| No Longer a Christian Nation | ||
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Written by Douglas Roy and Rev. Stephen Brown, April 19th,
2007 In early Christendom, under the Roman Empire, believers in Christ spread the gospel of peace to all people. Many thousands of Christians were mislabeled as enemies of the state and rounded up and killed on crosses and in the Arena. Being a Christian and a soldier were contrary positions. Killing one's fellow man for the Empire of Rome or any empire was considered murder. It was also required of Roman soldiers to confess allegiance to the emperor and bow down to him and other Roman gods. Such things were anathema to a believer. Roman solders that became Christians were many times killed because they would no longer bow to Roman gods or kill in their conquering wars. As Christianity spread through the world and affected so many people, including the rulers, some nation's leaders declared their country's to be "Christian," promoting the gospel of Christ and not wanting to war and conquer others. Unfortunately, as other states persisted in their warring ways, they would attack and destroy many innocents. Augustine of Hippo addressed this problem by defining a Christian nation or state's position of defense wherein they could have a military to defend themselves from being butchered or captured as slaves. No offensive or preemptive war was permitted, as it would be outright murder. Only true combatants could be killed, any willful killing of noncombatants was still considered murder. Since our inception in the 1700's, the United States was not considered any thing other than a Christian state. Though not directly declared by law, our Lawmakers and Judges and Presidents recognized the precepts of Christianity. Prayer was part of every proceeding and the Holy Bible emulated. The laws of our Constitution were made with Christian principles in mind, including the need for checks and balances among the lawmakers and leaders due to the corrupted nature of man. The corruption seen in history when the Catholic Church was rooted in the government was recognized and abhorred by our founders, along with the more recent persecutions in Britain and the American colonies against those sects not favored by the authorities, thus basic freedoms given by God to men were recognized in the Bill of Rights. Christianity was given free course among the people without interference by government control or edict and Christianity in general was supported with such things like a day of fasting and prayer, a national day of prayer, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, chaplains for the Senate and House and our military. It is clear in our Constitution that the military was only intended for "the national defense," a chief principle of "just war." Our leaders and armies that have fought in war since our inception have kept in mind the principles of Just War that were further enunciated by many Christian leaders throughout the centuries. But in the last fifty years or so, many Americans and particularly our leaders have been turning away from the God of our Fathers. In 1963 our Supreme Court Justices declared by majority vote that Bible reading and prayer in public schools was harmful to minorities of unbelievers and thus a government stand against prayer or Bible reading in public schools began ("Let the little children come unto me and forbid them not…" Christ) and religious plurality was embraced by the government. No longer were we a Christian nation. Further erosions of Christian principles began to occur. In 1973, the killing of babies within the mother's womb was made legal. Not by the Legislatures, who had laws against such acts in almost all the states of the Union, but again, by the Supreme Court Justices. This ruling has stood for 34 years while millions of innocent babies have been butchered in the wombs of American mothers. This killing of innocents supported by the government of the United States along with the rejection of prayer for our public school children are sure signs of a government turned away from God. Thus, I have no trouble declaring America to be a pagan, pluralistic government, no longer recognizing the Christian way as the bulwark of our Constitution and laws. The Vietnam War fought during that era was seen by many as an unjust conflict where "just war" precepts began to be thrown out the window by many of our leaders. How can a nation that has forsaken Christian principles in its laws be considered a Christian nation any longer? Many of the right wing Evangelicals argue that since our nation was founded on Christian principles, it is still a Christian nation. Laws, however, as noted above and many more violate the very core of Biblical morality. No matter how hard some people try to reject this truth, America has become a pagan nation. Those who consider themselves "Christians," and recognize and accept the fallen state of our nation, should no longer support this nation's wars or the participation of it's Christian youth in the military. The current war in Iraq initiated by deception and carried out with many and continuing violations of Just War precepts is only further evidence of America's pagan status. The institution of pre-emptive war, torture, the imprisonment of alleged enemies without habeas corpus (the right to see an impartial judge that hears the evidence given against that person to justify such imprisonment), targeting and killing of non-combatants, killing of the wounded, use of depleted uranium shells that poison the environment and the people, and other such acts only make it too clear the pagan style of warfare that America has now embraced. It will get worse. Christian or God-fearing person, is God calling you to follow his Son Jesus Christ? How can you do so if you join or continue to participate in America's army? You will be required to violate your Christian conscience in order to obey your commanders. Whether you fight or assist those doing so, you participate in unjust killing of human beings that have done you or your nation no harm. It can be argued that Christians should not participate in any type of warfare, regardless of their nation's status, but for current Christ professing churches to advocate this pre-emptive war that so clearly violates other principles of "Just War Doctrine," only reveals their apostate position before Christ whom they have forsaken. Somehow the leaders in many of today's churches have forgotten that the only killing accepted by God is for self-defense and even that is abhorrent and exacts a horrible toll from those participating. Is there any doubt as to why there are extreme numbers of soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Their consciences have been violated! They've been asked to believe in this war by our nation's leaders and their own churches, but their conscience and their God tells them otherwise and their souls are forever changed, damaged. Americans, repent and turn back to God by his grace extended to you. Christians, believe the truth and repent of your ungodly support of evil wars. Take a stand for your God, not by killing, but spreading the truth of his gospel. Learn what the gospel really is and obey it by the grace of the Holy Spirit. The cost of this stand to your person and your future will be significant. Many will hate you and label you a coward or traitor. You will lose friends and your family may despise you. The choice is no longer to support God and country, but whether to support God or country. That comfortable feeling of being a part of a great and good nation will no longer be possible. Our great nation has fallen into sin and we must pay a toll to extract it from the mire, if we are willing. Be sure whatever you do that you will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give account for your deeds. "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." It is not too late to see through this deception and turn around and help our people, one at a time, turn back to the God of our Fathers.
You can respond to Doug by email or phone. doug@dougroy.us 859-312-9421 You can contact Rev. Stephen Brown by email steve@pastorsb.com A Note of clarification (posted 2-2-09) There are many Americans who embrace Christianity and the Christ of the Bible. The actions of the government of the United States are many times, I believe, contrary to a majority of Americans who are Christians or who fear God. Because each citizen has a say in our government and possesses a great deal of freedom, a greater responsibility lies upon each individual. This article is not meant in any way to disparage the great Christian heritage that lies at the heart of our country's foundation, nor has every facet of Christian influence in government been removed. The current course in our government away from God can be changed by the help of God and the response of God fearing Americans, as our national motto still proclaims "In God We Trust."
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