A Christian Nation?

"In order for our children to survive in the world, they need a firm understanding and belief in the basic principles of sharing freedom and respect of individuality."

--Haida Gwaii, Traditional Circle of Elders

There is a contingent in the US that lives by the credo that we are a "Christian nation." It makes me wonder what they think Christ would actually say about the actions they espouse. The platform of this group seems to be that anyone - ANYONE! - that disagrees with their political agenda is going straight to hell.

It seems to me we'd be better off examining the behavior one might expect from a Christian nation. The more I think about what that might look like, the more impossible it seems, because one of the first tenets that emerge for me is this:

All humankind is in the image of God, and as such is to be respected and valued.

Now suppose that is an accepted principle. What should it mean for a nation that follows it? Well, one of the very first things that occurs to me is that it requires that differing views be respected and heard. Hence freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press. Without these, we deny the dignity of those we disagree with.

But what do we do then with the non-Christian that comes along? We must accept and value this person with views different from the (supposed) majority. Accept, value, and truly hear. That means more than let the vibrations from their vocal cords rattle our eardrums, it means listen attentively, think and contemplate what they say, and learn to live with and accept them -- they are, after all, created in God's image.

Okay, so we must accept all people. And give them a voice. What that means is that we must let everyone participate. No limitations. No "your faith must match mine."

So much for a viable "Christian nation" as it is often defined. But by the same token, if we only could truly give up any attempt at such a nation, if we could STOP demanding that everybody's beliefs conform to some ill defined set of creeds and instead include everyone equally, only then would we have a chance at a nation that actually follows the way of Christ.