Now that the 2024 Presidential (General) elections are over and will soon take effect, I’d like to share my thoughts and perspective as a citizen of this nation and a follower of Jesus Christ. One of the first thoughts revolve around the idea that a follower of Jesus Christ can also be supportive of their nation, and work to integrate national ideals with the teachings and ideals of their beliefs.

The term “Christian Nationalist” has been used as a pejorative by one of the dominant American parties this year. The implications seem to indicate that this nation already has a “religion”, which is the collectivist state, and does not need or want another “religion” influencing its citizens and its laws. This sounds reasonable to reject a Christian perspective to someone who has rejected God’s standard for moral reasoning, but it's interesting to consider that this idea could only happen in a culture widely shaped by Christianity. In other words, in most cultures throughout the history of the world, religion cannot be separated from the rest of society. Their cultural majority accepts the states religion, or faces persecution which is often lethal until the population is subservient to the ruling religion. In China and other communist nations, for instance, Christians have been executed for their beliefs for decades. There is a very good online article called Church and State by John Stonestreet and Glenn Sunshine (Breakpoint.org - Colson Center) that present these thoughts in a cogent manner. I read the article with delight in how articulate the authors presented this idea of how Christianity invented the conflict between church and state.

The idea that church and state needs to be separate is a fallacy – beliefs will always drive politics and policy, regardless of the claim of reason and knowledge being the alleged cornerstone of civilization. There is so much we don’t know, and so much we think we know that we don’t. In today’s society, a poem by Alexander Pope called, “A Little Learning” is well worth remembering. To quote the first four lines:

A little learning is a dangerous thing;

Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:

There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,

And drinking largely sobers us again.

I maintain that too many have lost sight of the simple words that should give us perspective on what our civic duty is from Micah 6:8:

“He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (New American Standard)

We need to remember that there is a purpose for the government which is indicated in Scripture:

“...for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” (Romans 13:4, New American Standard)

These are ideas that America’s founders knit into our Constitution, which is the compact or agreement that we the people have with those whom we delegate governmental authority. To say that we need to have separation of these ideas from the functioning of our government is a deceitful way to change the American experiment from its moorings.

America has arguably provided more freedom, opportunity and prosperity to people than any other nation when compared to other countries. I believe this is a reflection of the way God has established His relationship with the people of this country – He does not compel us to love Him or worship Him, providing us an environment in our mind where we are free to choose His ways or reject them. This is played out in America every day, while in other countries there is a satanic emphasis on conformity to laws that are contrary to God’s desire for us to experience peace and joy, and the blessings of freely choosing to worship and honor Him above all.

I am looking forward to how our nation will embrace these timeless ideals that emanate from the love of God in the weeks and months ahead. One of those ideals that we have inherited from our Founders, and they from a Christian perspective is the ideal of personal liberty. In Christianity, liberty is always connected to accountability. Paul tells the Galatians that:

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (New American Standard)

That freedom comes with a submission to Christ, which Paul brings out a few verses later:

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (New American Standard)

So here's the principle: true freedom is always coupled with an adherence to a higher law.

America has adopted that in many ways, but maybe the simplest example is something that everyone encounters almost anytime they drive on our public roads. A traffic light is a type of a higher law that compels us to obey to enhance our safety and freedom to drive where we will. Even traffic circles and right-of-way laws embody this principle. For those that ignore these “higher laws” imposed on our freedom, it can result in a gross loss of freedom. A vehicle accident can impact a person’s freedom in many ways, such as having to find other transportation while repairs are made, a stay at a hospital to heal wounds, or even something that is lethal and ends one’s earthly life.

In the larger sense of this principle, however, when we deviate from God’s laws in any nation that has integrated His laws, we can suffer a much greater loss of freedom, and with it consequences. History has many examples that show freedom will not be restored unless repentant hearts return to God for forgiveness. In time this awareness that God does direct the affairs of humanity can result in the freedom to worship God and enjoy the peace, joy and prosperity that His love longs to share with us. That’s what I hope and pray for our nation and its people with the incoming administration that gives us the opportunity to value life and become better caretakers of this world, its people and resources where He has placed us at this time in human history.