Is it Proper to Mix Religion and Politics?
Have you ever wondered to yourself; “Who was the first American to say it was not proper to mix American politics and Christianity?” I am not a violent person, but at times I wish someone would have shot that guy before he made that statement. I know-wishing someone was shot is not very Christian and a little extreme (you do know I didn’t mean it, right?); but I hope to bring attention to an important point.
America was founded as a Christian nation. From our infancy as a nation, America and Christianity were conjoined. It never entered the minds of our Founders that the two would ever be separated.
Consider this quote from John Quincy Adams.
“From the day of the Declaration…they (the American people) were bound by the laws of God and by the laws of the gospel, which they all acknowledged as the rules of their conduct.”
(As Secretary of State, Oration celebrating, July 4th 1821)
The Founder’s formula for a successful nation was simple; the Constitution constrained the government and the Bible constrained the people. They believed should the government and/or the people stray from the boundaries set forth in each, America would crumble from within.
Critics of the Christian founding of America imply that we can’t be a Christian nation because if America were we would legally require all Citizens to be Christian. This is not the case. Supreme Court Justice David Brewer (1837-1910) explained it well:
“[I]n what sense can [America] be called a Christian nation? Not in the sense that Christianity is the established religion or that the people are in any manner compelled to support it. On the contrary, the Constitution specifically provides that ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.’ Neither is it Christian in the sense that all its citizens are either in fact or name Christians. On the contrary, all religions have free scope within our borders. Numbers of our people profess other religions and many reject all. Nor is it Christian in the sense that a profession of Christianity is a condition of holding office or otherwise engaging in public service, or essential to recognition either politically or socially. In fact, the government as a legal organization is independent of all religions. Nevertheless, we constantly speak of this republic as a Christian nation – in fact, as the leading Christian nation of the world.”
The relationship between our Constitutional Republic and Christianity is unique in the American experience/experiment. Not only did those who founded this great nation consider it Christian, so did others who came to America to examine our government and culture. None of these investigators were more respected than Alexis de Tocqueville; a French jurist who came to America in the 1831 to study this new American experiment of government. After his visit, he wrote the most important book of that day concerning American government and culture called, “Democracy in America.”
In “Democracy in America” Tocqueville wrote he was amazed how religious Americans were and the central role Christianity played in the workings of American society and in government. Tocqueville perfectly articulated the unique relationship between Christianity and American government.
“Religion in America takes no direct part in the government of society, but must be regarded as the first of their political institutions…I am certain that they hold it to be indispensable to the maintenance of republican institutions. This opinion is not peculiar to a class of citizens or to a party but it belongs to the whole nation.”
Tocqueville continued…
“The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other.”
Tocqueville concludes his remarks with a powerful observation and a pertinent warning…
“I sought for the greatness of America in her harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and boundless prairies, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there…Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”
Okay, I take it back. I am glad no one shot the first guy who said it was not proper to mix politics and religion. But isn’t it time to start a trend of our own? Try this. Not only is it proper to mix politics and Christianity, if we are to save our republic it is a must!
Today, we took a look back at history to show the essential partnership between politics and Christianity in America. Tomorrow, we’ll take a look in the Bible. If you want to get a head start, read Colossians chapter one and I’ll meet you back here tomorrow.
