phkrause 3,693 Posted February 17, 2012 Report Share Posted February 17, 2012 In order to address the idea of what a Christian nation is, we have to define both what a nation is and what it means to be Christian. Here's an excellent article: http://religiousliberty.tv/op-ed-what-is-a-christian-nation.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CoAspen 1,381 Posted February 18, 2012 Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 enjoyed very much...thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phkrause 3,693 Posted February 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 enjoyed very much...thanks anytime Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doug yowell 11 Posted February 18, 2012 Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 In order to address the idea of what a Christian nation is, we have to define both what a nation is and what it means to be Christian. Here's an excellent article: http://religiousliberty.tv/op-ed-what-is-a-christian-nation.html The author asked some very good questions and made some very good points. He did, however, not accurately represent the Biblical OT welfare system nor the principles on which the whole theocratic system was set up on. Nor did he give a definition to the OP question.I see America as a Christian Nation with a secular form of government.If 95%+ of U.S. founders (and citizens) were "Christians" at it's founding and they all agreed to not require any test of Christianity as a legal requirement then what do we call ourselves,a non-Christian nation? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phkrause 3,693 Posted February 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Doug you make some good points. Obviously he answered it to himself, and those that will agree. I did think for myself he did a good job of answering his own question. Now as far as the welfare system I agree. He was actually using the sabbatical system (7 years) which had more to do with the land, planting and harvesting. The Jewbilee was what had more to do with the welfare, financial, etc., which was a 49 yr deal, where things went back to the original owners, etc. Not sure if he mixed the two or he really didn't know that they were different. Maybe he thought they were interchangeble? Anyway, I thought it was a very good article. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doug yowell 11 Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 The Jewbilee Hey, I never thought of it like that. I'm definitely gonna remember that! Reminded me of an old Woody (no relationship) Allen movie when WA's character was Jewish and was always reading anti-Jewish connotations into everything he heard. Jew know what I mean? Struck me as really funny. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phkrause 3,693 Posted February 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Originally Posted By: pkrause The Jewbilee Hey, I never thought of it like that. I'm definitely gonna remember that! Reminded me of an old Woody (no relationship) Allen movie when WA's character was Jewish and was always reading anti-Jewish connotations into everything he heard. Jew know what I mean? Struck me as really funny. LOL, I guess I got that spelling wrong. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doug yowell 11 Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Now as far as the welfare system I agree. He was actually using the sabbatical system (7 years) which had more to do with the land, planting and harvesting. The Jewbilee was what had more to do with the welfare, financial, etc., which was a 49 yr deal, where things went back to the original owners, etc. Not sure if he mixed the two or he really didn't know that they were different. Maybe he thought they were interchangeble? Anyway, I thought it was a very good article.Also he failed to note that the "welfare" system for the poor required them to work for the extras that the more affluent were asked to provide for them.Paul reiterates this understanding when he commands the church that the person that doesn't work doesn't eat.If the poor person is capable of working (not "widows indeed"), this system gives them dignity. I was also thinking that his claim of no requirement of payback ignored the obvious regarding loans. No interest,yes. No payback,irresponsibly no. But he did offer food for thought. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phkrause 3,693 Posted February 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Here is something I came across yesterday: Hebrew Servants Exodus 21:2-6pp -- Dt 15:12-18 21:2-11Ref -- Lev 25:39-55 2 "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything. 3 If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free. 5 "But if the servant declares, 'I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,' 6 then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life. 7 "If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as menservants do. 8 If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. 9 If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. 10 If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights. 11 If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money. This might be what he was referencing? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 1,950 Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Interesting.. >>>>10 If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shane 232 Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Quote: Some would say that a nation is simply its people and therefore a Christian nation is a nation that has a majority of Christians. If that is the case, than America is already a Christian nation. According to Gallup, 78% of Americans identified themselves as Christian in 2011. However, I think that definition is too simplistic. I like simple. Simple works for me. Why make something complicated? I think "a Christian nation is a nation that has a majority of Christians." That works for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doug yowell 11 Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Quote: Some would say that a nation is simply its people and therefore a Christian nation is a nation that has a majority of Christians. If that is the case, than America is already a Christian nation. According to Gallup, 78% of Americans identified themselves as Christian in 2011. However, I think that definition is too simplistic. I like simple. Simple works for me. Why make something complicated? I think "a Christian nation is a nation that has a majority of Christians." That works for me. THat's exactly what I was thinking and why I didn't see his optional definition. If we are subjectively defined by someone's theological application of the Scriptures (as he attempted to do) then we become exactly what our founders intentionally designed that we not be. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lazarus 320 Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 There are a lot of Christian countries then. Including Russia! The UK and France are too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shane 232 Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 Yes. Indeed there are. Hopefully there will be a few more before the Lord returns. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M. T. Cross 36 Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Nations of one religion scare the pants off of me. The islamic nations are a fine example of how bad it can go. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Naomi 825 Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 I like simple. Simple works for me. Why make something complicated? I think "a Christian nation is a nation that has a majority of Christians." That works for me. 78% is a majority ... I couldn't agree more. Thanks Shane Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Rich 0 Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 A christian nation is one who has God's Common Law as the back bone for all of their statutes and Constitution. The common law is God's law as the Maxim of law states it has no beginning and no end. Every one knew before it was written down that it was bad to murder, steal, lie, covit, and cheat on your spouse. That my friends IS the common law and God's law on how to treat fellow humans. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doug yowell 11 Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Nations of one religion scare the pants off of me. The islamic nations are a fine example of how bad it can go.I assume you mean a majority of one religion since virtually every nation has more than one religion (with the possible exception of North Korea). At it's founding, the United States was something like 98% Christian.I thought it's gone pretty well considering. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doug yowell 11 Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Nations of one religion scare the pants off of me. The islamic nations are a fine example of how bad it can go.I assume you mean a majority of one religion since virtually every nation has more than one religion (with the possible exception of North Korea). At it's founding, the United States was something like 98% Christian.I thought it's gone pretty well considering. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lazarus 320 Posted February 28, 2012 Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 At it's founding, the United States was something like 98% Christian.I thought it's gone pretty well considering. It's gone pretty well for the majority but I think Native Americans and African Americans may have a different view. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lazarus 320 Posted February 28, 2012 Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 Nations of one religion scare the pants off of me. The islamic nations are a fine example of how bad it can go. Christian nations would be comparable in how bad things can go. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phkrause 3,693 Posted February 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 Christian nations would be comparable in how bad things can go. Great point Lazarus. If we look at the Dark Ages we see a good example of supposed Christian Nations and what they are capable of. Is there a repeat in the not so distant future? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lazarus 320 Posted February 28, 2012 Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 Is there a repeat in the not so distant future? Sure. As SDA's we teach that it the apostate Christian church that is used to force people to worship the devil. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phkrause 3,693 Posted February 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 Originally Posted By: pkrause Is there a repeat in the not so distant future? Sure. As SDA's we teach that it the apostate Christian church that is used to force people to worship the devil. Exactly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M. T. Cross 36 Posted February 28, 2012 Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 Originally Posted By: EmptyCross Nations of one religion scare the pants off of me. The islamic nations are a fine example of how bad it can go. Christian nations would be comparable in how bad things can go. Indeed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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