An Interview with David Barton
What is the greatest threat that you see facing America concerning church-state issues?
Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. . . . [I]f the next centennial does not find us a great nation . . . it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.
We believers who “represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation” certainly have not done a good job “in controlling the political forces.” Despite the 80 percent increase in evangelical voter turnout in 2004 (from 15 million in 2000, to 27.1 million in 2004), nearly 55 percent of America’s 60 million evangelicals still did not vote in the 2004 election. (Can you imagine how different the culture of America might now be if the remaining 33 million evangelical Christians voted their values, and elected leaders at all levels who embraced their values?) Therefore, if righteousness does not prevail in the public policies of our nation (or state or city), and if Congress (and state legislatures and city councils) continues to be out of step with the values of “We the People,” it will be our own fault.
What can Christians do to return the U.S. to a “Christian nation?’
This is a question that should not be answered without first defining what a “Christian nation” is. Yet, in many ways, it is easier to define what a Christian nation is not than what it is. There are two things it is not.
First, contrary to the fears raised by secularists and the pejoratives used by the political left, a modern Christian nation is not coercive. No, Christians do not want to force everyone to pray; and they will not pass a law that everyone must attend church, etc. Too many today think of a “Christian nation” in terms of the historical “Christian nations” of Europe: Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Sweden, France (during the time of American exploration and discovery), etc. But our Founders endeavored to make clear that American Christianity was not like that in Europe.