America’s founding is a topic that has been debated since its experimental creation. Scholars often hold contentious discussions about the initial founding based on the declared independence from Great Britain in the 1770’s, or the founding of the nation during colonial governance in the 1600’s. Some dispute the separation of America from Great Britain being the founding of what we now know as the United States of America, and state that the creation of a constitution order in the 1780’s and 1790’s as the true founding. Gary DeMar is quoted saying, our “nation begins not in 1776, but more than one hundred fifty years earlier.” (DeMar, America’s Christian Heritage, p. 13.) The Question to ask is not what was the original founding of this great nation, but was the founding of America (at its conception and inception) done so with Christian influences?
While America did not form a theocracy, which would be the existential answer to the question about a true Christian-American founding, the founding was shaped with Christian moral truths. (Heritage). The nation more importantly, was formed in a way that was accepting and hospitable to the Christian faith, as well as the practitioners of many other religions. A key document scholars look to in their search for the truth of America’s founding, is the Charter of Liberties and Frame of Government of the Province of Pennsylvania in 1681, beginning by clearly stating God ordained the government and quotes Romans 13. Article 38 boldly lists “offenses against God” may be punished, including the following:
“Swearing, cursing, lying, profane talking, drunkenness, drinking of health, obscene words, incest, sodomy…stage-plays, cards, dice, May-games, gamesters, masques, revels, bull-baiting, cock-fighting, bear-baiting, and the like, which excite the people to rudeness, cruelty, looseness, and irreligion.” (Ibid., pp. 86–119).
The most important document we can cite and analyze, would be the Declaration of Independence. The declaration was produced by the Continental Congress during the War for Independence, proclaiming, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The text of the document also references “the laws of nature and of nature’s God” and the document closes by “appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world.” Following the declaration, the Constitution identifies a higher-being very few times. As analyzed by the Heritage Foundation, there are many hints that America is a Christian nation (e.q., a pocket veto occurs 10 days after a bill is passed by Congress, Sundays excepted), but these seem to be more than balanced by the Article VI’s prohibition of religious tests for federal offices. The only specific mention of God is found in the date of the Constitution written as: “in the Year of our Lord 1787.” More clearly the Constitution became in some scholar’s thoughts a “Godless Constitution,” once the first amendment was declared by “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” Even with so many contradictions and ‘reeling-back’ of Christian ideology throughout historical documents, Tim LaHaye concludes, John Adams was “deeply committed to Jesus Christ and the use of Biblical principles in governing the nation,” and George Washington, if he was alive today, “would freely associate with the Bible-believing branch of evangelical Christianity that is having such a positive influence upon our nation.”
George Washington, America’s first President, famously said in his 1789 Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, “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…” (Thanksgiving Day Proclamation). James Wells said it best, The extraordinary depth of Patrick Henry’s religious convictions is all but impossible to overestimate. Throughout his long and varied career, Henry’s guiding principle, in both his political and private life was his idea of what course action would best fulfill his Christian obligations. While still a young man, Henry said of the Bible, “This book is worth all of the books that ever were printed…” Patrick Henry is said to have stated that religion to him, is over higher importance than politics, continuing to say his Christian reputation compared to reputation in the political sphere, is more important.
Evidence is prevalent that there was an influence of Christian thought and beliefs into the American foundation, and many steps-taken in which the Founder’s personal spiritual views inform contemporary and legal political thought and debate. One of the most hotly contested contemporary political issues is healthcare. Not even getting into the debate of Obamacare or its legal name, the Affordable Care Act, the discussion over pre-existing conditions and mandated coverage by insurance companies, is a point of heightened civil-discourse. The bible says “thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matt 22:39) This is commonly used by the current left to justify the act of having federal interference and regulations on private companies, in this case healthcare suppliers and insurance providers. The modern-day left promises or promotes healthcare for all, covering of pre-existing conditions, and mandated coverage for certain medications by employers or insurance plans. In a somewhat non-subtle way, the liberal left uses Christian ideology against the modern-day right due to their overt Christian political thought that shows in many of its current policy decisions. By the right, the Republicans, for the most part using Christian thought to make its decisions on abortion rights and gay-marriage, the Democrats have used Christian teachings to debate and fight the right when it comes to healthcare. By saying that Jesus taught love of all, and the teachings of Matthew in the Bible, thy neighbor should be treated as yourself, with love, compassion, and in this sense, benefits.
It is true, that Jesus and the Bible teach us that we are to love one another and to help those around you. What is not clearly stated is does this mean we as a people, or we as nations entirely and the leaders of said nation. To analyze this very difficult subject of right or wrong, lawful or unlawful, good policy or bad policy, I am going to use some analysis from William Cron and his Thesis at the Reformed Theological Seminary in 2013. A healthcare system is about the dignity of the individual and is a life and death matter, at times, regardless of whether a person is a major contributor of society, or someone who happens to be homeless. In this very broad regard, God does not make any distinctions. Healthcare is a necessity in life for all human beings, but many material possessions that are purchased in a free market are not. William Cron makes the analogy that a rich man can buy a television from an expensive and exclusive dealer, while a poor person will attempt to or only be able to purchase a television that is much smaller and from a wholesail retail outlet. Now the television manufacturer must cater to people of varying socioeconomic strata from poor to rich, in order to have a broad part of the market covered. Television sets are not necessary; they are a luxury. The case with healthcare is immensely different, as in healthcare debate, both the rich and the poor must generally acquire the same healthcare for equal needs and demands. Access to high-quality healthcare and medical treatment in a system promoting the gospel or using biblical points of view, would adhere to ethics and moral virtue.
For pre-existing conditions, a system unwilling to protect the most vulnerable, is a system of the utmost repugnance. A system of equitability would allow for equal access, while also ensuring the medical providers are compensated fairly. As William states, “the principle for such a system is that all persons may have access quality healthcare. However, affordability for healthcare rendered is based on a person’s ability to pay for delivered services. It would be inequitable and grossly unfair for healthcare professionals who have spent a great deal of time, money, energy, as well as acquiring rigorous specialized training to work for little or no compensation.” Currently we see an industry that in some ways, exist to solely make a profit regardless of their practices. This system leaves wide open rampant corruption, sin, greed, and the taking advantage of the sick and the suffering at the expense of making a profit for the insurance company or its shareholders. That is in direct violation of the biblical principle that God is not a respecter of persons, and Jesus certainly healed those who were both rich and poor, young and old, and even those outside of the nation of Israel. (William Henry Conn, Reformed Theological Seminary, June 2013). Pre-existing conditions seem to be, in Christian beliefs, covered for all, regardless of socioeconomic standing.
Christianity has wrapped itself around the political climate and landscape of America for well over 200 years. In contemporary political thought, Christianity is used to defend policy positions, and show reason for the amending and creation of new policy. The founding of our nation has traces of Christian beliefs and influence, but also is known to have made clear there should be a clear separation to ensure the acceptance of those with different beliefs to create a more free and prosperous society.