The Question of a Christian State
Is labeling a Christian state as “absolute absurdity” a valid stance? A recent piece from a Christian magazine suggests that it is.
This month, Plow Magazine presented an intriguing, if not perplexing, argument dismissing the very foundations of Western civilization as “absolute absurdity.” The essay tackles the concept of a Christian state and appears to renounce 2,000 years of established governance, seemingly succumbing to a wave of pessimism.
It seems quite insane, doesn’t it? The greatest civilizations throughout history—like the customary law in Middle Ages England, principles that formed America, and even the abolition efforts led by Wilberforce—originated from Christian principles. These societies, instead of being theocratic nightmares, flourished and enhanced human dignity by acknowledging God’s role in governance.
History presents us with recurring patterns, one of which—perhaps unfortunately—seems to reappear in America today.
Forged with Faith
In the 1700s, the colonies opposed the monarchy, believing their rights were granted by God and etched into creation itself. Sermons echoed in meeting halls, proclaiming that the king could not just be dismissed at will.
By the 1800s, the church was a crucial force behind abolition and reform movements. Preachers denounced slavery as a great sin, and abolitionists wielded the Bible alongside their petitions. Hymns like “Amazing Grace” became anthems for liberation.
Their message was straightforward: everyone is equal, as all souls bear the image of God.
Fast forward to the 1900s, Martin Luther King Jr. emerged from a similar tradition, passionately advocating for justice while grounded in faith. He cited scripture with the same ease as his historical references, linking civil rights directly to divine authority.
Indeed, every stride towards freedom in America has been wrapped in Christian ideals.
Wings, Not Shackles
Yet, today we hear that these foundations are outdated. The term “Christian state” has become a term laden with negativity, with calls to forsake the values that guided our ancestors dismissed as toxic waste. The elite, it seems, dominates public discourse, deriding the idea that any alternative to soulless secularism might lead anywhere but to despair and turmoil.
But isn’t the truth a bit murkier? Christian ideals never meant to confine; they are liberating. Justice, enriched by mercy, emphasizes individual worth irrespective of social status. Caring for the vulnerable isn’t about gaining votes, but about a moral obligation. More importantly, moral accountability is rooted in a higher law, which keeps all—be it king, president, or bureaucrat—in check.
These principles elevate humanity, leading to meaningful advancements from a society that once offered death sentences to a system that birthed hospitals, parliaments, and constitutions. From Augustine’s “City of God” through to the Magna Carta, the foundations of Western civilization rest heavily on faith.
All the freedoms we cherish today were nurtured in soil watered by faith.
The Harvest of Secularism
This notion seems to be lost on the folks at Plow. Even if America turns its back on its Christian foundations, it won’t simply find neutrality; rather, it seems a new order emerges that spins laws not for conscience but for corporate interests.
We’re witnessing this counterfeit belief unfold right now: banks are penalizing customers for “thought crimes,” corporations are selling ESG as a substitute for moral redemption, and tech giants preach virtue while harming families. Algorithms dictate who gets a voice, while credit scores and bureaucrats define right and wrong.
From here, the slippery slope only deepens. When a young boy is told he can choose to be a girl, and simultaneously, the school downplays the Bible, we see a culture that shifts from one of faith to one of despair, raising a generation plagued by confusion and discomfort.
Of course, critics erect straw men. They ask:
- Are you advocating for stoning adulterers?
- Isn’t this a ban on other religions?
- Are you attempting to impose Levitical laws?
Serious Christians won’t subscribe to such extreme claims. It’s not about theocracy; rather, it’s about updating our moral framework.
True Absurdity
A society molded by Christian ethics tends to be freer than one governed by cold, calculative power. The founders understood this well; John Adams noted that “our constitution was created only for moral and religious people. It is entirely inadequate for any other form of government.”
When we strip away moral direction, the very essence of freedom is ground into tyranny. Absent the checks that Christianity provides, power can corrupt, rights can disappear, and humanity may find itself reduced to mere cogs in someone else’s machine.
So, if Plow deems this state of affairs as “absolute absurdity,” the absurdity may actually lie with them.
Denying the impact of Christian truth on Western greatness is akin to denying the need for oxygen in our lives. We cannot sever our minds from this legacy and expect to thrive. The triumphs of the West were propelled by Christian values. Overlooking this heritage undermines the very civilization that allows such critics to express their views freely.
The sacrifices of martyrs and reformers were made so that we could engage with genuine belief, not trade it for a lifeless ideology serving only economic interests.
America’s future relies not on ideologies spun in places like Davos and Silicon Valley, but on returning to wells that never run dry.
