OPINION:
First — an accurate definition: A Christian is someone who has a personal, living relationship with Jesus Christ, and this comes about through putting one’s faith (or “trust”) fully in Him.
Christians are not just kindly folk who unobtrusively volunteer at the local soup kitchen sometimes (though doing such I enthusiastically recommend). Biblically and historically, an authentic, genuine Christian has assented to several propositional truths: Christians have admitted to their sins to God, trusting that Jesus is God’s Son, and believe that His death and resurrection were accomplished as payment for sin.
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References to culturally active Christians are frequently present in political coverage, and this has been the case for about five decades now. Unquestionably, clergy and individual believers have been deeply influential in U.S. politics and culture since revolutionary times. But coverage of the 1976 presidential campaign introduced core biblical concepts to the American consciousness, as Newsweek magazine reported that both candidates — Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter — claimed to be “born-again” Christians.
Jesus Himself taught that the key to heaven is for a person to be “born again” (John 3:3). The Bible teaches that with the gift of salvation comes a responsibility to live for God. From the earliest times the lifestyle and priorities of Jesus’ followers have been (to varying degrees) out of step with the rest of the world. The labeling of Jesus’ followers as “Christians” first took place about nine to 10 years after the Cross (Acts 11:26). The term “Christian” was, at that time, most certainly not a compliment.
But for those who wonder why professed Christians today stick their noses into politics, a careful explanation is important here, the juxtaposition of grace and works. All true Christians acknowledge that salvation is purely through God’s grace, that is, an extension of His mercy we don’t deserve. Once a person has received the gift of forgiveness by simply calling out to Christ in faith, a life of obedience, spiritual growth, and good works should follow (Ephesians 2:10).
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Politically engaged Christians today take seriously Jesus’ assignment that His followers be, “salt and light” in the culture (Matthew 5:13-16). Salt is a preservative, light pushes back the darkness. History is replete with examples of the positive cultural influence of biblical churches and individual Christians. Jesus told the Christians to take all of His teachings to the entire world (Matthew 28:20).
It is apparent that America’s Founders sincerely believed that weaving biblical principles with principles of good civil government would produce the best possible, most sustainable country in the world. Our sixth president, John Quincy Adams said, “The Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact (our form of government) on the foundation of the Redeemer’s mission upon earth … That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.”
A plethora of similar founding-era quotes could be given. Perhaps the ire often expressed about Christians inserting themselves into politics is because students are not taught these parts of our history today. Whether or not a person chooses to believe in Jesus and live as a Christian is one’s personal prerogative. No true Christian would ever countenance the attempted forcing of someone to believe. If a person wants no part of God or salvation, that is sad, but one’s soul is one’s own to win or lose.
But when it comes to the preservation of our culture and the unique system of representative government that has, heretofore, served us so well, affirmation of the foundation on which it depends is essential. And that trustworthy foundation is the biblical moral code given to humanity through the Jews and embraced by all strata of true Christians. It is believed that during the Revolutionary era, 98% of the colonists and founders were Protestants and 1.9% were Catholic.
Jews comprised a tenth of 1% of that 18th-century population. Atheism was essentially unknown on these shores, and not then at all consequential.
Informed citizens today know that the “secret sauce,” the “X factor” that made America safe, stable, prosperous, and largely virtuous was our lived-out Christianity. Academics deny it, pop-level pundits mock it, and libertines govern as if it were never there at all. But we’ve secularized America to our own detriment.
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Can the soul of our nation be redeemed? Yes — and that restoration can begin now, as individuals do what Americans have always done in their most dire, but greatest moments: We honestly turn to Almighty God.
Join me, won’t you, as we bow to pray?
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Dr. Alex McFarland is a youth, religion and culture expert, a national talk show host and speaker, educator, and is author of 20 books. McFarland directs Biblical Worldview and apologetics for Charis Bible College in Woodland Park, CO. Via the American Family Radio Network, Alex is heard live on Exploring the Word, airing daily on nearly 200 radio stations across the U.S. The Alex McFarland Show airs weekly on NRBTV, providing Biblically faithful TV and discussion on current events affecting our nation.
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