Is America a Christian Nation?

A Call to Remember, Repent, and Return to God

Text: Psalm 33:12; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Romans 3:23; Mark 1:15

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” — Psalm 33:12

America stands at a crossroads.

We are a nation blessed beyond measure yet burdened by our history. A nation of extraordinary liberty yet acquainted with profound injustice. A nation that has sent missionaries around the world, yet historically struggles to live out the Gospel at home.

And so I ask, "Is America a Christian nation?"

The answer requires both gratitude and humility.

If by that question we mean that Christianity profoundly shaped America's founding—its understanding of human dignity, moral law, education, charity, and the conviction that our rights come from our Creator rather than from government—then history says yes.

But if we mean that America has always obeyed Christ, always practiced biblical justice, or enjoyed the covenant promises given to Israel, then the answer is no.

No nation is saved by its history.

No Constitution can regenerate the human heart.

No flag can wash away sin.

Only the blood of Jesus Christ can do that.

 

I. Regardless of our Beginning It does Not Guarantee a Godly Future

Our founders spoke of liberty because many believed that every human being bears the image of God.

They declared that our rights are endowed by our Creator.

Those convictions were deeply shaped by biblical truth, even as they were also influenced by political philosophy.

Yet from the very beginning, America carried a contradiction.

While proclaiming that all people are created equal, countless men, women, and children lived in slavery.

The nation proclaimed liberty with one voice while denying liberty with another.

History reminds us that noble ideals alone cannot overcome sinful hearts.

The problem was never simply political.

The problem was spiritual.

The prophet Jeremiah declared: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick."

That diagnosis applies not merely to one generation, one race, one party, or one nation.

It applies to every human heart.

 

II. We Must Tell the Truth About Our Past

Some believe that loving America requires ignoring her failures.

Others believe that acknowledging those failures requires rejecting America altogether.

Neither path reflects biblical truth.

Scripture never hides the sins of God's people.

It records the failures of Abraham.

The adultery of David.

The denial of Peter.

The persecution that was carried out by Saul before his conversion.

The Bible tells the truth because truth is the beginning of repentance.

America must do the same.

We cannot erase the wounds of slavery.

We cannot pretend that generations of human beings created in God's image were not bought and sold.

 

We cannot forget the terrible cost of the American Civil War, where more than 600,000 Americans—and by some modern estimates, closer to 750,000—lost their lives in a conflict that tore families, churches, and communities apart.

Those graves remind us that hatred always demands a terrible price. Yet neither should those tragedies imprison future generations in endless bitterness.

The Gospel calls us neither to denial nor despair.

It calls us to truth.

It calls us to repentance.

It calls us to reconciliation.

 

III. The Cross Speaks to Every Generation

The cross does not declare that one group is righteous and another guilty. The cross declares that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

The ground is level at Calvary. Every sinner must come the same way.

The wealthy.

The poor.

The immigrant.

The native-born.

The Black.

The White.

The Hispanic.

The Asian.

The Pacific Islander.

The powerful.

The forgotten.

Every knee must bow before the same Savior.

The cross humbles us all before it exalts us.

Jesus did not die merely to make bad people better.

He died to make dead people alive.

 

IV. How Do We Deal With Our Past?

The answer is not amnesia.

The answer is not revenge.

The answer is redemption.

We remember truthfully.

We repent sincerely.

We forgive generously.

We pursue justice humbly.

We walk together faithfully.

The Gospel does not erase history. The Gospel redeems people who make history.

The wounds of yesterday become testimonies of God's grace when hearts are transformed. American must be found in God’s Grace as demonstrated by Joseph. Joseph told his brothers: "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good." (Genesis 50:20) God never called evil good. But He proved Himself greater than evil.

This remains true today.

 

V. America's Greatest Need Has Never Changed

America does not merely need stronger markets or economy.

America does not merely need better elections or politicians.

America does not merely need safer streets or better national defense.

America needs spiritual awakening. Revival has never begun in the White House. It has always begun in humble hearts.

It begins when fathers repent. When mothers pray. When churches preach the whole counsel of God. When believers love their neighbors. When justice is pursued with humility. When mercy triumphs over hatred. When Christ is exalted above every earthly loyalty.

 

VI. The Church Must Lead the Way

The Church cannot call the nation to repentance while refusing to repent herself. If pride dwells in the Church, how can humility reach the nation? If bitterness rules our hearts, how shall reconciliation flourish? If truth is compromised in the pulpit, how will righteousness be strengthened in society? Judgment begins with the household of God.

Therefore, let us confess our sins. Let us reject partiality. Let us love one another deeply. Let us proclaim the Gospel without fear and without favoritism.

 

VII. America's Future Is Not Written by Politics Alone

The future of America will not ultimately be determined by presidents. Nor by Congress. Nor by judges. Nor by wealth. Nor by military strength.

The future of any people is profoundly shaped by the character of its citizens, the faithfulness of its families, the integrity of its churches, and the justice with which it treats its neighbors.

The Psalmist declares: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD."

This is not a promise that any nation automatically belongs to God because it once honored Him. It is a reminder that people flourish when they walk in His ways.

If America is to leave a lasting legacy, it must be more than prosperous. It must be righteous.

More than influential.

It must be faithful.

More than powerful.

It must be humble before Almighty God.

 

Conclusion

So I ask America: Will we merely celebrate our past? Or will we learn from it? Will we merely defend our history? Or will we allow God to refine us through it?

Will we merely preserve our freedoms?

Or will we use those freedoms to honor Christ and serve our neighbors?

The answer to America's future is not found in forgetting.

It is not found in blaming.

It is not found in fear.

It is found in the Gospel.

The same Gospel that forgave Peter.

The same Gospel that transformed Saul into Paul.

The same Gospel that has reconciled enemies throughout history.

The same Gospel that still changes hearts today.

So let the Church repent.

Let justice and mercy walk together.

Let truth and grace embrace one another.

Let every home become an altar of prayer.

Let every believer become a witness of Christ.

And let every generation leave a legacy—not merely of freedom—but of faithfulness.

For the invitation of Jesus has never changed: "Repent, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:15)

And may God grant America the wisdom to remember with honesty, the courage to repent with humility, and the faith to walk into the future with Jesus Christ as Lord.

Amen

Matiu 6:19-24 Ako Tohitapu

 

Is Jesus the only way?

 One of the most prominent and frequent asked questions of me these days, is all religions are equal? Most of the mission work that I do is in Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County, it is a rescue mission shelter that takes in the unsheltered, assault victims, domestic violence victims, substance abused and addicts, mental illness, among others alike. The question is asked, especially, when I preach on the exclusivism of Jesus Christ as the only way to our salvation: John 14:6, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This gives me the opportunity to engage them in a deeper conversation about why we need a savior and what we believe. Since this is short essay, I will limit the discussion to two approaches that often surface during these types of discussions. First, the approach that our belief system is specifically personal and culturally relative. This approach is commonly known as pluralism. Second, the exclusivism of Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and onto heaven; hence, is Jesus the only way?  

 Pluralism, by definition, “Some use it in combination with various spheres: cultural pluralism, ideological pluralism, intellectual pluralism, religious pluralism, and so forth. For our purposes it will be useful to consider not the spheres in which pluralism is found, but three kinds of phenomena to which the word commonly refers: empirical pluralism, cherished pluralism, and philosophical or hermeneutical pluralism.”[1] I want to focus on the third type of pluralism, hermeneutical pluralism. This has sneaked into the church and pastors are preaching different gospels. Here is a sample text from a pastor preaching on Acts 2:1-13, somehow, the theme was experiencing God’s love, but the title of the sermon is, The Faith of Jesus in Pluralistic World.  Paraphrasing a statement from his sermon: he has experienced love that was offered to him by Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and even atheist, it is the very evident that they were responding to God’s love.[2] Paul addressed this in Galatians 1:6-7, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” This is just one example of many that have crept into our churches today. This gives the idea that the other religions’ gods are as equally valid as the Christian God. “Philosophical pluralism has generated many approaches in support of one stance: namely, that any notion that a particular ideological or religious claim is intrinsically superior to another is necessarily wrong. The only absolute creed is the creed of pluralism. No religion has the right to pronounce itself right or true, and the others false, or even (in the majority view) relatively inferior.”[3] The definition given by D.A. Carson is exactly how society views pluralism; it is not so much that every religion is to be considered on an equal level, but it is hinges on preventing a single religion from pronouncing itself as the only true way to salvation. In fact, the character of God from various religion is represented with widely opposing views of one another: “In Islam and Christianity are so radically different that it should be obvious to anyone that each faith is not referring to the same God. He writes: One [the Christian God] is a Father and shepherd and lover calling for a return of love; the other [the Muslim God] is a Lord demanding service from his slaves. One commands love for neighbors and even enemies, while the other does not command neighbor love and frowns on love for enemies. One shows power by force, and the other by weakness. One is numerically one without differentiation, while the other is three in one. In short, those who worship one are not worshipping the other because they are two different gods”[4] How can these opposing view can be considered pluralistically equal? They are not and can’t be considered equally true.

 The pluralistic view is that there are many ways but all ended up at the peak of the mountain. Essentially, are we worshiping the same God? I will not deny that there are many ways and all will be ended up at God. What happen after we meet God is the imperative question. Hence, the fundamental question: are we all going to meet God judgment? Or is it the hope that He promised us in John 14:2-4, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Pluralism approach regards every religion with equalness; however, the approach is logically defeatist because it views Christianity as not equal to all the other religion. “As such, pluralism asserts that more than one perspective, more than one path, can be true or efficacious. In what follows, we argue for a pluralistic view of the Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.”[5] However, the approach is often masked by cultural and ethnics diversity which is defined as empirical pluralism can easily transcend into philosophical pluralism. “Empirical pluralism sums up the growing diversity in our culture. Observable and largely measurable, it is what David Tracy prefers to call “plurality.” “Plurality,” he writes, “is a fact.”[6] The plurality of our culture and ethnicity does not have to dictate our hermeneutic. However, our hermeneutic and our philosophy can influence our culture. Plurality movements that are fundamentally empirical in the first place are now becoming philosophical. “Academic level, ethicists completely committed to pluralism are diligently attempting to create a consensus morality based on certain societal commitments: on the recognition that human beings are persons who demand mutual respect, for instance, or on the assumption that reason is sufficient to evaluate the relative merits of concrete elements of competing moral systems.”[7] When we accepted others’ ethnic diversity, there is a covert assumption that we should also respect and accept their philosophy and not tell them about the truth of Jesus Christ.

 Exclusivism of the Gospel and Jesus Christ vows that Christ is the only way to salvation and to heaven. “Exclusivism is the view that only those who place their faith in the Christ of the Bible are saved.”[8] The counter argument relies on the pluralism approach as stated, “Dalai Lama makes rigorously exclusivist truth…The Problem of Exclusivism’ (emphasis shamefacedly mine!), he states clearly that ‘. . . for me Buddhism is the best, but this does not mean that Buddhism is the best for all’. He goes on to explain that talk of ‘one truth, one religion’ is to be made only ‘in the context of an individual religious practice.”[9] The argument here is that my religion existed only in the context of my personal micro sphere. Therefore, from the macro sphere, the plurality of all religion is to be regarded. However, if my one truth and one religion existed in my personal sphere, it will, at some point, influence others or be influenced by others. If we are restrained from telling others about the most meaningful innermost value of our lives, should we consider ourselves free? Christ came to set us free, and we are free because we know the truth. In fact, the moral values from our conviction compel us to tell others about the truth. “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32.

 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. No other religion has a pathway to salvation which claims everlasting eternal life. “This thereby counters any form of pluralism de iure (in principle). It also shows why the other religions cannot be understood as a ‘means of salvation’ as this term is uniquely applied to the Church precisely because of its Christological foundations.”[10] In John 1:1-2, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” Pope Benedict XVI put it this way: “The world comes from reason, and this reason is a Person, is Love—this is what our biblical faith tells us about God. Reason can speak about God, it must speak about God, or else it cuts itself short. Included in this is the concept of creation.”[11]

 We must ask ourselves the obvious, what is wrong with being right? Perhaps since the history of mankind is loaded with oppression and human created suffering, we take it upon ourselves to mitigate how we should live with one another in order to usher in greater peaceful future. But here’s the thing, God offers us a better way to live, John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” How do we love one another? We do this by putting our faith in Christ. Christ has modelled the way for us in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Therefore, I will end with this. John 3:36, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”

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[1] D. A. Carson, The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=5397874

[2] Rev. Dr. Eric Elnes, “The Faith of Jesus in Pluralistic World,” YouTube video, 1:12:34, streamed January 10, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/live/hYJzNm64P2U

[3] D. A. Carson, The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=5397874

[4] R. C. Sproul, John Piper, Al Mohler, and Miroslav Volf, Do Christians, Muslims, and Jews Worship the Same God?: Four Views (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019), ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=6121590

[5] Chad V. Meister, ed., Do Christians, Muslims, and Jews Worship the Same God?: Four Views (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019), ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=6121590

[6] D. A. Carson, The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=5397874

[7] Ibid

[8] D. A. Carson, The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=5397874

[9] Gavin D’Costa, Only One Way? Three Christian Responses to the Uniqueness of Christ in a Religiously Plural World (London: SCM Press, 2011), ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=3306162

[10] Ibid  

[11] Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), “Christianity: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” in Christian Apologetics: An Anthology of Primary Sources, ed. Khaldoun A. Sweis and Chad V. Meister (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012), 536.

Seek the Lord Isaiah 55:6

Sermon Title: Seek the Lord

Text: Isaiah 55:6 — “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.”

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Introduction: The Search for a Treasure

In 1622, a Spanish ship called Nuestra Señora de Atocha sank in a hurricane off the Florida Keys, carrying tons of gold, silver, and jewels. For more than 300 years, the treasure remained hidden beneath the ocean.

In the 1960s, a man named Mel Fisher became convinced that the treasure could be found. For 16 years, he searched relentlessly. He lost money, boats, and even family members in tragic accidents. People mocked him and told him to quit. But every day, Fisher would say three words to his crew: “Today’s the day.”

In 1985, Mel Fisher finally found the Atocha treasure—worth over $400 millions of dollars.

Early 1990s: Further legal actions continued, and Fisher ultimately secured sole ownership of the treasure

Why would someone give their entire life to search for treasure?
Because he believed it was worth finding.

Isaiah 55:6 calls us to a far greater search—not for gold that fades, but for God Himself.

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1. Why Are We Seeking the Lord?

Biblical Foundation:

• Jeremiah 29:13, You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
• Matthew 6:33, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
• Psalm 63:1

The reason as to why we seek after God.

We seek the Lord because only God satisfies the deepest hunger of the human soul. People seek success, approval, money, relationships, or pleasure—but none of those can replace God.

God did not create us merely to survive; He created us to know Him.

Illustration:
Many people achieve their dreams—career success, fame, wealth—only to admit they still feel empty. Celebrities, athletes, and business leaders often confess that reaching the top didn’t bring the peace they expected. That emptiness points to a spiritual hunger that only God can fill.

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2. How Do We Seek God?

Biblical Foundation:

• Hebrews 11:6, And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
• Matthew 7:7, Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
• Psalm 119:10

To seek something, we have to leave other things. We can’t wish for new houses yet still attached to the old house. See the thing is like this:

Your past is not the house you live in,
but the road that taught your feet to walk.
You make your home not in yesterday’s shadows,
but in the living presence of our Lord Jesus.

The past is your teacher, not your shelter—
a voice behind you is not a roof above you.
Your dwelling is found not in your yesterday but in the holy nearness,

You dwell instead where grace breathes life—
in the radiant presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Seeking God is intentional. You don’t stumble into a relationship with God accidentally. Just like Mel Fisher studied maps, currents, and history, we seek God with purpose—through prayer, Scripture, worship, obedience, and faith.

God is not hidden from sincere seekers; He responds to hearts that truly pursue Him.

Illustration:
If a student wants to excel, they don’t wait until the night before the exam. They study daily. In the same way, spiritual growth comes from intentional time with God, not occasional interest.

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3. Creating a Path to God

Biblical Foundation:

• John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
• Romans 5:1–2, Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we^[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God.
• Hebrews 10:19–22

God has already made a path to Himself through Jesus Christ. We don’t create our own way—Jesus is the way. Through repentance, faith, and grace, God opens access into His presence.

He is the road beneath our feet,
the light ahead of our eyes,
the rest waiting at the end—
and the strength that carries us there.

We are not creating a path to God—
We are walking
the One
who came to us.

Seeking God means walking the path He has provided, not the one we prefer.

Illustration:
Imagine trying to reach a destination but refusing to use the only bridge across a river. You could be sincere, but sincerity doesn’t change reality. Jesus is the bridge God provided so we can reach Him.

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4. Daily Seeking the Lord

Biblical Foundation:

• Luke 9:23, Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
• Psalm 5:3, In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
• Lamentations 3:22–23

Seeking God is not a one-time event; it’s a daily discipline. Just as our bodies need daily food, our souls need daily connection with God.

Yesterday’s devotion cannot sustain today’s challenges.

Illustration:
A marriage thrives not because of one good conversation years ago, but because of daily communication. In the same way, a vibrant walk with God requires daily prayer, Scripture, and surrender.

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5. What Does It Mean for God to Be Found?

Biblical Foundation:

• James 4:8, Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
• Psalm 34:10, The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
• Acts 17:27

When God is “found,” it doesn’t mean we fully understand Him—but that we experience His presence, forgiveness, guidance, and peace. God allows Himself to be known personally.

He is not distant; He is near to those who draw near to Him.

Illustration:
Finding God is like tuning a radio to the correct frequency. The signal was always there, but once tuned correctly, the sound becomes clear. Seeking aligns our hearts to hear God’s voice.

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6. Do We Have a Limited Window to Seek God?

Biblical Foundation:

• Isaiah 55:6, Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
• Proverbs 27:1, Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
• 2 Corinthians 6:2, For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you and in the day of salvation I helped you.”  I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Isaiah says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found.” This implies opportunity—but also urgency. We are not promised unlimited time. Hearts can harden, opportunities can pass, and life can end suddenly.

Grace is available now—but tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Illustration:
Mel Fisher searched for years, but he searched while the opportunity existed. If he had waited another century, someone else would have found the treasure. In the same way, spiritual opportunity demands timely response.

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Conclusion: The Greatest Treasure

Mel Fisher found gold that will eventually fade. But those who seek the Lord find something eternal—salvation, purpose, peace, and everlasting life.

God is not asking you to search blindly. He promises:
If you seek Him, He will be found.

Today is the day.
Now is the time.
The treasure is worth the search.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found.”

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Closing Altar Call: “Today’s the Day”

As we come to the close of this message, I want to return to those words Mel Fisher spoke every morning:
“Today’s the day.”

For 16 years, he believed the treasure was out there—and one day, it finally was found.

Bother and Sister, today I’m not talking about gold at the bottom of the sea.
I’m talking about your soul and your relationship with God.

Isaiah 55:6 says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.”

That tells us something powerful: God is near right now.

Who Is This Call For?

This altar call is for:

• Those who have never truly sought the Lord
• Those who once walked with God but have drifted away
• Those who are busy, distracted, tired, or spiritually dry
• Those who know about God but don’t really know Him

God is not asking for perfection—He’s asking for surrender.

The Window Is Open—Right Now

We don’t know what tomorrow holds.
We don’t know how many opportunities we’ll get.
But we do know this: right now, God can be found.

The same God who says “Seek Me” also says, “Whoever comes to Me, I will never turn away” (John 6:37).

An Invitation to Respond

If you feel the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart—don’t ignore it.
That stirring is God saying, “I’m near.”

If you want to:

• Seek God for the first time
• Return to Him
• Renew your commitment
• Or simply say, “Lord, I want You more than anything else”

I invite you to step out of your seat and come to the altar.

This walk is not about embarrassment.
It’s about obedience.
It’s about choosing eternal treasure over temporary things.

A Prayer at the Altar

As people come, you may lead them in a prayer like this:

“Lord, today I come seeking You.
I admit my need for You.
I turn away from my sin and my self-reliance.
I believe You are near, and that You receive me.
I choose today to seek You with my whole heart.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Final Encouragement

My brothers and sisters, don’t leave this moment behind.
Don’t say, “I’ll seek Him later.”
Later is not promised—but now is available.

If God is calling you,
today’s the day.