The Christian Nation

This is NOT about Politics! Aren't you glad? This is about our culture. I just want to comment on a few things.

First, 92% of America believes in God! And people say we aren't a Christian Nation! Well OK, just cause people believe in God doesn't amke them Christian, but still, 92% thats something isn't it?
Well we're down 6% from 1967, does that mean we are backsliding?
But in 1947 it was only 94%. Wow, and I thought the post-WWII era was very religious!


Going back just a few years to 2007 we find that only 86% were "Sure" there was a God. But maybe some of the "unsure" if pressed would say probably so.
Still less than 90% say there's a heaven! What is that about? Surely heaven is the main product that Christianity is selling. And less that 80% believe in a Hell! Well there goes the motivation for 20% of the population to check out the claims of Christianity!

2007 May 10-13 (sorted by "believe in")	Believe in	Not sure about	Don't believe in
	%	%	%
God	86	8	6
Heaven	81	8	11
Angels	75	11	14
The Devil	70	8	21
Hell	69	8	22

But again, we're talking about a basic belief in a deity. Not neccesarily YHWH, or Jehovah God, or even a basic Christian view of God. Just God. Some of these people maybe graduates of a 12 step program that allows you to pick anything for your "Higher power." Some of these may believe in the Great Omelet in the Sky! Or the Great Pumpkin!  So how do we calculate how many folks believe in God in a way similar to Jews, Christians, or even Muslims? (Muslims are only about 8 in every thousand but a case can be made that their god is somewhat similar to the Jewish understanding.)

Maybe the next Questions will shed some light:

   How often do you attend church or synagogue -- At least once a week, almost every week, about once a month, seldom, or never?

	Once a week	Almost every week	About once a month	Seldom	Never	No opin- ion
2007 Mar 26-29	35	10	10	28	16	*

Only 55% ever attend church more than "seldom". Oh wait that's church OR synagogue. So the Jews (God love 'em) are not part of this Christian Nation (except of course, they LIVE here.)

 And as for churches that would include Catholic churches which do not teach the more evangelical view of salvation and is therefore errant. Then there are the Mormon, Jehovah's witnesses and other Christian-like cults that are even more errant than the Catholics. 

Maybe the next Question helps:

Would you describe yourself as a "born again"  or evangelical?
Yes% No% No opinion% 2005 Nov 17-20 40 54 6 2004 Dec 5-8 39 55 6 2003 Nov 10-12 43 53 4 2002 Dec 9-10 46 48 6 2002 Mar 18-20 46 50 4 2001 Feb 19-21 45 49 6 2000 Aug 24-27 44 50 6 1998 Jun 22-23 44 48 8 1997 Aug 12-13 45 4 1997 Mar 24-26 43 51 6 1996 Sep 3-5 42 52 6 1995 May 11-14 39 53 8 But what does Barna mean by Born Again and Evangelical? So now we're down to 40% who call themselves "Born again"  or "evangelical." Wow, less than half. Hmmm.  This doesn't  bode well for the "We are a Christian Nation" crowd.  And gee, Evangelicals? Really? I mean those are those nominal Lutherans and Methodists that don't really believe much of  anything. Certainly not in the exclusive claims of Christ, and salvation by Grace through Faith, occuring in a  miraculous work by the Holy Spirit! So whats left?  How many Christians are there for crying out loud? Well maybe Gallup can't get us where we want to go, so let's try Barna. According to him: While more than eight out of ten (84%) view themselves  as Christian, a lesser but significant majority label them selves as a "committed Christian" (60%). Within that  framework,people’s self-identity includes 45% who  call themselves a "born again Christian," 42% who claim  to be an "evangelical Christian..."    “Born again Christians" are defined as people who  said they have made a personal commitment to Jesus  Christ - that is still important in their life today -  who ... believe when they die they will go to Heaven  because they had confessed their sins and had  accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Respondents are not  asked to describe themselves as "born again."  Well, gosh, I know of unsaved baptists that would attest  to that! “Evangelicals" meet the born again  criteria (described above) plus seven other conditions.  Those include saying their faith is very important in their  life today; believing they have a personal responsibility  to share their religious beliefs about Christ with non- Christians; believing that Satan exists;  believing that eternal salvation is possible only through  grace, not works;  believing that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth;  asserting that the Bible is accurate in all that it teaches;  and describing God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it  today. Being classified as an evangelical is not dependent upon  church attendance or the denominational affiliation of  the church attended. Respondents were not asked to  describe themselves as "evangelical." Well, OK, I guess this sounds pretty Christian to me,  and that's 42%. But Gallup said only 40% describe  themselves as 'born again' or evangelical. And when you  read Gallup's data closer you would find that some of  that 40% didn't even believe in Jesus! They defined  "born again" in their own private terms.   So, there appears to be some polling discrepancy here.  (Sounds a lot like a presidential election poll doesn't it?  BUT I'm not going there.) Taking Barna's numbers  though, we have the description of 42% of americans  who might be considered True believers. Problem is,  when I view what Jesus said,that number looks WAY  too big. Jesus said;  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is  the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to  destruction,and many there be which go in there:   Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,  which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.  (Mat 7:13-14) "Few there be that find it." Hmmm, 42% sounds like  more than a few! Jesus also said;  So the last shall be first, and the  first last: for many be called, but few chosen.  (Mat_20:16) And,  For many are called, but few are chosen.  (Mat_22:14) ______________________________________ What am I trying to say here? I guess I'm trying to say the USA is a shining city on a hill! It was founded by really sharp guys, many of whom did seem to be  Christians.  Many were deists, and various other of primarily God- believing groups.It was founded as a Republic. Where  laws could protect the disenfranchised from mob rule.  Or sometimes it did anyway, that was their goal. It was founded with representative government rather  than the divine right of Kings or despots to rule and  seize power from the people.  It was founded with an  open and free commerce system. The government may  have owned property but it wasn't actively competing  with or crippling the shopkeepers, farmers, tradespeople,  homeowners, local elected officals or churches.  It allowed ideas, even government and religious ideas,  to compete in a free market place as well as goods  and services.  It was also founded with an eye towards  common law and Biblical law. It recognized Biblical principles in commerce, philosophy, and government. It did not do all of these things perfectly because a  nation is only as good as it's people and we are not  a perfect people. These are wonderful things, however,  to be proud of. They have helped us excel beyond  many other nations on earth. (Now some would say thats a very naive opinion. They would  point to our greed and domineering attitude. To the corrupt  usage of raw materials and human resources. All of which  I would have to say we have been guilty of to some degree.  But are we so different as humans? Did not Europe, Canada,  China, Australia, etc. have raw materials and the possibility  of cheap labor? I would say yes they did. But our laws  helped us rise above using people in a demeaning way.) But, we are not a Christian Nation. And that's OK. Our constitution does not say we are Christian. It  defends the rights of all people to believe according to  their own consciences. Our laws are not all Biblical laws. Our people are not even Christian in the majority. And, there is only one Christian Nation:  The Redeemed of God, for whom Christ died, who have  been regenerated, saved, born again, and justified by the  blood of Christ. Some are here on earth. Some have  gone to be with the Lord. But it is them and them alone  who are a "chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an  holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew  forth the praises of him who hath called you out of  darkness into his marvellous light:" And that's not the USA! And that's OK.  In fact, its great to know!