Faith & Politics: Why America is Not in Any Danger of Becoming a Christian Nation

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen". (Hebrews 11:1-3) NLT

"And it is impossible to please God without faith..."(Hebrews 11:6) NLT

"politics" (1a.) The art of science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs." -The American Heritage College Dictionary, 3^rd Ed.

_{Disclaimer: I would never attempt to bait anyone concerning his/her faith and that is not my intent here. But I do believe "Faith in what?" is a fair and valid inquiry to one who seeks my vote for leadership.}

It has been said that the former and the latter should never ever be mixed together - or else! Now in this 21^st century western civilization of American society, the 2 are making the strangest of bedfellows. The combination of faith and politics is all the rage. Just gaze at the conservative right and give an ear to the liberal left. Faith is everywhere in politics.

But faith in what?

Fear not all you heathens and the hedonistic! America is not in any real danger of becoming a Christian nation until the above question is adequately answered.

John Edwards has been the most explicit of all the 2008 presidential candidates. He's conceded in debates, "We are all sinners. We fall short, which is why we have to ask forgiveness from the Lord."

Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) is less overt in the argument of faith, but that's probably because she "comes from a tradition that is ... suspicious of people who wear their faith on their sleeves, so that alot of the talk about and advertising about faith doesn't come naturally." She said openly that she was able to overcome her husband's, former President Clinton, widely publicized extramarital romps with her faith.

Again I ask, faith in what?

Another "top-tier" Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), was quoted in an interview as saying, "I think we make a mistake when we fail to acknowledge the power of faith in people's lives, most likely remembering that this takes into account those from all faiths worldwide."

Precisely.

It is the power of the faith held by fundamentalist jihadists that they are doing [their] God a holy service that empowers men to cloak themselves in explosive garb.

Obama, according to the same piece, is an "admitted Christian". He also was quoted as saying, "Faith can heal hurts and reconcile enemies."

Faith in what?

Are we to assume that because he's an "admitted Christian" he's referring to a faith in Christ [Jesus], hence the moniker "Christian"? That would be hard to assume given his candid embrace of the 'pro-choice' euphemism for killing the unborn.

See? We have a lot of faith-talk being slung around, but no one dare lay bare the object of his faith - except perhaps Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but he's already the president of his own country.

I gave my eyes permission to peruse the pages of Obama's "Audacity of Hope" and came across page 198's offering: "It is a truism that we Americans are a religious people. According to the most recent survey, 95% of Americans believe in God..." (even devils believe in God) "...more than 2/3 belong to a church..." (going to church makes you as much a Christian about as much as going to a pet store makes you a ferret) "...37% call themselves committed Christians..."

We are a religious people as a nation. There are many religions. And yes, we have faith.

In what?

Is our American faith in our US military to "win the war in Iraq"? (Whatever that means)

Clearly our faith must be in TSA workers rifling through our underwear at the airport looking for contraband. (The truth is except the Lord watches over a city, the watchmen are watching in vain anyway.)

No wait, our American brand of faith is in our modern technology. Technology tells us what to do, when to wake up, and how to find places on the map electronically. That's it; we have iFaith.

We are not in danger of becoming a Christian nation regardless of all the public rhetoric to the contrary, and we're surely not one now. If we were, there would be prayer in schools and no issue surrounding a public display of a cross or the Ten Commandments or even "Merry Christmas". No, we are not becoming a Christian nation simply because the faith that is being touted has no identifiable object. We have faith, but where is it?

America's faith is in herself as being a world "superpower", which is why she lends that faith to others. Uncle Sam's got you covered. Just have faith.