In many cities across the country a couple of weeks ago, people gathered in the streets for a “No Kings” protest. Their political perspective is that the current president is a tyrant. But their dramatically hyperbolic demonstration disregards the historical truth on this 4th of July that America hasn’t had a king since the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Actually, Presidents don’t have as much authority on their own as most people think. Our country began with the conviction that government ought to be limited with checks & balances between the three branches because power corrupts. Did you know that George Washington was asked to be king of America during the Revolutionary War? But, of course, he rejected the offer. He believed that there was only one King. A motto that was shouted often during the war was, “No king but King Jesus.”
Ideally, a godly, wise, & benevolent monarch would be better than a democratic form of government because democracy can become a tyranny of the majority when evil people vote for evil. Because such monarchs are a super rare breed, we can be thankful that we have the next best thing – a constitutional republic which acknowledges our rights come from God. This is designed to protect us from a despotic democracy.
Ancient Israel was supposed to be God’s kingdom through the theocratic rule of His Law. But the Israelites opted for a human king like the pagan nations around them. The vast majority of their kings were foolish & wicked men who led the people into idolatry, iniquity, & injustice. King David was the standout who came closest to God’s ideal, despite his moral failings. God even promised to establish David’s kingdom forever. That wasn’t fulfilled in terms of a political ruler since the Jewish monarchy ended in 586 BC when God used the pagan Babylonian empire to destroy Jerusalem & its throne.
Nevertheless, God made good on His promise of an eternal rule through King David’s descendant when God’s Son took His rightful place with all authority on the heavenly throne (John 18:36, Matt. 28:18). Jesus Christ personally demonstrated what God’s kingdom was, & established a spiritual kingdom composed of all who bend the knee & pledge allegiance to His lordship (1 Pet. 2:9). This holy nation of heavenly citizens called “the Church” is the Israel of God today (Gal. 6:16, Rom. 2:28-29, 9:6-8).
America has historically tried to be One Nation Under God, but has fallen short of that ideal in many ways. There has never been a golden age when America was perfect, or everybody followed God. But there’s no question that our nation was founded on the recognition of God & His Word. Bible verses are prominently engraved on national monuments, included in foundational documents, & embedded in significant national speeches, reflecting the historical influence of Christian principles on American heritage.
The idea of a secular State void of any reference or deference to God was unthinkable to our Founding Fathers. The First Amendment was intended to keep the State from setting up a national church or interfering in the affairs of the Church, which is what they fled from in Europe. But they clearly acknowledged God as the true Sovereign & Supreme Judge of the universe.
Estimates indicate that around 50 to 55 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence had some form of Christian background, identifying with Protestant denominations & attending church at least sporadically. In terms of state constitutions, 9 of the 13 original states initially included some form of religious test or oath requiring a declaration of faith for public officeholders, typically affirming belief in Christianity, the Bible, or the Trinity.
In a speech given shortly after his inauguration in 1953, President Eisenhower said: “In this country of ours, where the will of the people is the law, the success of our Government has always been taken for granted because we have had faith in the Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” He’s right. It has been taken for granted. That’s why it’s not possible to have a nation like the United States without a population largely made up of Christians. And while the U.S. is still the most God-honoring nation on earth, we’re not the same God-honoring nation we were. America has been sliding away from God down the slippery slopes of secularism, humanism, & multiculturalism for quite a while now.
While our country does not need a human king, it’s necessary that our government acknowledges God as the Sovereign Lawgiver & Judge, & that His Word is authoritative. While citizens do not all agree on all government policies, we still need a large majority of the populace whose cry is, “No king but King Jesus!” Though we don’t seek to enforce faith by legal fiat, we seek a moral governance for the common good that comes by truly uniting as One Nation Under God. If this nation is to turn back to its Christian heritage, then it must begin with the Church. When the Church is strong, America will be strong.