“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” ~ Matthew 5:48

The human mind is a fascinating organ. Aside from being the control center for the body that houses it, it is because of our ability to think that we have cars, airplanes, computers, and all the other gadgets and gizmos that make our day-to-day lives easier. That is why I find it so bewildering that people are not able to look at the issues that face us with the same critical thinking skills that have given us all these technological advancements. The thing is, I shouldn’t find it bewildering; I too was just like that; until I freed my mind of the shackles of its ignorance and taught it how to think critically.

There are so many descriptions of what critical thinking is that I figured I may as well come up with my own. I describe it as: The setting aside of bias and prejudice to use pure logic and reasoning, along with a thorough examination of facts and evidence, when forming opinions or beliefs. I once heard someone say that, if you cannot support your position with facts and evidence, then your position is NOT the result of critical thinking. At the time, that did not mean anything to me; however, now I find it quite apropos to the world we live in.

I think now would be a good time to repeat a Thomas Edison quote I have used in the past, “Five percent of the people think; ten percent of the people think they think; and the other eighty-five percent would rather die than think.” It is my belief that the 5% that Edison referred to are those who think critically; while the 10% who think they think are those who base their opinions upon what they hear on the news. The remaining 85% are those who are beyond hope; those who willingly choose ignorance over any semblance of thought. I have taken to calling those who fall into this percentile the walking brain dead. I know that’s not a nice thing to say, but it certainly fits.

For years I’d had some concerns that the ability to think critically was a diminishing skill, but that’s all they were, concerns. However, the recent Covid scandemic removed all doubt; I’m convinced that critical thinking is in such short supply that those who are capable of doing it are worthy of being classified as an endangered species. Yet, this essay is not about Covid; it is about something far more controversial; something that is liable to raise the ire of those who have not given the subject much thought.

Before I tell you what that subject is, I would like to preface it with a few short statements. Do you (people in general) believe that, simply by saying something, it makes it so? I could ‘say’ that I am 6’ 6” tall, but that does not change the fact that I am only 5’ 7”. You could ‘say’ that you are the Prime Minister of Great Britain, but that does not make you the Prime Minister of anything. The point I’m trying to get at is; people can say all kinds of things, but just by saying them does not make them true. The same is true when people say that America is a Christian nation; that our system of government was founded upon Christian principles. People can say that all they want (and they do it all the time) but can they prove it? The sad thing is, people have been so indoctrinated into believing it that they become quite angry when someone comes along with evidence which proves their beliefs wrong.

Well, if that describes you, then get ready to get angry…

Let’s take this one step at a time. In 2021, 63% of Americans identified their religious beliefs as being Christian. I believe that number has dropped somewhat since then, but the point is, more than half the people in this country call themselves Christian. But, using the aforementioned train of thought, does simply saying something make it true?

If you claim to be Christian, then you should be somewhat familiar with what the Bible says; particularly the New Testament, right? Therefore, you should be familiar with something Christ said, As Christ told us, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

So, just because one calls themselves a Christian, does not necessarily mean that they are living their lives according to Christ’s teachings; for as Christ also said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) I have met many people who, while they were at church, were among the most pious people I have ever met. However, it seemed as if, upon exiting the chapel, they left their piety on the pew.

While there may be those who disagree with me on this, I do not think that Christianity is something you pull out of the closet and wear only on Sunday; I believe it to be a lifestyle in accordance with God’s Holy Word. I base that upon something the apostle Paul said in his epistle to the Romans, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that I am perfect either, I struggle daily to live up to Christ’s admonition to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48) The point I’m trying to make is that, if you are going to call yourself a Christian, then you should try to live your life, (to the best of your ability), according to Christ’s teachings; you should not leave your Christianity in church. As an example of what I mean by all this; Do you think Christ’s sacrifice on behalf of us would have been acceptable had he only lived a sinless life on the Sabbath? Christ’s entire life was sinless, and it is His example we should try our best to follow; even if we all fall short of it.

Now that I’ve spoken about how calling one’s self a Christian does not necessarily make them one; ensure their entrance into heaven, let’s move on to the question of whether America is, in fact, a Christian nation.

So, if an individual claims to be Christian, but does not attempt to live their life according to the teachings found in Scripture, cannot the same principle be applied to a society? I know people are not going to like this, but a societies moral values is a direct barometer of their dedication to the principles found in the Bible. Yahweh (God) flooded the earth, killing off all mankind aside from Noah and his family, for the wickedness He saw among men. Yahweh utterly destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness. I often wonder, if it weren’t for Christ’s atoning sacrifice, how many cities in America today might Yahweh have destroyed. For crying out loud, Las Vegas is nicknamed Sin City!!!

If, as the numbers state, 63% of Americans profess to be Christian, how is it that 85% of Americans support a woman’s right to terminate the life growing inside her womb; with only 13% opposing it for any reason whatsoever? How many tears must have been shed in heaven over the millions of unborn children who were murdered in their mothers wombs, in comparison to how much rejoicing must have been heard, and continues to be heard, among the fallen angels; chief among them, Satan?

How can we call ourselves a Christian nation while we permit this to happen? According to data, there were 1,026,700 abortions performed in the U.S. last year alone. Yet we have the audacity to say that we are a Christian country when we permit infanticide on such a massive scale!

Then, there is the fact that, according to Gallup, 71% of Americans support same sex marriage; with no reliable data being found by this author on how many support transgenderism, or those who use non-gender specific pronouns to identify themselves to others; not to mention those who identify as cats and dogs! people.

In Genesis 2, after Yahweh had finished creating heaven and earth, He created man out of the dust of the earth. (Genesis 2:7) Then, after man had given names to all the animals that Yahweh had created for his use, Yahweh created a companion for man; woman. (Genesis 2:22) Those were the only two sexes that Yahweh created; man and woman. Did Adam identify as a giraffe? Did Eve identify as a squirrel? No, they were man and woman; just as Yahweh created them.

So, as man and woman, mankind was to leave their parents, and enter into marriage (cleave unto) the opposite sex in righteousness before Yahweh, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) It was for man’s transgression that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. Then, after Yahweh had given Moses His Law, carved into stone with His own finger, Moses then gave people the rules, and punishments, they should live by if they wanted to find favor in Yahweh’s eyes.

Among those rules was that a man should not lie with another man as he does with a woman. (Leviticus 18:22) And for those who say that this law was abandoned with the coming of Christ, there is what we find in 1 Corinthians, “Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (Verses 9-10)

Yet 71% of Americans support same sex marriage. How is that even possible when 63% also claim to be Christian? I’m no mathematician, not by any stretch of the imagination, but I do know that if you add 63% to 71%, you get 134%; which is not possible when 100% includes everyone! Unless of course they are using Diebold voting machines to calculate their numbers; then it all makes sense.

I could go on and on with examples of how we act as a society proves that we are not acting according to the teachings found in Scripture, but I feel one more ought to be sufficient to convince you of the validity of my position; our thoughts on charity.

People claim that they are expressing their Christian love for others when they support government programs that redistribute wealth to those in need; saying that those who oppose these programs are cold-hearted; that they are not acting in a Christ like manner. That is merely an attempt to shame others into complying; hiding the fact that their position is actually the one in opposition to Yahweh’s will. They claim the moral high ground because they care; but if they truly cared, THEY would be taking the homeless into THEIR homes; providing for them; not demanding that others be taxed to provide for those in need.

Charity is only charity when it is voluntarily given. Even George Washington, whom I have lost most of my respect for, once said, “Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse.” (Letter to Bushrod Washington dated January 15, 1783)

Then there was what James Madison said when he spoke about the meaning behind the General Welfare Clause of the Constitution, “If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare, and are the sole and supreme judges of the general welfare, they may take the care of religion into their own hands; they may appoint teachers in every State, county and parish and pay them out of their public treasury; they may take into their own hands the education of children, establishing in like manner schools throughout the Union; they may assume the provision of the poor…” (Speech to the House of Representatives, February 3, 1792)

Those are what our founders said, but what does Scripture say? Well, for those who like to make a big noise about how they ‘care’ for those in need, there is Matthew, Chapter 6: “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” (Verses 1-4)

I am not saying we should not give, for as it states in Hebrews 13:16, “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” But it must be voluntary, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7) If it is being taken from you against your will (taxed) and given to others without it being from the goodness of your heart, it is not charity; it is theft; and if I am not mistaken, it is the 7th Commandment that states that thou shalt not steal. Even if you steal from someone for the purpose of doing good to those in need, it is still theft, and a violation of Yahweh’s Laws.

So, I think I have provided a sufficient amount of proof that, by our actions and beliefs as a society, we certainly are not living up the Christian beliefs and standards; so now let’s take a look at our system of government; is it founded upon Christian principles?

Time for you guys to earn your keep; I want you to dig out your copies of the Constitution and show me one passage, Article and Clause, where it says that the system of government it outlines is based upon Christian principles. Just one, that’s all I ask! I bet you can’t find one; because there is no reference to Yahweh, to scripture, or to morality for that matter. So, if you say that our government is founded upon Christian principles, how can you support that belief if the document that establishes it makes no mention of Yahweh’s law; which Christians ought to recognize as being superior to any law that man might enact.

Although the state government’s prior to the ratification of the Constitution, may not have been purely ‘biblical’ governments, at least they required that those who held political office take an oath professing their belief in Yahweh, in Christ, and in the holy teachings found in Scripture. However, thanks to those wonderful ‘Christian’ framers, that requirement was eliminated, “…but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the United States.” (Article 6, Clause 3) This opened the door to pagans, to Hindus, to Muslims, and to Jews; allowing them to infiltrate government and impose their views, their ideologies, upon America.

Those two points alone ought to be sufficient to prove that our system of government is not founded upon Christian principles; but since I am a strong supporter of overkill, I have a few more facts to prove that our government is not Christian; not in any sense of the word.

If Christians were seeking to establish a system of government that recognized Yahwe’s sovereignty, don’t you think they would seek out His guidance when formatting that system of government? Yet, when Ben Franklin suggested that daily prayers be held, for that express purpose, his proposal was unanimously shot down by the other delegates. Hmmm, why would Christians reject a proposal to ask their God for His divine guidance in establishing a system of government that would govern in accordance with Yahweh’s will?

Even the Preamble states that our system of government was established by We the People, for the United States of America. It does not say that it was established to ensure that Yahweh’s Law be upheld; the closest it comes to that is where it says ‘to establish justice.’ In Psalm 89 we read, “The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.” (Verse 11) Then, a few verses later, it says, “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” (Verse 14)

Justice is determined by Yahweh’s divine law; not the moral codes established by man; making any system of government that is not founded upon, or recognize, His Law, cannot be said to be a Christian government. But Neal, how can we have a system of government that is based upon Yahweh’s Law? Gee, I don’t know; why don’t we ask the inhabitants of New Haven, Connecticut, who in 1639 held a convention and established the Bible as their state constitution? But that would be a theocracy, wouldn’t it? Well, if people truly are Christian, then that should not be a problem; for they should already be living their lives according to what the teachings found in the Bible, right?

Sadly, people have been taught (indoctrinated) into believing that there is a wall of separation between church and state; that the church should not influence government, and that government should not influence, or interfere with, religion. If what people believe is true, then that barrier also prevents government from being Christian in any sense of the word, right. Then, how can anyone claim that we have a Christian government? Please explain the logic used to solve that quandary!

And to remove all doubt, there is the Treaty of Tripoli; which was signed after the Barbary Coast War during Thomas Jefferson’s tenure as president. Article 11 of that treaty states, in no un-uncertain words, “As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion…”

Well, there is my evidence. I anxiously await anyone to provide me with any proof that the people of America today, our society as a whole, or our system of government, adheres to the principles of Christianity. But please hurry; I’m getting up in years and might die before you find one shred of evidence to support your position…

April 6, 2024

~ The Author ~
Neal Ross, Student of history, politics, patriot and staunch supporter of the 2nd Amendment. Send all comments to: NealHRoss@outlook.com.

If you liked Neal’s latest column, maybe you’ll like his book: The Civil War: (The Truth You Have Not Been Told). Life continues to expand for this prolific writer and guardian of TRUE American history.