UnChristianed Nation: What Would a U.S. Christian Nation Look Like? by Steve Dustcircle - HTML preview

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What Would a U.S. Christian Nation Look Like?

By Steve Dustcircle

What Would a U.S. Christian Nation Look Like?

By Steve Dustcircle

The founding document of the United States of America

acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus Christ because we are

a Christian nation.

- Pat Robertson

There is nothing further from the truth. America is not a

“Christian nation.” While a majority of Americans profess

themselves to be Christians, many have no clue what

Christianity actually teaches, let alone live the so-called

Christian life.

While there are many aspects of Christian doctrine—and a

variety of Christian practices—the house is still divided after

2,000 years of bickering, evolving, changing, growing,

diluting, and dying off. The Christian churches cannot agree

and settle on any firm theology except for a couple of

unimportant doctrines, and probably never will. We see this

with the formation of even newer Christian sects and cults:

Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, non-denominations, et al.

The diversity of America's Christians are diverse, everything

from fundamental theocrats to the nominal deist believer.

About the only theology they agree on is something that

simply isn't true: America is NOT a Christian nation.

Among other countries, America can be considered “blessed”

in many areas. However, America also fails miserably in

many facets. For example, America usually ranks #1, or very

close to it, in poverty, homelessness, murder, rape, child

abuse, prison population, obesity, suicide, and military

action, just to name several. We do horrible things in this

country to one another that would be considered anything but

Jesus-like.

But what was Jesus like? The four Gospels that are

considered part of the New Testament differ in some ways, as

do the extra-biblical Gospels, and many scholars even doubt

the authenticity of the stories within any or all of these

multiple Gospels. Therefore, it's really hard to tell what Jesus

was truly like, if he was an actual person who had lived

2,000 years ago.

Although the four Gospels differ and copy from each other, I

assume there would be little argument if I said that Jesus was

homeless, mystical, secretive, mysterious, wise, and maybe

even peaceful. He told Peter to put away his sword when the

guard's ear was cut off. He convinced the raging mob to

leave alone the woman they tricked into adultery. He didn't

fight back when he was captured and later beat.

We also see another side of Jesus, depending on which

Gospel you read, and which story or addition you read. He

ridiculed his family by saying his family were only those

who did his bidding. He rebuked his mother for asking him

to do a miracle at a wedding. He told his disciples that he

came to bring a sword and not peace. He said that people

who didn't bear fruit out of season deserved to whither. He

accused the most religious and ritualistic for being sinful and

sneaky. He stirred up trouble, and people killed him for it;

whether it all or in part happened or not is still being debated

even two millennium later.

But the four Gospels in the Bible are only a part of the

Christian doctrine. There are also letters by supposed

apostles of Jesus, some being written before the Gospels

were, and some being written up to 200 years after Jesus'

crucifixion, long after all eye-witnesses have died.

Modern Christians' letters, tales, copying, and evangelism are

about the only part of the nation that is remotely “Christian.”

We send Bibles overseas. We set up churches every other

block in the city. We donate money to religious

organizations. Our soup kitchens and out-reaches are almost

always religiously-affiliated. Many a daycare is church-

affiliated. We flaunt our religious side in this country, and are

quickly-offended when our religious belief is challenged.

Religion is very dear to a majority of America, be it

Christian, Muslim or Other.

But there is a dark side to this religiosity in America.

Americans are Islamophobic, mostly stemming from our

ignorance of what Muslims believe, their otherness, and the

tragedy of 9/11. Americans are also Zionists, almost seeing

Israel as another territory or state of the U.S.A.

Every President of the United States of America is obliged

since the 1940's to be loyal to this country, and we send a

substantial amount of tax money to this foreign country that

really has nothing to do with the United States besides people

in America calling America a “Christian nation,” and Israel

being seen as the Jewish people's inheritance, proclaimed by

the same Jewish texts: The Old Testament, or the Jewish

Bible. Whether you are for or against Israel, you will

probably agree that the horrors being done with “Jesus' tax

money” against the Palestinians are indescribable and

uncalled for. I feel we should fund them the amount we help

other countries, or not at all. At the very least, we should not

fund their abuses toward other nations. This is joining in their

racism, elitism, and nationalism, instead of the Jesus-like

behavior of peacekeeping and mediation.

Regarding taxes and financial concerns, we must look at the

Gospels to see how Jesus would have felt about capitalism,

government, wealth, and politicians. Jesus, according to most

or all of the Gospel accounts, had no home. He had one guy

in charge of a community purse. He did not work (in a

traditional sense of having a career). He was against the

religious organizations at the time. He was not political, and

only paid taxes once (when cornered). He continuously spoke

in riddles, analogies, and metaphors against nationalism,

politics, gender-roles, and racism. Also, remember Jesus

supposedly took a few fish and loaves of bread (twice) in the

Book of Mark and miraculously and ridiculously multiplied

it to feed 1000's and 1000's of people, for free.

Beyond the Gospels, in the sequel to the Book of Luke, the

Book of Acts mentions something even more astounding: the

members of the new Christian collective “church” were

instructed to sell all that they owned and to bring all of the

money to the Church. When a couple gave only a small

fraction of what they received from their ancient “yard sale,”

they were reportedly struck dead. Are we allowed to keep

property, savings, cars, IRA's, and other possessions in a

Christian nation? Not according to the Christian's New

Testament. Even in the Old Testament, people were allowed

to keep 90%, save for some additional gifts to “God” and

loosening slaves, animals, and servants every few years. But

not in the New Testament; “God” and his community is to

get all of it, and you'll get back an equal portion. Yes, sharing

( communism? ) is the Jesus' way.

Aside from finances, how Christians live is also quite unlike

Jesus. Sure, after 2,000 years, things have changed, but if

Christians claim that they want to live out authentic, ancient

Christianity, then they should also live as Jesus and his

followers supposedly lived. He was without a home, and

traveled with a group of like-minded people, and did things

for others without being asked.

He was without possessions or a home. Christians should

consider this when they wear their gold crosses while driving

their Cadillacs and Lincolns. Their bank accounts should not

reflect that they dwell on earthly treasures, but instead focus

on their riches in Heaven, if there is such a place.

If Heaven and afterlife rewards were truly a conviction, they

would give their bank accounts and homes for a lifestyle of

community and abandonment. The only disciple of Jesus' that

handled money turned out to be a betrayer. Jesus himself said

that entering Heaven is impossible for those with wealth.

Also, when a rich man who kept all of the Law of Moses

approached Jesus about what more he needed to do to get to

Heaven, Jesus said for him to sell all that he had and give it

to the poor. The man went away sad, because he knew, as

most self-professed Christians know, that their security in

worldly things is too great, and most would rather not enter

Heaven than give up their finances.

Banks in this country would not exist, if this were a Christian

nation. The Bible is very specific about not charging interest

when you loan money. That's in the Old Testament, yes, but

even the New Testament says not to even loan anything. If

someone asks for something, you're to give it to them. Even

in a country where people have more than their need, they

would not do this unless told to.

Jesus was also kind and the Bible speaks often of showing

mercy, kindness, and compassion. He was not a fan of the

death penalty. Being supportive of the death penalty, almost

everyone (according to Jewish Law) would be killed. There

are Old Testament laws and regulations on what hair to grow

or show, what hair to shave, when to have sex and with

whom, marriage and divorce laws, what to eat and how to

prepare it, when to go into the Temple and who cannot, what

to do with rebellious children, and the like.

Much of the laws seem tedious, but it's the Bible, and for

Christian literalists, these laws should still stand, as even

their Jesus said that none of the Law is to pass away. If a

Christian is going to point out a verse about homosexuality,

then they have to also look at the verses before and after that

particularly cherry-picked verse. There are verses about

gossiping, judgmental people, rebellious folks, thieves, and

other sorts of small-potatoes ethical crimes. If a Christian

wishes to draw judgment onto another for a sexuality

preference or slavery ownership, then they need to look at

what can be used against them, for the amount of judgment

used by them, will be used against them, per Matthew

Chapter 7.

Paul and Jesus never married, but this seems to be the goal of

every woman, man, boy and girl in this country. Paul

instructs that we should be eunuchs; that is, cutting off our

male parts. Jesus and his disciples, as far as know about the

hear-say testimonies of the Gospels writers. Only if we're

burning with passion and are about to rape someone, we

should wed, per the Bible—as ridiculous as the Bible's

teachings sound. If we look at the marriages in the Old

Testament, we see plural marriage and arranged marriages. If

we want to live a biblical life, why don't we try these silly

ideas out, instead of condemning others in our or other

countries who practice polygamy or child spouses? It's in the

Bible!

The majority of self-professed Christians in America need to

cease calling themselves Christians if they're going to be

non-Christian in their actions, speech and lifestyle. People

say they're Christians all the time, yet abuse the always-saved

doctrine by acting immorally ( immoral, according to their

doctrines and texts). You can see them at the club or the bar

getting blasted. You see them having children out of

wedlock. They divorce on a higher percentage scale than the

non-religious. They use drugs, and abuse their “temple of the

Holy Spirit” with bad diets or smoking. Can one still get into

Heaven by living this way? Some will say yes—just ask for

forgiveness. Some will say no. But no one calls out these

Christian wannabes. If I claim to be a CRIP and dress like

one, and flash gang signs, I will get called out on it, by rival

gangs or the CRIPs themselves; because I am claiming

something without being a part of it, or living it out. Same

with Christians. If one is not Christlike in their manners, then

they need to be called out on it.

To the outsider, America is being called a “Christian nation,”

because Americans keep calling it that, and people from

other countries are believing in what they're hearing. If what

Americans do is supposedly Christian, then we as a nation

look ridiculous to people of other faiths and philosophies in

other countries. It is often said in Christian circles that

individuals “might be the only Bible others will read.” This is

true. Barely anyone in Christian circles—not to mention

outside—has read the complete Bible, so what people know

about the Bible in this country and without is what Christians

say, do, and help others do.

We're collectively the richest country in the world, but we do

not care for our poor. Sure, there are some religious

organizations out there that have a weekly soup kitchen, or

the religiously-connected thrift store that donates a small

percentage of their profits, or the profitable hospital with a

cross on the side of the building, but our tax money doesn't

really try to alleviate the suffering of the poor. Homelessness

is rampant, joblessness is high, children still starve, women

are being evicted, and men aren't getting pensions. If this was

a Christian nation, this would not be tolerated instead of

being defended with condescension, ridicule and blame.

Almost every prophetic book in the Bible addresses caring

for those who cannot care for themselves, and to show mercy

toward them.

The U.S.A. is big on their military spending, more so than

the next 9 or 10 countries' military spending combined. 25-

50% of our Federal taxes go to this military complex in the

name of “Defense,” instead of caring for our own people. If

America was a Christian nation, we wouldn't need a defense

fund. Jesus wasn't for such a thing, and if the Christians' God

were so powerful, they shouldn't have anything to worry

about. But they do worry, because God just might not come

through for them. True Christians would have faith that God

looks out for them, instead of setting up bases in almost

every other country, or doing Crusades or Inquisitions.

But then again, maybe this is how a Christian would look:

militarization. After all, Yahweh sent the Israelites in the

Bible many times into foreign lands to destroy them, burning

their goods, and take the town, sometimes keeping slaves or

girls for themselves or keeping treasures and possessions,

depending on what God supposedly told the prophet or king

at the time. Jesus himself did indeed say he came to bring a

sword. But of course, the Bible isn't clear on this, as it

contradicts itself often.

Not only dos outsiders resent our invading their countries,

they see a “Christian nation” that loves nudity. There's

nothing wrong with sexuality and the nude body, as long no

one is being forced or coerced into something they don't like

or understand. But when we say we're a Christian nation,

they assume—without reading the Bible—that this is what

Christianity is about. Or at the very least, they feel that Jesus

wouldn't promote pornography and extra-marital sexuality,

and see so-called Christians as hypocrites. By looking at our

taste for violence, drug abuse, and sexual assaults (and the

resulting prison overpopulation problem), they detest this,

just as many Americans detest things other religious

countries do. We are anything but “holy” to them.

But when you have Christian leaders that are so outspoken

on an international playing field, it yields a theocratic-

looking country. John Hagee is very pro-Israel and anti-

Islam. Pat Robertson feels that only Christians should be

politicians. The late Jerry Falwell was for an American

theocracy. The shamed Ted Haggard wanted all Americans to

become Evangelical Christians. We also have religious

leaders that continue to stifle citizen's rights, forcing them to

go along to get along.

No, the United States of America is anything but a Christian

nation, because a Christian nation would look nothing like

the country we have today, no matter how many citizens

claim to be “Christian” when a census is done. Many do not

know what being a Christian is, are ignorant of the Bible's

text, and cannot give up their comfortable lifestyles. The

term needs to be dropped from many people's lips, true

Christians need to address these wannabes, or everyone

needs to read their so-called holy book from cover to cover to

learn what it actually teaches. At most, most Americans that

claim Christianity as their religion are deists at best.

The nation was founded as a blended, multicultural, multi-

religious nation, being very careful not to mix outward

Patriotism and inward Religiosity. Religion was private,

though it was public in a corporate setting within the church's

walls. Even Jesus himself said not to pray in public to gain

attention “like the hypocrites,” but do into your closet, close

the door, and speak to him then. Only then will your prayers

be answered.

To those who wish to call America a Christian nation just

because of a percentage game, remember that Christians are

statistically decreasing. There is a growing Muslim

population in America, as well as the non-religious.

Additionally, the Mormon and Scientology numbers are

growing at a respectable rate. If we want to be futurists and

look down the road a little bit—say, a hundred or two-

hundred years—the landscape may be completely different.

Does a theocracy still sound wonderful to you if the majority

of Americans are atheists, or Mormons, or Scientologists?

What if there was a new religion that took off and exceeded

the percentages of Protestants or Catholics? What if the

doctrines and practices changed in your particular religion, to

being what you'd call “heretical?” What if the majority of the