Author: Higher Things

Is America a Christian Nation? Pastor Buetow says no. Find out why in the latest article featured from our FREE Church and State Issue of Higher Things Magazine. To see the whole issue, click here.

Rev. Mark Buetow

America is not a Christian nation. There. I said it. Because it’s not. It never has been. That’s because by “Christian” we can only mean what Christ means: a kingdom not of this world which He rules and in which He “daily and richly forgives all my sins.” That’s the church.

Now sure, the church exists alongside the state, most of the time in a particular state and nation. Sometimes as a part of the state. Sometimes cooperating with the state. Sometimes trying to avoid the state. Sometimes being persecuted by the state. But she’s always praying for the State and its leaders and citizens. Church and state are not the same things. America was not founded on the idea that sinners are justified by grace through faith for the sake of Jesus Christ. That’s the Gospel. The Good News. The center and substance of the Christian faith.

Some might argue that at least the United States was founded upon “Judeo-Christian” principles, except that lots of things, like adultery and trash-talking, are legal under the laws of our land. So, the United States isn’t even just founded on the Law. Think about it. Where does it say in the Constitution that you must love God and your neighbor as yourself? Do you see the point? Calling any particular nation a “Christian” one doesn’t really make sense.

Well, how about this? America was at least founded by Christians. That’s debatable. The pilgrims who came in search of “religious freedom” as the story goes, were pretty hardcore strict and legalistic. There’s a lot in what they said and did and about how they lived but not so much about Jesus for sinners. And early Puritan settlements were a good example of what happens when you combine church and state: One person’s view of church runs everyone else’s life. So that’s not really about Jesus either.

Another comparison that is made is that the United States is a new “Israel.” Like Israel in the Old Testament, the United States was to be a beacon of godliness for all nations. Often times, when disaster strikes, the Lord’s Word to King Solomon gets hauled out and plastered everywhere: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14). But that’s not it either. The Lord chose Israel specifically and the Scriptures are clear that Israel’s purpose was to be a light for the nations in being the people from whom the Savior of all nations would be born. The Israel of the Old Testament is a type and picture of the church as Paul makes clear in Romans 9-11. Israel is NOT a model for America to follow.

So that’s it, then? America’s not a Christian nation so just forget about trying to figure out church and state? Well, not quite. America, like every nation, has Christians. The church lives here. Those who are baptized dwell in this particular land as they dwell in particular lands everywhere. Christians live in the hope that because our sins are forgiven, we have, as Jesus promises, victory over death. “Our citizenship,” as St. Paul writes, “is in heaven, from which we eagerly await our Savior.” That means that no matter what earthly nation we were born in or live in, our real “country” is Christ’s kingdom. That kingdom lasts long after the Roman Empire or the United States of America or any other nation will have ceased to exist. In fact, that kingdom shall outlast the earth which will go away and a new heaven and earth will be made.

But Christians do live in America. And we live by faith in the Son of God and He lives in us, carrying out those good works that benefit even our nation: praying for our leaders and for peace, and loving and serving those around us in our many different callings. America may not be a Christian nation but a part of the body of Christ is American and that means we who live by the mercy of God and the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ here in America are to live godly lives as citizens of this particular country.

You wouldn’t go to the driver’s license office to receive absolution for your sins, just as you wouldn’t go to church to file your taxes. Church and state are not the same. It’s a good thing to remember this as we trust in Christ for the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation in a world that is daily passing away. After all, our hope is never in “America” or “things getting better,” but in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, who promises to raise us to life everlasting with a great multitude from EVERY tribe, tongue and nation. So live as a citizen of America or in whatever country you live. And live as a citizen of heaven—the kingdom of Christ which is above all others and is forever.

Rev. Mark Buetow is pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church in DuQuoin, Illinois and serves as Media Services Executive for Higher Things. He can be reached at buetowmt@gmail.com.

This week marks the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe versus Wade decision legalizing abortion. How might Christians respond and react to these decisions? What voice do we have? Mrs. Maggie Karner addresses how Christians can participate in the public square in her article, featured this week as part of our FREE Church and State issue of Higher Things.
You can check out the whole issue here.

By Maggie Karner

I vividly remember my first time in the voting booth. Even to this day I still get a little choked up with patriotism as I wait in line to vote every Election Day. Like me, most Christians understand the blessing of our representative form of government and exercise their God-given responsibility as citizens to vote. But many Christians feel there should be a clear separation between their secular life and their Christian life. They were told never to discuss the controversial topics of religion or politics at the dinner table and, if one was socially considerate, never to tackle the two topics together. They see passages such as John 17:16 and Romans 12:2, which tell us that Christians are in this world, but not of this world, as a signal that Christians, and likewise the Church, need to butt out of the public arena. In light of these passages, what role, if any, should the Church and individuals play in the political arena?

Dr. Robert Benne, author and Director of the Roanoke College Center for Religion and Society, argues in his book Good and Bad Ways to Think About Religion and Politics, that our founding fathers determined that the free exercise of religion was our “first freedom” because they recognized that true and active religious practice would shape our culture with good morals and virtuous citizens. In fact, this “free exercise” has been a catalyst for Christian activism throughout American history; religiously motivated people and churches fueled the fight for the abolition of slavery, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and our contemporary pro-life movement.

In today’s society, Christians are faced with serious issues that require our utmost attention—and sometimes our activism. Unfortunately, our government has created legislation that threatens the church’s ability to preach the Gospel. Consider the following: 1) The repeal of “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell” puts our military chaplains in difficult positions. 2) The U.S. Department of Justice is refusing to uphold DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act, a U.S. federal law that defines marriage as between one man and one woman). 3) Religious organizations and employers are being forced to comply with a U.S. Health and Human Services mandate on supplying abortifacient contraceptives to employees or face a steep fine if they refuse. If the church doesn’t speak out on these issues today, we may not have the ability to do so tomorrow.

Martin Luther brought a unique clarity to this discussion which was just as volatile a topic in his world as it is today. As both a theologian and a student of the law, Luther was uniquely qualified to understand and explain God’s providential purpose for both the secular and the religious functions of our society through his doctrine of the two kingdoms (or realms). Luther explained that God works through the kingdom of the left (or civic and government functions) to maintain civil order and a just society so that the kingdom of the right (the body of Christ and His church) can operate more effectively in a free society where the freedom to proclaim the Gospel is maintained. Likewise, when the Church is given the freedom to demonstrate Christian compassion toward our neighbor (mercy work), it supports and promotes a just and effective social society.

This teaching stands in sharp contrast to other Christian groups who either shun civic work altogether or believe that their purpose is to “Christianize” our government and political system. To the contrary, Luther says that we should not confuse the two kingdoms and that each kingdom has been ordained by God for a specific purpose on earth.

So can a Lutheran Christian be active in both kingdoms? “Absolutely,” says Rev. Bart Day, Executive Director of LCMS Office of National Mission, “as long as we recognize and understand within which kingdom we are working.” He notes that the Scriptures speak clearly on moral issues, which fall under the left-hand kingdom of the law. Civil society and the government should help put parameters on morality in a civil society. However, in a sinful world our society often fails to do so. Abortion, euthanasia and same-sex marriage are examples. The church encounters these questions frequently and must have the freedom to speak on them within the church and society. Pastor Day explains that when politics shape and form or change the moral fiber and ethos of the society in which the church lives, then the church has a clear responsibility to speak out.

In fact, Luther would advocate for Christians to be very involved in the moral discussions found within the civic realm. “Though we be active in the battle,” Luther said, “if we are not fighting where the battle is the hottest, we are traitors to the cause.” He understood that Christians must exercise bold leadership in bringing about a just and compassionate order to society. Luther recognized that in such a moral and just society, the church is best able to provide mercy and care for our neighbor and enjoy the freedom to preach the saving and forgiving Gospel of the forgiveness of sins for Jesus’ sake. To be sure, both of these can be done when the culture is hostile to Christ’s church, but it is a great joy and blessing when the church can do so in peace.

Maggie Karner is the Director of Life and Health Ministries at the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Her work with the LCMS involves directing the church body’s strategy for international and national health and pro-life projects.She can be reached at maggie.karner@lcms.org