Thought of the Day 04.13.09

Some people say that America can’t be a Christian nation because the freedom which stands at the core of our identity, especially freedom of religion, is incompatible with our government endorsing one particular view of truth, morality, and salvation.

But there is miles of room between a government endorsement of Christianity and a total expulsion of religious liberty. America has one flag, but Americans still express their own identities through a multitude of symbols other than this one. Even if the government buys Fords, that doesn’t stop me from driving a Honda. Similarly, affirming Christianity nationally does nothing to preclude people from disagreeing and worshipping otherwise individually.

Furthermore, Christianity values freedom and teaches forbearance toward those who disagree. After all, a pretty obvious part of loving our enemies is giving them the freedom to be our enemies in the first place. Believing all people are created equally in the image of God drives us to respect them out of egalitarian humility. Thus, far from thwarting wide freedoms for all people, Christianity is the most uniquely reliable foundation for them.