Are we a Christian Nation?

There has been a lot of talk lately after President Obama said we are not a Christian Nation during a speech in Turkey. Personally, I think he was trying to say something quite different than what some on the "right" are making it out to be. He is speaking in a country which does not tolerate any other religion other than Muslim. I believe the point he was trying to make is that in the United States a person has the freedom to whatever religion. He just said it poorly.

Regardless, it has made me think about the United States being a Christian Nation. I am not sure I want the world to look at us as a Christian Nation. Think about the consequences of being known as a Christian Nation by the world.

The world sees what comes out of the United States from leaders, media and Hollywood that are not of the highest moral standard. Then the world hears us call the United States a Christian Nation. The perception of Christianity the world gets from the U.S. is a false description of what Jesus calls us to be.

The perception of Christianity may look like this to the rest of the world based on what they see coming out of the United States:

Christians Pursue wealth at any cost allowing greed to drive them to the point of corruption and enormous dept. Christians are pro-homosexuality, pro-choice and pro-sexual promiscuity. Christians are arrogant and self-seeking. Christianity has no boundaries-"believe what you want to believe because there are no absolute truths." Christianity is about power and prestige and very self-promoting.

So, do we really want to be known as a Christian Nation?

Only if it looks like Jesus. Being a Christian or Christian Nation is more than just making that proclamation. The first time the word "Christian" was used it carried a lot of meaning. It described people who followed the way of Jesus. It did not describe a religion or people who went to church. It was descriptive of the people who made up the church.

Instead of self-proclaiming ourselves or our nation as Christian, let's start living like Jesus and the description will follow.