As we answer this question, it’s important not to begin with the Declaration of Independence era (1776) as some do. For example, many point out, and rightly so, that some of the Framers of the Constitution were “religious” but not Christians. They use this argument to suggest that America was not founded on Christian principles, and that many of the founding documents in the late 1700s supported a broad range of views and beliefs rather than Christian doctrine. However, America’s roots were established much earlier.

To adequately evaluate America’s heritage, we must turn back time hundreds of years before 1776 when the seeds of our political system were being planted. The Pilgrims and Puritans, deeply committed to the Judeo-Christian faith and strongly influenced by Christian principles, emerged when the religious climate in Europe changed in the early 1500s. This was a time when many Christians returned to the authority of God’s Word and the purity of biblical doctrine. These two groups eventually arrived in America in the early 1600s. Their prayers, journals, and writings, such as the Mayflower Compact, indicate that their intent was the furtherance of the good news (Gospel) of Christ and His teachings. Therefore, we must draw the conclusion that America was influenced greatly by the Judeo-Christian faith and the Bible.

With that said, I’m hesitant to label America a “Christian nation.” Christians are followers of Christ, whereas a nation is a group of people who share a common identity, and often, a common origin. Some of the founders, such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, were not considered Christians. For this reason, America was not a Christian nation in the sense that every citizen or Founder was a Christian or was required to be one, but America is often labeled a Christian nation because her foundation was built on biblical principles and Christian character.

I’m not suggesting that the Founders were without fault, or that they were all Christians; they were human and made mistakes, but in general, most were committed to God’s wisdom when they set forth the foundation for government, and ultimately, the nation. A brief review of their last wills and testaments will confirm this. It’s amazing to see how many of these men acknowledged God and their Savior, Jesus Christ. Additionally, the Founders introduced approximately 1,400 official prayer proclamations prior to 1815. (At some point, the issue of slavery often arises, and rightly so; it was, and is, a formidable mark on our nation’s history. However, many Founders were opposed to slavery and diligently fought for abolition. It’s important to note this point.)

Newsweek magazine, on December 27, 1982, in an article entitled, How the Bible Made America, made this revealing statement, “historians are discovering that the Bible, perhaps even more than the Constitution, is our Founding document.” Undoubtedly, the Bible is the solid rock upon which our republic rests. For those who doubt this and believe that statements in the Declaration of Independence such as “the laws of nature and of nature’s God” were products of the enlightenment, deism, or secularism, you may want to read quotes from founders such as Alexander Hamilton, Noah Webster, John Jay, William Findley, Rufus King, and James Wilson. All attested to the fact that “the laws of nature and of nature’s God” refer to laws given by God Himself. John Quincy Adams stated that the phrase assumes the existence of a God, the moral ruler of the universe, and a rule of right and wrong. As a matter of fact, if a proposed article for the Constitution was not supported by, or rooted in the Bible, it was not considered. In their early writings, many of the Founding Fathers quoted or referenced the Bible nearly four times more than any other source. No enlightenment, deism, or secularism here—only God and His Word.