Some of my thoughts on the idea of a “Christian” nation:

Jesus was given over to the Roman overlords by a subset of his own people who, among other things, disagreed with his gripes against some of the religious leaders. Jesus’ teachings against the hypocrisy of some of those leaders taking money from the poorer people for their own needs no doubt made them feel less than graceful toward Jesus.

I was raised in a loving evangelical Southern Baptist church. They were there for my family when my father died as I was entering adolescence. They provided Bible teaching as well as games in youth fellowships when I was struggling to find meaning while plagued by youthful questions and doubts.

Their foundational love helped me survive a divorce and other ups and downs of young adult life. As much as anyone, I cherish those Christian teachings and the love that sustained me.

I have no doubt that Christians and their churches in America will survive and potentially grow because of our message of love and caring and hope—not because of allegiance to some kind of national church.

One of our sources of pride is the haven that this country has given, not always gracefully, but nevertheless has given, to any person obeying our civil laws, no matter their religion or lack of it.

What worries me is any thinking that we must make America a “Christian” nation by some decree or by academic courses in our public schools or by proclaiming the Christian religion as our national religion. No nation is Christan. The only Christian “nation” is the fellowship of those who attempt to follow Jesus. To suppose we need some kind of national affirmation is leaning toward those terrible years when people calling themselves Christian burned at the stake others calling themselves Christians.

Some observers thought that when the nation began with freedom of religion, we would soon become a nation of no religion, some sort of godless hell.

Instead, Americans became even more religious than the countries from which they had come.

My view is that if you want Christianity to thrive in America, make it compete. Make it prove itself. No political help; just strive with words, and even more, with love that rescues drunkards and feeds the hungry and gives shelter to the homeless.