Are we a Christian nation or are we "One Nation under Vishnu?"

A Hindu priest presented the morning prayer at the U.S. Senate last week. To view it click here.

Some of you might say to me, “Andy who cares?” I care, and so do a lot of traditional Americans. “But Andy why do you care? Do you have a problem with Americans who practice Hinduism?” No, I believe in the freedom of all Americans to practice whatever religion they want. “Then what’s your problem with this Hindu priest giving the morning prayer at the U.S. Senate?”

I have two major criticisms. As a traditionalist I have a real problem with it because our country was founded by Christians who came to a consensus about the freedoms given to us by God. We have based our laws on Judeo-Christian principles. Our money says “In God we Trust.” Our pledge of allegiance says “One Nation Under God.”

Here’s a small sample of documents talking about God:

The Mayflower Compact (1620)
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1638)
The Declaration of Independence (1776)
The Constitution (1787)

These quotes from great historical figures talk about God’s place in our country:

“The right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty… The rights of the colonists as Christians may be best understood by reading and carefully studying the institutes of the great Law Giver which are to be found clearly written and promulgated in the New Testament.”
-Samuel Adams (1772)

“The propitious smiles of heaven cannot be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which heaven itself has ordained.”
-George Washington’s Inaugural Address (1787)

“I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of man.”
-Benjamin Franklin during an impasse at the Constitutional Convention (1787)

“Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits and humbly to implore His protection and favor…”
-George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation (1789)

“God who gave us life, gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that the liberties are a gift of God?”
-Thomas Jefferson on his memorial.

“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
-Patrick Henry

“The government of the United States is acknowledged by the wise and good of other nations, to be the most free, impartial and righteous government of the world; but all agree that for such a government to be sustained many years, the principles of truth and righteousness, taught in the Holy Scriptures, must be practiced. The rulers must govern in the fear of God, and the people obey the laws… A nation cannot exist without religion. France tried that and failed.” -Emma Willard, educator and historian. (1843)

“It is the duty of all nations, as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.”
-Abraham Lincoln (1861)

“That we here highly resolve… that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.” -Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address (1863)

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These are the words of our founding fathers and great historical figures. They’re not my words, they’re not the words of conservatives. These are the words from a diverse group that founded our nation with a common principle: the belief in God, and that there is freedom in Christianity.

If you need more recent proof of our nation’s heritage why don’t you look at this Joint Resolution of Congress from 1983:

“Whereas the Bible, the Word of God, has made a unique contribution in shaping the United States as a distinctive and blessed nation of people. Whereas Biblical teachings inspired concepts of civil government that are contained in our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of The United States. Whereas that renewing our knowledge of, and faith in God through Holy Scriptures can strengthen us as a nation and a people. Now therefore be it resolved… that the President is authorized and requested to designate 1983 as a national “Year of the Bible” in recognition of both the formative influence the Bible has been for our nation, and our national need to study and apply the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.”

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Is there any doubt that we are a Christian nation? Not a Theocracy mind you, but a nation based on Christianity. The church does not run our country, nor would I ever advocate such a failed system of government. In fact our founding fathers fled from the dictatorship of the Church of England. Ask those who live in Iran what a Theocracy is like. It isn’t pretty. There is no freedom in a Theocracy. We are a Christian Democracy!

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The second major criticism I have with this Hindu priest offering a prayer in the U.S. Senate is that there is a continued effort to suppress Christian expression in the public arena, and organizations like the ACLU will fight to no end to see the Ten Commandments, or a picture of Jesus removed from a courthouse, but they have no problem with a Hindu prayer being offered in the halls of the U.S. Senate. The hypocrisy is rank. There is a concerted effort to take away the rights of Christians, under the banner of religious tolerance and diversity. The same groups that go after Christians in schools, in the work place, in our government will also go to great lengths to accommodate any other belief system.

It’s time Christians and non-Christians who see this hypocrisy and persecution for what it is stand up and do something about it. If we don’t, how far off will we be from a government run Theocracy (which we are not!) based on the precepts of human secularism or radical Islam, or whatever it is that the “left” deems worthy!