Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Only Two? Examining the Nations Founded on Christian Principles

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.

  

No comments:

Post a Comment