God and Americans – The Hugh Hewitt Show

We’ve seen good Americans and bad Americans.  As the political power in this nation derives from the people, so too does its civility and incivility, its nice or not nice status, its morality or lack thereof, its goodness or evil.  America is us – it is not Donald J. Trump, or Barack Obama.  It is not Tennessee or California – it is us.  How this nation is defined and viewed is all about its people.  Who we are is the fundamental question and that means our religion matters.

Our government does does not align itself with any particular religion.  Similarly, it does not deny the practice of any particular religion.  In point of fact our nation is designed specifically to allow religion to thrive, in all its forms.  It is designed that way specifically because as a nation we believe that religion makes us better people and better people make a better nation.

That said, our nation is historically considered Christian.  Many of those that settled this continent came specifically to find a space where they could practice their new and perhaps unique Christian expression.  Christianity, in all its expressions, has thrived here more than any other nation on earth.  No, we do not have an established national religion, but our people, historically are Christian, at least in shared morality if not shared theology.

A situation like that does not happen by accident.  As intelligent design seems almost intuitively obvious, so to does some supernatural providence in the founding of our nation.  But more importantly this nation happened because it is “well seasoned.”  Jesus said:

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

It does not take a majority of salt to season our food and but a single lamp can light a room.  There is probably more Christian disagreement on our nation than agreement.  In recent years there is much denial of Christianity generally.  But there remains those that are faithful and they still define this nation.

This particular Sunday is the day after we have celebrated our 250th anniversary – a major milestone.  I cannot think of a better way to continue the celebration than with church – to retain our saltiness and to recharge our lamps.  And then to head out into the world to provide flavor and light.