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Are we a Christian country?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by El_Guero, Sep 13, 2006.

  1. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    You aren't going to be teaching my kids history. The confusion results from the fact that you forgot there is a First Amendment to the Constitution, and the fact it was ratified well before 1800, not 1865. And, if you will go on to read the Constitution, you will see that the same division of states and federal rights exist now as they did in 1865 or 1790. There have been a few amendments, but nothing of the magnitude you claim. Your claim to consolidated states in 1865 is flawed. The amendments as a result of 1865 and shortly thereafter address Americans being treated the same (human beings), not states rights, or do you have a problem with that?[​IMG]
     
    #21 saturneptune, Sep 14, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 14, 2006
  2. El_Guero

    El_Guero New Member

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    **Insult removed**

    This is from memory - and American history was a long time ago.

    1840 was when the last state got rid of its state church.

    State's rights and the right of secession led to the secession of the southern states and then the war between the states. The war itself changed the right or ability of a state to secede. For some reason, I remember a law or two being added at about that time as well.

    Much of the political process of the time took place in papers and in the Congress. Expecting all of our political process to take place as a Constitutional Amendment is not only narrow, it would be extremely expensive.

    IMHO.

     
    #22 El_Guero, Sep 14, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 16, 2006
  3. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    The fact remains the First Amendment was in place in 1790. If you have a problem with the results of the Civil War, that is your problem, and no, you also stay away from teaching.
     
  4. El_Guero

    El_Guero New Member

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    Didn't say that I had a problem with the 'outcome', but you sure do.

    ;)

    :godisgood:
     
  5. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    There is no problem with the outcome of the Civil War and what it produced in this country. States still have rights, the same ones they had when our Constitution was ratified. The rights of states to mistreat people should have been taken away. You know, certain things are federal issues, like border control, defense of the nation. If you dont like the way our nation is governed, there are many other nations around.[​IMG]
     
    #25 saturneptune, Sep 14, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 14, 2006
  6. StraightAndNarrow

    StraightAndNarrow Active Member

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    What states had an established church?
     
    #26 StraightAndNarrow, Sep 14, 2006
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  7. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    [offfensive language removed] Not only are there many more states, and some division of states, differering from 1790 and 1865, but there certainly were established state churches in the first few decades and many 'rights' states had which they no longer have. It's sheer nonsense to say the divisions and rights are the same.
     
    #27 Alcott, Sep 14, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 15, 2006
  8. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    I am no historian, but in school we learned many of the colonies were founded as colonies for a particular church: Fox got PA or part of it (or Philadelphia) for the Quakers; Roger Williams and the Baptists in RI; Methodists went to GA, MD was founded as a Roman Catholic colony (and it still has lots of Catholics but not conservative ones!). That's all I can think of.

    But these were colonies, not states.
     
  9. PeterM

    PeterM Member

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    Can a "country" be christian?

    I am sure people can be, but countries?
     
  10. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    [ofensive language and personal attack removed] I said the First Amendment was the same since 1790. What state has had a state church since 1790, by the way, when it was outlawed? Again you didnt read. States rights in the Constitution are the same except for those which treat Americans unequal, and they should have lost them. Show in the Constitution where states rights are different. The comment about divisions has nothing to do with anything. The division was the split between states and federal rights. Heres your sign.
     
    #30 saturneptune, Sep 14, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 15, 2006
  11. El_Guero

    El_Guero New Member

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    ***Edited by Blackbird***
     
    #31 El_Guero, Sep 14, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 16, 2006
  12. PeterM

    PeterM Member

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    I am beginning to wonder if this is really valuable to any kingdom purpose...
     
  13. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

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    In every secular educational institution in America humanism is taught as a foundational religion whether we like it or not. One might say that humanism is the (unofficial) official religion of America now. The fastest growing religion in America is Islam, not Christianity. America is a secular nation, not a Christian nation. It never was a Christian nation, though it was founded upon the Judeo-Christian ethic. It is impossible to have a Christian nation. Christians always have been in the minority and always will be until Jesus comes and sets up his Kingdom. He said: "The world hated me; it will hate you also." We always will be the minority in any nation including America. Catholicism doesn't make America Christian, neither does Anglicism, or Congregational or any other denomination. Only born again believers are Christians, and there are comparatively very few of those.

    The only nation that can even come close to being God's nation was Israel, that was a theocracy, made by God at Mount Sinai, under the rule of Moses. But it wasn't long after that before it too fell away to a monarchy. America is not a theocracy. It is not a Christian nation. In many states Christians have to fight for their very rights.

    I am a missionary. I work in third world nations. I have done much deputation in many states across America. Some (and I repeat only some) of the Baptist churches that I have encountered were not able to have me speak in their church because their focus is on America only. They do not believe in foreign missions. America is a great mission field they say. And that is true; it is. They go on to say that until America is evangelized we can't even begin to think of the rest of the world. That is wrong theology. But I find it interesting that their concept of one of their greatest mission fields in the world is their own back yard--America. How can you be a Christian nation if you have so much to evangelize in your own nation--so much that you can't even consider the rest of the world (according to some)? If you were truly a Christian nation, the nation itself could be emptied as missionaries to other nations. There would be no need to evangelize at all in America.
    DHK
     
  14. El_Guero

    El_Guero New Member

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    DHK

    Great post!

    Thanks!

    Wayne
     
  15. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    DHK,
    That was quite an excellent post. Even in the Bible belt, on any given Sunday or Wednesday, the vast majority of people are not in church, there is a large percent of that living on the government and perscription drugs. There is such a need for missions overseas, and sadly, here also.

    Having said that, maybe you know since you seem quite knowledgeable, several on this board have said that states of the United States (state goernments) had a form of theocracy after 1790 when the First Amendment was in place. Do you know which states those were. The statement has been made several times without backing it up.
     
  16. blackbird

    blackbird Active Member

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    It is my belief that the USA is NOT a Christian nation----BUT---there are Christians who live here!!! Just like Canada is NOT a Christian nation--but there are Christians who live there!! And just like Mexico is not a Christian nation---but there are Christians living there!!

    On the eve of 9/11---I was in Washington, DC with a group of SB Pastors---we did not foresee what was about to happen the day following our visit---but while there that nite(9/10) we walked the steps of the Capital building---looked out over Pennsylvania Ave. that nite---the lights of Washington was awesome----we looked at each other and said to ourselves

    Lets stop here, boys----and just get with God about our country!! We're in bad spiritual shape---and only God can turn us around!!

    It was an awesome thing----to live in a country that recieves plural gods---that we prayed to the only true one---the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob---the great El-Shadai---Jehovah---Elohim--Creator of the universe---The Lord Jesus Christ--the Savior of men!!!

    Funny---I can go to downtown Mexico City and pray to the same God as I prayed to on our Capitol steps-----I can pray to Jehovah--the great God and His Father---in Red Square Moscow, Russia or in Berlin, Germany

    No---we are not a Christian country---but we have Christians living here!!!

    Blackbird
     
  17. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    I agree with Blackbird.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
  18. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

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    No one has ever disputed that fact.
     
  19. ituttut

    ituttut New Member

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    Like Israel was the kingdom nation.
     
  20. gekko

    gekko New Member

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    no america is not a christian country

    umm. yes america is that religious.

    no its not statistical hype
    ---

    why do i think this?

    how many religons are in america? mormon, JW, catholic, moslim, buddhist, hari krishna, atheist, evolutionist, etc.

    how many christians are there? umm. after sifting through the good and the bad fish. not a whole lot of christians.
    but that's not my job to say true and who's not. but scripture statistics say there are few true and lots of goats.

    or is it that you include christianity in the religion category? lol. still in that rut?
    ack. get out of that.

    christianity is not a religion it is a lifestyle.
    religion says you must follow God
    christianity says you desire to follow God.

    that's my two cents.
    God bless
     
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