a letter in 1800: "Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of tie; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure...are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free government."

So the Christian religion is the moral foundation of our free government? Interesting.

Benjamin Franklin spoke at the Constitutional Convention on June 28, 1787: "In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard and they were graciously answered...do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?"

Imploring God for his continued protection of this nation? Interesting.

In his 1749 plan of education for public schools in Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin insisted that schools teach "the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern."

Religion in schools? Say it ain't so.

Alexander Hamilton said in 1787 after the Constitutional Convention: "For my own part, I sincerely esteem it (the Constitution) a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests."

At George Washington's inauguration, the president summoned a Bible on which to take his oath, added the words "So help me God!" to the end of the oath, then leaned over and kissed the Bible.

At the Constitutional Convention, James Madison proposed the division of the government into three branches based on his knowledge of Isaiah 33:22:

"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us"

Patrick Henry said it best: "It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity and freedom of worship here."

Yes, we are a Christian nation in our foundation. Slowly but surely we no longer look like a Nation of God's favor. Secular humanism continues to hammer a wedge between the intentions of our forefathers and the agenda of our politiks. America no longer looks like one nation under God. Maybe with a little less me and more Him, we'll get back to our roots. In God we trust.