Have Christians Started Christian Nations?

First, we need to define the word “Christian”. Today many people identify as Christians. Some nations have the word “Christian” in their political party name. But the word “Christian” was first used in the Bible (Acts 26:28) identifying those who were true followers of the Lord Jesus Christ in following His Word, the Bible.

They believed what Jesus said about Himself: God in the flesh, died on the cross to pay for all our sins, physically rose form the dead, ascended into heaven, and said He is coming back again to judge and rule the world. “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one gets to God the Father but through Me’” (John 14:6).

Today, many people who say they are “Christian” may not be real Christians at all based on the Bible. So when asking the question: Have Christians Started Christian Nations – we mean genuine Christians starting genuine Christian nations, embracing God’s moral Law.

Prior to the 16^th Century there were many such Christian nations and city-states formed by genuine Christians. But for the sake of time, we’ll only look at the 16^th century forward.

First, important to realize, just as no genuine Christian is perfect, neither should we expect any genuine Christian nation to be perfect. We also need to realize, just as there are phony “Christians”, even so there have been phony “Christian” nations, ungodly and “Christian” in name only.

Now having defined genuine individual Christians, how would we define a genuine Christian nation? A genuine Christian nation or Christian city-state would be a state governed by God’s moral Law, as defined in the Bible.

Jesus said (Mat. 5:17-18):

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the Law… I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s Law will disappear.”

In the Bible, there are two primary parts of God’s Law:

1.   God’s Ceremonial Law (sacrificial/pictorial law) – all totally fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

2.   God’s Moral Law (God’s Ten Commandments, Statutes, and Judgments) – for all people, all nations, and for all times.

In the Bible, we see three purposes for God’s moral Law:

1.   God’s moral Law is like a tutor showing the need for personal salvation (Gal. 3:24): It shows that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… and God’s penalty for sin is death” (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). No one can perfectly keep God’s moral Law and therefore can only be saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ and not by any good works: “For by grace you are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, and nothing of your own doing. It is the gift of God and not by any of your good works” (Eph. 2:8-9).

2.   God’s moral Law shows how to live a holy life, like Jesus. Jesus not only fulfilled the Ceremonial Law, but He also perfectly followed all God’s moral Law. Therefore, we can only be like Jesus when we follow God’s moral Law. Every place in the N.T. where it indicates Christians are no longer under the Law is only and always in reference to salvation and how to be saved, and thereby no longer under the judgment of the Law or the curse of the Law.

However, if the Law shows us what sin is before we’re saved, it obviously shows us what sin is to be avoided after we’re saved. “The Law is holy” (Rom. 7:12), therefore, after we’re saved, we’re being made holy when we follow God’s holy Law – “being made holy… ‘I will put My laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds’” (Heb. 10:14-16). God does not want us to ignore the Law after we’re saved – He puts His Law in our hearts and minds! God didn’t save us to be free to sin but to empower us by His Spirit to obey His Law – “so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:4). Even as “love is the fulfillment of the Law” (Rom. 13:10).

3.   God’s moral Law is to be for all civil Law, especially for ungodly people of a nation (1Tim. 1:8-11): “We know that the Law is good when used correctly. For the Law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The Law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.”

When God’s Law is used as the civil law, unlike any other civil law, it will make a city-state or nation far more civil, safe, and prosperous. God guarantees this in both the Old and New Testament. To the degree any nation applies God’s Law, to that degree it will be better off. Also, the more God’s Law is embraced by any nation the more people will tend to be saved in that nation. That’s why the Apostle Paul taught the church’s “first” priority – influence and affect all civil authorities (1Tim 2:1-4).

North and South Korea is one obvious example: North Korean law and authorities totally oppose God and His moral Law. South Korean law and authorities are more amiable to God and His moral Law. Conclusion: almost no Christians and total poverty in North Korea! Millions of Christians and prosperity in South Korea! Every nation today is blessed or cursed to the degree the church/Christians have affected their city-state or nation to honor or lack of honor God – King Jesus and His moral Law!

Jesus said He had “all authority on earth… therefore go and teach all nations… to obey all that I have commanded” (Mat. 28:18-20). For 1800 years Christians understood Jesus’ Great Commission as a national civil mandate.

Matthew Henry’s 18^th century commentary of the Bible was the most popular book after the Bible in all early American colonies. Christians fully embraced Matthew Henry’s commentary of Jesus’ Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20:

“That Christianity should be twisted in with national constitutions, that the kingdoms of the world should become Christ’s kingdoms. What is the principal intention of this commission; to disciple all nations. Matheteusate—’Admit them disciples; do your utmost to make the nations Christian nations… go, and disciple them.’ Christ the Mediator is setting up a kingdom in the world – bring the nations to be His subjects; setting up a school – bring the nations to be his scholars; raising an army for the carrying on of the war against the powers of darkness; enlist the nations of the earth under His banner.”

Not until the 20^th Century was Satan able to blind Christians and Christian leaders to miss Jesus’s clear national/civil mandate: to instruct nations/states (civil governments) to be Christian – only Christians ruling and only ruling under God – King Jesus and His moral civil Law.

Jesus said, “Pray… His will be done here on earth as it is in heaven… and seek first the Kingdom of God” (Mat. 6:33, 10). Jesus’s Church has a world changing mission: to have all people accept Jesus as Savior and all nations accept Jesus as King.

Christians, “You are the salt of the earth… you are the light of the world, a city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Mat. 5:13-14). Christians are to be the salt and light of “a city!” Only with Christians ruling under God – King Jesus and His moral civil Law – can they be the salt or light of any city.

The 16^th century Protestant Christians did not just “do” church, but they lit-up cities to be Christian cities. They transformed non-Christian cities into Christian cities. That’s why they were called Reformers. They reformed cities to be Protestant Christian cities: John Calvin lit-up Geneva, making it a Christian city following God’s moral civil Law. Huldrych Zwingli lit-up Zurich, making it a Christian city following God’s moral civil law. John Knox lit-up Edinburgh making it a Christian city and all of Scotland following God’s moral civil law. Protestant Christian Reformers were lighting up cities all over Europe making them Christian city states and nations.

This Protestant Christian State movement spread to America in the 17^th century starting Christian city-states throughout New England from Plymouth to Boston and beyond. Most all early American colony/states were started by protestant Christian church congregations. Secular educators have totally suppressed this knowledge for most of 100 years.

What did these early Christian city-states look like. Not just anyone could vote. Only professing Christians and in good standing in their church. They had to have some invested stake in the town, owning some house or property, “freeloaders” would eventually destroy a town. Anyone running for any civil office had to be a professing Christian in good standing in their church and with their hand on their Bible they pledged “… to advance the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom here on earth.”

Political “pluralism” is often promoted today as a good thing, even by ignorant Christians. But those who know their Bible know it is anti-biblical and even contrary to God’s 1^st Commandment! The colonies and early states did not legalize freedom for false religions until later into the 19^th century. Any nation honestly advocating “pluralism” is a nation historically in political transition from one religion to another.

In America’s case, we’ve been in transition from being Christian, one nation under God, to the god and religion of secular humanism, Marxist socialism, Islamism, and other competing gods and false religions. One will eventually win out and all the rest will then be outlawed. Obama and Biden both said they are out to “transform America”, and they have rapidly been doing just that. But according to Jesus, ONLY Christians are salt and light and empowered to be able to defeat the gates of hell and the god of the kingdom of darkness (Mat. 16:18). “Jesus said, ‘Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city… divided against itself will not stand’” (Mat. 12:25).

The Bible makes clear that every nation is ruled under some god and its value system and law. No less so a Christian nation will be ruled under the Lord God and His value system – King Jesus and His Law. For many generations America was recognized as being a Christian nation – “One Nation Under God”. However, that is rapidly changing. When the “god of this world” gets complete control of some nation, he never shares his authority with any other god. And neither does the Lord God share in any kind of so-called pluralism – “God will not share His glory with another” (Isa. 42:8).

Now in America some towns today are being ruled under Muslim city council members and Sharia law being honored. Any town not being ruled by Christians and under God’s Law, is being ruled by people “walking in the name of their god” (Micah 4:5), being “under the devil” (John 8:44; 1John 3:10) and his “kingdom of darkness” (Col. 1:13).

If God did not intend for Christians to rule as judges, why did He write 1 Corinthians 6:1-5, warning Christians to do exactly that? Christians should be the rulers/judges in every nation, and if not, according to 1Cor. 6:1-5, at least have their own righteous shadow government, until such time.

The Apostle Paul made it clear to “not be bound with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness?” (2Cor. 6:14). Paul is saying all unbelievers are lawless, as they are rejecting Christ and His Law. The Apostle Peter said Christians are “a holy nation” (1Peter 2:9). A nation can only be holy when holy people are ruling with God’s holy Law.

Why did the Apostle Paul write Romans 13:3-4, identifying legitimate civil rulers being only those who are righteous rulers – “rulers that are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.”

Nero, murdering Christians, had civil power but was certainly no legitimate civil servant of God. Neither was Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, nor any other so-called ruler that does not rule righteously, “…to you for good” etc.

The Apostle Peter also confirmed what Paul said, again clarifying legitimate rulers, as righteous rulers, to such we should submit: “to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right” (1Peter 2:14). Now we may submit to an unrighteous government to protect our life, like an unrighteous rubber who has the power of a gun, but only then if we’re not required to dishonor or disobey our Lord and King.

All the Apostles were jailed and beaten for not obeying or submitting to their unrighteous/illegitimate rulers (Acts 5:29): “But Peter and the apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority.’” In time most all the apostles and thousands of other Christians were martyred for not submitting to illegitimate Caesar and his unrighteous Roman civil laws, rather obeying only God’s Law and publicly declaring to do so following only their King Jesus.   

The Apostle Paul and all those traveling with him to foreign countries were accused of committing “treason… and turning the world upside down” (Acts 17:6-7): “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another King, named Jesus.”

Jesus said (Mat. 10:34): “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” The last night Jesus was with His disciples before being crucified and thereafter telling them to go disciple all nations, He said (Luke 22:36): “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.”

Our greatest weapon is always the Gospel. But there may be a time to heed all of Jesus’ instructions.

The Bible does not teach us to just pray, and hope things get better. “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22). We must be “doers” – like the leaders of Issachar who understood the times and what God’s people should do (1 Chron. 12:32).

Are you hearing all the news today! Before it is too late, we need to find likeminded Christians who will unite and mobilize to take back one city or even one small town for the Kingdom of God and our King Jesus! Historically, sweet naïve Christians have usually been too late in seeing “the writing on the wall.” Christians may need to take heed to establish Christian towns, even for the protection and survival of their own family and lives. Almost all Christians were too late in Europe in the 1930’s.

Today in America some Jews have formed their own communities to live under their own legal system, Beth Din of America. Mormons control Salt Lake City. Muslims control Dearborn and Hamtramck Michigan, working to live under their Sharia Law. Homosexuals with their anti-biblical immoral law/policies now openly control major cities in our nation. Yet there are far more Christians in most American towns than Mormons, Muslims, and Homosexuals all put together! Yet Christian don’t control even ONE town in all of America or proclaim Jesus as King and His Law!

What is the problem with Christians! Why don’t Christians control even ONE town! Why are they not salt or light of even ONE town! Where is just ONE town in America ruled by Christians under God’s Law and King Jesus – Who has “all authority on earth!” (Mat. 28:18)! Are the gods of Mormons, Muslims, or Homosexuals all greater than King Jesus? Or are only Christians blind or disobedient to their God and King?

Jesus tells us the reason we are losing our freedom and country – “salt that has lost its flavor; how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” (Mat. 5:13). Today that is exactly what is happening to Christians in America – unlike any others America, it is now open season for Christians to be “trampled underfoot by men!”

There is only one way we can change all this and “be made salty again.” We must get God’s vision for His King and Kingdom! “Where there is no vision, the people perish. But happy are those who keep God’s Law!” (Prov. 29:18).

We must get God’s vision like our Christian forefathers – our European Christian Reformers and our early American Christians who formed Christian towns everywhere for the “Kingdom of God.” Jesus commanded us to specifically “pray” for this… and to “seek first His Kingdom” (Mat. 6:10, 33).

We must get vision as Christians to at least take over the city council, the school board, as mayor, as chief of police – to fill up every civil authority. Don’t be afraid to work or run to have a Christian city with Jesus as King and His moral Law. That’s what Jesus commanded. And Jesus said (Mat. 10:16): “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” But Jesus also said, “If anyone is ashamed of Me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

We should become a “sanctuary” city for Christians! Don’t be ashamed to reestablish the Bible and God’s moral civil Law. Stop believing the lie of Satan that we need to let Satan and the ungodly share in God’s rule in any city on earth in God’s creation.

Though a non-Christian should not rule if they don’t acknowledge Jesus as King and His constitutional Law. Nonetheless, they can freely live in a Christian city-state under God’s Law and they would experience far more freedom, justice, safety, and prosperity than they ever would under any other non-Christians and their laws, just as the “strangers” (non-believers) did that left Egypt to go live with God’s people under Moses and in Israel.

Churches – rise up! Issachar leaders, where are you – rise up!

If your church or leaders don’t raise up – find other Christians who will raise up! Find other Christians to unite with, strategize with, and mobilize with to start taking back your own town for your King – Jesus. That is why Jesus said, “All authority… on earth has been given unto Me, therefore go and make disciple of all nations… and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age” (Mat. 28:18-20). Jesus did not say disciple churches or disciple disciples but rather disciple “nations” – civil rule, civil governance. For this reason and mission is why Jesus said – “I am with you!”

For what excuse will we give Jesus – “For consider your calling… God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong… God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are” (1Cor. 1:26-28).

If not you, who? If not now, when? We must unite and go forth – “For the cause of truth, humility, and righteousness!” (Ps. 45:4).