The idea of neutrality is a myth.  Jesus said, “Whoever is not with Me is against Me.”  No one is non-religious.  Whatever or whoever is your ultimate source of authority is your god.  The world view you hold, derived from your authority, is your religion.  The idea of the separation of church and state has a legitimate biblical basis, but it must not be mistaken for the separation of religion and state.  Every nation will be ruled by some religion.  The source of law is the religion of the people.  The question is which religion will rule.

1. The United States was historically Christian.  Gary DeMar has demonstrated this clearly in his God and Government.  Even though the Federal Constitution was basically silent on the issue of a national religion, the states were very plain in adopting Christianity, some even requiring a belief in the doctrine of the Trinity before a person could hold office.  States, not the federal government, were considered sovereign; and the existence of Christianity as a national religion must be judged by state constitutions.  This does not mean everyone was a Christian.  However, it does mean that the laws of the Bible provided the foundation for the laws of the states and therefore the laws of the nation.
2. Since the days of our founding fathers, the United States maintained its reputation as a Christian nation until the middle part of the 20^th century.  Minority religions were always allowed in this country, with the understanding that the rules of biblical law were central to our national unity and peace; and should not be changed to accommodate other religions.  Various Christian denominations had greater or lesser influence in various states, and the concept of pluralism was a reference to Christian denominations and not to non-Christian religions.
3. The United States has moved from Christian pluralism to a nation that can only be described as polytheistic.  All gods are now equal.  The theology of egalitarianism has reduced the Christian God to being simply one god among many equal gods. However, some god always comes out ahead.  Presently, the highest of all gods is the state.  Caesar has replaced Jesus.
4. The theory of a melting pot is a myth.  If a nation does not worship the same god, then it will become a boiling pot.  In any nation, culture is simply the outworking of the religion of that nation.  A nation’s laws are rooted in its dominating religion.  Opposition to the reigning religion must always be silenced.  Christians are now afraid to speak freely outside the walls of the church.
5. The adoption of polytheism where all gods and religions are treated as equal will result in tribalism.  This is evident as we live in a day when politicians pit black against white, male against female, and rich against poor. Everything from gender, race, and income inequality is cause for dissension.
6. No religion will be satisfied until the laws of its god are the laws of the land.  The battles over abortion and homosexuality are evidence of a religious war.  Christianity lost and is losing.
7. The idea of neutrality is a myth.  Jesus said, “Whoever is not with Me is against Me.”  No one is non-religious.  Whatever or whoever is your ultimate source of authority is your god.  The world view you hold, derived from your authority, is your religion.  The idea of the separation of church and state has a legitimate biblical basis, but it must not be mistaken for the separation of religion and state.  Every nation will be ruled by some religion.  The source of law is the religion of the people.  The question is which religion will rule.
8. The idea of natural law being a sufficient basis for the laws of civil government is a myth. The civil magistrate is appointed by the God of the Bible to be a minister of justice and that justice must be defined by biblical law.
9. Changes in a nation must be bottom-up and not top-down.  It begins with evangelism and faithful covenant training of our children.  Politics is no savior.  Nations become Christian when in response to the gospel, the people voluntarily cry out for God’s law to rule over them.
10. Either a nation will bow before King Jesus or it will bowed by King Jesus.

Larry E. Ball is an Honorably Retired Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America and a CPA. He lives in Kingsport, Tennessee.