What Is a Christian Nation?

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 6, 1906

What Is a Christian Nation?

In view of the much-vaunted declaration that “this is a Christian nation,” it is instructive to note the statement made in a recent issue of The Christian Advocate (New York) that “the phrase ‘Christian country’ stands for very different things in different parts of the world.” As illustrating the truthfulness of its remark, the Advocate says:—

Mexico—while professedly a Christian country—contains millions as ignorant of genuine Christian experience and as devoid of genuine Christian practise as can well be imagined. Roman Catholics claim a right to govern all Christians, and to transform adherents of all other branches of Christianity into Roman Catholics. We believe they have no more right to do that than we have to preach the gospel to those who are plainly ignorant of the most elementary principles of Christianity or entirely neglectful of everything but ceremonies, whether they profess to be Roman Catholics, Mohammedans, pagans, Buddhists, Brahmans, or to be nothing at all.

A nation or a country is Christian when the people composing the nation are Christians in fact, and not merely in name; and when this is true, it will not be necessary to secure a decision from the Supreme Court in order that the fact shall be known. Furthermore, the more genuine Christians there are in any country, the less disposition there will be to enforce religious observances upon anybody.