"Christian Nation"

First From Julie's Keyboard:
In Whom Is Your Confidence Today?

As I sat down to post some thoughts for the week, I spent some moments reflecting over the past few days.  After enjoying the blessing of many grand children in our home for a visit, it always proves to be one of those events for helping to balance out the walk through this life and keep things in perspective.

A passage of Scripture from the 46th Psalm kept coming to mind in my meditations:

"Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."    Ps. 46:10

Though this life we encounter each day seems to spin a little faster with each new day, there's a call from our Lord to rein things in and progress through this pilgrim existence  by His great plan.  We don't have to get on the overwhelming wheel of worry and anxiety.  We don't have to make the most, drive the best, or live in the finest.  (though some may)  But, we all have to come under that instruction of "being still and knowing that He is God."

When the tasks of our days are calling us into a frenzied way of living, we must recall His Words of stillness and rest.  Certainly, there's much work to be done.  Many things are necessary to serve faithfully in walking as" salt and light" in this world.  Our place of service in Him is best served by taking upon His "easy yoke and light burden."

But, I can't seem to express enough, as I look about me and hear and see the troubled souls trying to deal with one issue after another as if in sinking sand, where the answer lies.  The "arm of flesh will fail you..."  we cannot trust man.  We must be still, get to know Him and take time to notice the beauty He has placed all around us.

We get the idea from Scripture that our Lord enjoys stillness.  "He speaks in a still small voice."  Why can't we just take Him at this Word and let this be enough for us?  He's better than the finest cruise vacation.  He's better than pure gold.   He's far greater than anything else anyone has ever found to relieve their stresses.  We simply need to know Him.

Can we truly place our complete confidence in Him?  Can we "be still and know that He is God?
It's His plan that this be true for each of us.

Blessings,
Julie


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http://spiritualheritage.blogspot.com

"Christian Nation"

Should I even try to address the subject of America being a Christian?  I know the very term sparks delight in some while rejection in others.  A Christian loves the idea of living in a Christian Nation while one of another religion or perhaps an atheist not only rejects the idea but most likely it is an offence to them and their belief.  Since the very foundation of our society is based upon freedom, namely here freedom of conscience, would it not be contrary to the very idea of America to call it a "Christian Nation"?

I don't suspect I will settle the controversy here in this blog post, but perhaps with the understanding I have gained from the study of our Founders writings and the many others that have searched out the subject, I can at least bring us a little closer together.

I think first we must define a definition for the term "Christian Nation" as used when referenced to the United States.  The very term identifies very different ideas in a variety of people.  As long as one understands one thing and another understands something else when hearing the term "Christian Nation" we will never be able to come to a common understanding.

So instead of making up my own definition I would suggest we all work from the one already established by the United States Supreme Court in 1892 under Church of the Holy Trinity vs. United States. 

This Court described America as a "Christian nation" saying, "This is historically true.  From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation. . . . These are not individual saying, declarations of private persons: they are organic utterances; they speak the voice of the entire people. . . . These and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation."

Now, the Supreme Court of the United States recognized this nation as a Christian nation, but notice the basis.  It was not by private persons, or Constitutional mandate, or rule of government.  One did not have to be a Christian to be a citizen, nor did being a Christian give one special advantages in society as pertaining to the government of the United States.  Nor did not being a Christian bring undue restraint or place one at a disadvantage in society again as  pertaining to the Federal and Local Governments.  It was simply recognized as a Christian nation purely on its contents. 

As the court stated, from the discovery to the present hour (1892) the content of American society spoke a single voice both through purpose and its common law the influence of Christianity upon its people.  So if you will, we will work from this platform, that at least until the year 1892 America could be referred to as a Christian nation using the courts criteria.  We can also work from this platform with the understanding, that using the 1892 definition for a Christian nation, referencing America as such could and perhaps has changed since 1892.  By that I  mean what defined America in 1892 as a Christian nation may not be entirely present in this hour.

This could be what was implied when President Obama inferred fundamentally changing America, and also when he stated what we once were we are not longer.

Leaving for the moment what we are now, let us take a quick look at what we once were.  Lets begin as the court stated with the discovery.

To do this we will need to ask someone with insight into that discovery.  It so happens we have Christopher Columbus available for an interview.

Chris, when contemplating such an undertaking as discovering a new world, what was the driving force that caused you to pursue such an accomplishment. 

"Our Lord opened to my understanding (I could sense his hand upon me) so it became clear to me that it [the voyage] was feasible. . . . All those who heard about my enterprise rejected it with laughter, scoffing at me. . . . Who doubts that this illumination was from the Holy Spirit?  I attest that he [the Spirit], with marvelous rays of light, consoled me through the holy and sacred Scriptures . . . they inflame me with a sense of great urgency. . . . No one should be afraid to take on any enterprise in the name of our Savior if it is right and if the purpose is purely for His Holy service." - - - - Christopher Columbus, Christopher Columbus's Book of Prophecies, Kay Brigham, translator (Barcelona, Spain: CLIE, 1990; Ft. Lauderdale: TSELF, 1991), pp 178-179, 182-183.

So, at least in the words of Christopher Columbus, we began with illumination from the Holy Spirit in a sense of great urgency.  The question will be, is that illumination still among us and do we understand it with this great urgency.  And so our discussion continues . . . .

May God bless each of you,

David