America Is A Christian Nation

Bottom Line Up Front: We stand to defend religious liberty and reassert that acknowledging our Christian heritage is a strength, not a violation. We oppose any Colorado statute that would force Christians (or any faith group) to violate core tenets (e.g. forcing medical staff to participate in abortions despite conscience or mandating ideological training contrary to faith). America is a Christian nation in heritage and values, and in Colorado we will promote policies reflecting those time-tested values – compassion, strong families, honest governance – all rooted in biblical truth.

 

a. Biblical & Historical Foundations: America’s identity as a “Christian nation” refers to our civilizational heritage built on biblical values – charity, justice, and the inherent worth of each person. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people”. Our forefathers – largely Christians – established laws reflecting biblical morality (against theft, perjury, murder, etc.). Early national documents openly honor God. The U.S. Supreme Court once observed that “this is a Christian nation” in a historical sense (Church of the Holy Trinity v. U.S., 1892), recognizing the pervasive influence of Christianity on our culture and common law. While Americans enjoy freedom of religion, the predominant values shaping our founding were Christian. John Jay, the first Chief Justice, noted that “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty…of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” This was not to establish a theocracy, but to affirm the cultural truth that biblical ethics produce good leaders and just laws.

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b. Constitutional Originalism: Nowhere did the Founders mandate secularism in government. The First Amendment simply prevents an official church. The original understanding tolerated public prayer, chaplains, and “In God We Trust.” Our laws (from blue laws to charity institutions) were long infused with Christian ethics. We uphold that heritage against revisionism. Patriotism and faith are linked – the Declaration’s assertion that all men are created equal and endowed by a Creator is a profoundly Christian idea. To be a “Christian nation” means we acknowledge the source of our rights and moral order as rooted in Scripture and natural law.

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c. Colorado Policy Conflicts: Colorado’s government today often behaves as if secularism were the state religion – scrubbing public discourse of Christian references. Recent state curricula and policies sometimes downplay the positive role of Christianity in American history, focusing only on failures. This undercuts students’ understanding of our founding principles. Moreover, Colorado has passed laws that conflict with Christian convictions – for instance, compelling religious businesses and nonprofits to act against their beliefs in certain cases. See also Rebuke of HB25-1312.