A Presbyterian Nation, Thank You
Larry V. R. Bunnell July/August 1998 Pronouncements that the United States of America is a Christian nation are fascinating. They sprout like mushrooms after a bad rain, especially around Independence Day and the National Day of Prayer, and usually from the lips of irreligious politicians.In fact, the historical evidence conclusively proves that the United States is not a Christian nation but, more specifically, a Presbyterian one.
To begin, during the Revolution's tumult a member of Britain's House of Lords said, "Our American cousin has run off with a Presbyterian parson." King George called the insurrection in the Americas "that Presbyterian revolt." Britain's ruling elite certainly knew where was the heart of the revolution.
Most who signed the Declaration of Independence were Presbyterians. In fact, the only clergy to sign the Declaration was John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian. Presbyterian churches even held rallies against the British government and stored arms for the Revolution.
The United States government, like the Presbyterian system, is built upon an ascending ladder of judicatories. City government is a copy of the Presbyterian session, county government is modeled after the presbytery, state legislatures were patterned after the Presbyterian synod, and the General Assembly was the model for the national legislature.
These facts (and many other facts not listed) show that the United States of America would not have been possible without the influence of Presbyterians fueled by a Calvinistic cosmology. Calvin taught that the individual was of import because the individual was elected by God for salvation. Without such an emphasis on the individual there could not have been the American Revolution.
With these facts before us, and taking a cue from those who assert that this nation is a Christian nation, perhaps we ought to follow these steps.
We should declare ourselves a Presbyterian nation. We should elect Presbyterian legislators, Presbyterian elders especially. In our schools we should employ only Presbyterian teachers. Presbyterian history and doctrine should be the basis of our system of education, and teachers should read Presbyterian written prayers (especially Calvin's) every school day. We should be allowed to erect Presbyterian symbols on government property, and tax dollars should be given to Presbyterian schools. Presbyterian morals should be enforced by law.
Certainly God cannot protect us if we do not acknowledge our roots and return to the Presbyterian values that made America a chosen nation. We can never be restored to God's favor if we remain merely a generic Christian country. For God to restore us to greatness, we need to return to our specific roots, no matter who might be left out.
God bless (Presbyterian) America!
Reverend Larry V. R. Bunnell is pastor of the Peace Memorial Presbyterian Church in Klamath Falls, Oregon.