Only Two? Examining the Nations
Founded on Christian Principles
Introduction
In a world increasingly marked by secularism, moral
relativism, and the separation of church and state, the idea that an entire
nation could be founded explicitly on Christian values sounds more like a
religious ideal than a historical fact. Yet, not only has this idea been
entertained—it has been realized. For centuries, historians, theologians, and
political theorists have debated the role Christianity played in the birth of
nations. Some argue that many Western nations were implicitly Christian due to
the dominance of the church in their cultures and legal systems. Others assert
that while Christianity may have influenced a nation, it is a far cry from
being foundational. But two nations stand out as exceptions: the United States
of America and the Republic of Liberia.
Both countries were founded with overt
declarations of faith, a framework built on biblical moral law, and a vision
for a society shaped by Christian ethics. The United States, born from a desire
for religious liberty and self-governance, enshrined the notion that our rights
are "endowed by our Creator." Liberia, born from the dreams of freed
American slaves, declared gratitude to God for the blessings of the Christian
religion. These were not casual acknowledgments of faith; they were cornerstone
declarations built into the very DNA of each country’s founding documents,
institutions, and societal aims.
Understanding this claim requires us to
define what it truly means for a nation to be "founded" on
Christianity. Is it simply having a majority Christian population? That would
apply to many nations today. Is it adopting Christian ethics in law? That would
describe much of Western Europe in its post-Roman Empire evolution. Or is it
the deliberate and conscious framing of a nation's birth around biblical
principles, Christian morality, and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty? It is
this last standard that sets apart the United States and Liberia.
There are other nations, both ancient and
modern, where Christianity has played a central role. Armenia became the first
official Christian nation in 301 A.D. Georgia followed closely in 319 A.D. The
Philippines, influenced by 300 years of Spanish Catholic rule, carries deep
Christian roots. Costa Rica's constitution officially affirms Roman
Catholicism. Even modern Rwanda, in the wake of its devastating genocide, has
seen a rebirth led by Christian values of reconciliation and forgiveness.
However, these countries either adopted Christianity after their formation or
integrated it as part of a broader national identity rather than as a
foundational purpose.
This article will explore in depth the
Christian foundations of both the United States and Liberia. We will examine
their founding documents, the beliefs of their early leaders, and how biblical
principles were embedded into their governmental structures, education systems,
and societal vision. Additionally, we will touch on other nations that, while
not founded on Christianity per se, have deep Christian influences worth
recognizing. In doing so, we aim to understand the rare but powerful phenomenon
of building a nation not merely by Christians, but for the express purpose of
advancing the Christian faith.
1. The United States of America: A
Republic Built on Biblical Foundations
The American experiment in liberty was deeply
rooted in a Christian worldview. From the Pilgrims' Mayflower Compact in 1620
to the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Christian thought and biblical
values were ever-present.
·
Natural
Rights Given by God: The
Declaration of Independence boldly states that all men are "endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable Rights." This concept was
revolutionary and deeply Christian, echoing Genesis 1:27—that humans are made
in God’s image and thus possess inherent dignity.
·
Moral Law
and Biblical Ethics: The
Founding Fathers believed that liberty could not survive without morality, and
morality, in their view, came from religion—specifically Christianity. Laws
against murder, theft, perjury, and adultery mirrored the Ten Commandments.
·
Religious
Freedom: Contrary to modern
interpretations of "separation of church and state," the First
Amendment was meant to protect the church from government interference, not to
remove God from the public square. It reflected the Christian desire for
voluntary worship, not state-imposed faith.
·
Checks
and Balances Inspired by Sin Nature:
James Madison, the "Father of the Constitution," wrote that men are
not angels, and thus government must both empower and restrain human behavior. This
echoes Romans 3:23: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God."
·
Equality
Before God: Galatians 3:28
informed the early calls for equality: "There is neither Jew nor
Gentile... for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
·
Oaths and
Public Acknowledgment of God:
Swearing on the Bible and invoking God in official proceedings established a
pattern of divine accountability in governance.
·
Christian
Education: Founders like Noah
Webster and Benjamin Rush argued that the Bible should be central to education,
as it cultivated virtue essential to the Republic's survival.
2. Liberia: A Christian Nation Born
of Redemption and Purpose
Liberia was founded by freed African American
slaves, many of whom were devout Christians determined to build a nation that
honored God and offered liberty rooted in biblical truth.
·
A Nation
Created for Christian Purpose:
Settlers viewed themselves as missionaries to Africa, bringing Christianity and
civilization to a continent they had once torn from in bondage.
·
Christian
Language in the Constitution:
Liberia’s 1847 Constitution states: "Acknowledging with devout gratitude
the goodness of God in granting us the blessings of the Christian
religion..." Few national charters are this theologically explicit.
·
Christian
Leadership: Liberia’s first
president, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, was a Methodist. Many early leaders were
ministers or seminary-trained individuals committed to building a godly
society.
·
Biblical
Moral Law: Liberia’s early laws
reflected Christian ethics—honesty, fidelity, charity, and justice were pillars
of its civil code.
·
The Love
of Liberty: The national motto,
"The love of liberty brought us here," evokes the story of Exodus and
the Christian ideal of freedom through divine deliverance.
·
Education
Rooted in Scripture: Christian
missionaries founded schools where the Bible was not only allowed but central
to the curriculum.
3. Other Nations with Strong
Christian Influences (But Not Founded Explicitly on Christian Principles)
·
Armenia
& Georgia: Ancient kingdoms
that adopted Christianity early but were not formed as Christian republics in
the modern sense.
·
Costa
Rica: Has Roman Catholicism as
its official religion in the constitution.
·
The
Philippines: Christian identity
shaped by centuries of Catholic colonialism.
·
Rwanda
(Modern): Post-genocide
rebuilding centered on Christian reconciliation and moral healing.
While these nations have strong Christian
roots, none were founded in the same deliberate manner as the United States and
Liberia.
Conclusion
The question of which nations were truly
founded as Christian nations is more than an academic exercise; it is a mirror
held up to the values, beliefs, and intentions that give birth to a society.
The United States and Liberia stand alone in modern history as the two nations
consciously and deliberately founded with a Christian vision at their core.
Their founding documents reflect a direct acknowledgment of God, their legal
frameworks draw upon biblical moral law, and their leaders were men of faith
seeking to build not just free nations, but righteous ones.
The United States, with its unique blend of
liberty and faith, emerged from a biblical understanding of human dignity,
moral accountability, and the need for divine guidance in public affairs. Its
Constitution and Declaration of Independence are inseparable from the belief
that all men are created equal by God and are endowed with rights that no
government can take away. This idea, revolutionary at the time, reshaped the
modern world.
Liberia, though smaller and often overlooked
in world history, stands as an equally profound example. It was a nation
born in the hope of freedom and healing—a promised land for those once
enslaved. Its founders saw their mission not only as one of justice but of
evangelism, bringing the light of Christ to Africa. Their Christian faith was
not secondary; it was the very reason for the nation’s existence.
As we look around the globe, many nations are
shaped by Christian influence, and rightly so. But influence is not the foundation.
The difference lies in intention. Many governments were touched by
Christianity; few were built to uphold it. Many laws reflect biblical morality;
few constitutions begin by thanking God for the blessings of the Christian
religion.
It is easy in our modern era to forget or
even deny these origins. However, historical honesty demands that we acknowledge the
truth: the United States and Liberia were not accidents of Christian culture.
They were deliberate creations of Christian conviction. And while both have, at
times, strayed from their founding values, their roots remain planted in sacred
soil.
In a time when nations are drifting from the
moorings of absolute truth and divine guidance, it is worth revisiting these
extraordinary stories. They remind us that faith can shape freedom, that
liberty and morality can coexist, and that the hand of Providence has not been
idle in the affairs of men. Whether one agrees with the religious underpinnings
or not, one cannot erase them. They are carved into the foundations of two
nations that dared to build upon the Rock—and that makes all the difference.
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