Aliens in America: Day 9

Christian Nation? 

‘As aliens, live in reverent fear’ (1 Pet. 1:17) 

I’m grateful to be an alien in America. On one hand, I am a citizen; on the other, as a member of Christ, I am alien to our system of government. It will never be mine, no more than America is fundamentally Christ’s. Can’t happen. We, as Christians, may become more holy, but we cannot expect that of any nation, including America.  

We can rejoice in our national freedom to be the kind of Christian we want to be. America was founded on such freedom. From the start, our forefathers envisioned a nation where people could worship as they wanted and say so. The only exception? No one expression of Christianity, or any religion, can prevail—no ‘state’ religion. Tolerating many beliefs is foundational to how we define ourselves as Americans. 

How else could this alien evolve from nominal Protestant to Jesus freak to Catholic? America, she’s a great country! Just don’t mistake her for a ‘Christian’ nation. Be grateful we are free to worship as we do. As soon as we start expecting the government to mirror our worship and its application, we take another’s freedom from him or her.  

Our good challenge as American aliens? Distill and impart the essence of our faith as best we can. We will make our nation better. Just don’t expect to be the majority voice. Pluralism of belief reminds us that we are aliens, much needed and much scorned. I still think ‘gay marriage’ is a rotten idea for America; today, our children are forced to assimilate that utterly unnatural law into their hearts. I won’t stop believing and teaching others the truth of marriage. That is born in God’s heart, if not in our country’s.  

More alarming is the vibe that ‘making America great again’ means remaking her laws and leaders Christian. That ‘top-down’ approach to faith and government is, at best, a vain effort. Our constitution forbids it, and the diversity of Christian expression and application in America makes a unified approach to being ‘Christian’ impossible. 

Better to be an alien. And make intelligent noise in the public square—fragrant to some, a stench to others. That’s where a natural law understanding can help guide us a little. Non-sectarian, it lends wisdom and clarity to advocating for justice that at least restrains certain indignities.  

Chaput says it best: ‘Advocating for what we believe to be true about key moral issues is not coercion but honesty. It’s also a duty—not only of faith but of citizenship.’  

Stay alien, American Christians. You are of Christ, not any worldly system of government. Make her better through your offering. 

‘Grant us the wisdom of our roots as Americans—not over or understating her freedoms. Grant us something akin to grace and truth in navigating what matters to us in this election and fighting for it. Help us aim for fair and just representation without entitlement. Grant us a long view of human justice and dignity.’    

‘Jesus, You are the King, and we are first citizens of Your Kingdom. Would you free us for You in this election season, not to hide but to shine? You’ve always asked nothing less from Your elect whom You have made ‘strangers in a strange land’ (Ex. 2:22). Here we are, a people who don’t know what to do but who look and listen to our King.  

“Father of all holiness, 

guide our hearts to You. 

Keep in the light of Your Truth 

all those You have freed from the darkness of unbelief. 

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son.”’ 

Amen 

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