Does God Really Have a ‘Special’ Relationship with America?

God may not have a special relationship with the USA, but I don't see anything wrong with hoping and praying that he would.

My prayer is that God will have mercy on America. My prayer is that God will show himself merciful to this sinful and perverted people. My prayer is that God will relate to us in such a way that we will come running to him and away from our selves and away from our sin. My prayer is that God will baptize his church with the Holy Spirit one more time in power and in fire that we may work the works of God in this day.

Thank God, I thought I was the only one here on SI who kept emphasizing the point that America is not a Christian nation nor does it enjoy any special privilege. I find many posts even from the Godly people in this forum more patriotic than spiritual when it comes to America. I think it is in their blood to believe that America is special to God and it is a Christian nation etc.

I am thankful to the root that America has and how it sent missionaries to other parts of the world. But in New Covenant, God is not calling Christians to make a nation on the earth for themselves. He is calling them out of nations. So we should always be willing to come out of US, no matter how much America has provided for you.

Also I do not believe calling America to Repent is a Biblical statement. In New Covenant, no nation is called to repent. Jesus called only the Churches in those nations to repent in revelation. There were no letters to churches.

In Short New Covenant life is for individuals to be lead by the Spirit. We cannot expect a nation itself to be lead by God's spirit.

When there is revival In a nation, God does certainly have a special relationship with that nation.

"Does God Really Have a ‘Special’ Relationship with America?"

I don't know if he does or not, but I do know America needs a special relationship with God, and we need it today in Jesus mighty name.

Brother Jeff you make a very valid point!

I totally disagree with the findings and or purpose of this article; and while I'm by no means a nationalist or even politically minded, the facts are indisputable and all the denial in the world won't change them even if it's by a "Christian magazine".
What other nation has (other than Israel) been dedicated to the purposes of God from its founding?
What other nation has put God in such a central framework regarding its trust in Him?
Now in no way am I suggesting we have been the best stewards of this nation or her God given giftings, however to cynically suggest that God is beyond having a "special" relationship with a nation is borderline blasphemous!
I mean does He not say, "draw near to me and I will draw near unto you"? That sounds special to me considering the alternative...
Are we seriously suggesting here,in agreement with this article, that God has given up on "nation healing"? And that to do so would be to go backwards?!! And then tries to draw comparisons in Galatians and makes old covenant references?!
What other nation sends as many missionaries?
What other nation spends as much on foreign aid?
What other nation exalts the bible in their political and judicial proceedings?

If thess few things aren't evidence that the nation in question at least "had" a special relationship with God I can't imagine what would?

I would post the link but do not want to violate the terms of SermonIndex forums so for all who may be unaware or just missed it, one can easily find both the video and transcripts in Charismanews of Johnathan Cahn's speech on Capital Hill a few months ago.
He puts forth a decidedly different perspective replete with dates/facts and other historical data both secular and biblical.
Or a Google search will render the video which is 8:51 so it's short and to the point.

As an outsider, but one who often visits the USA I would say the distinction between America the nation and the Church IN America is confused and taken as one and the same by many.

Let's be clear in our thinking, yes a nation can be blessed when the church has influence upon it's laws and society and judgment may be withheld due to the presence of the righteous (e.g. Sodom and Lot). However it is not the 'nation' that is righteous or sends out missionaries, or preaches the gospel, it is the church IN that nation. Also revival comes to the church and folk are added to it from the nation. The nation does not get revived as such. (Edit: add:) A revival happens IN a nation. When folk get revived and saved they become part of a new nation, the Kingdom of God.

Separation of Church and State seems to have lost over the years in the thinking of many. Only the church has a special relationship with God (through Christ), not any nation of this world.

There is zero biblical reason to see a special relationship between God and any nation now EXCEPT when God expressly defines and selects a nation for His specific use. Biblically, He did select nations for such a relationship.

After the Scriptures, however, we are wildly speculative whenever we "see" such a relationship, and we have no authority on which to base our speculation. That does not mean God has not used a nation for His glory, but that can be any nation in any time frame for any of His particular situational activity.

America has no foundation "in God". Certain leaders *cited* God as inspiration for thheir noble thoughts, but they did not thereby create a special "God and country" relationship. God has one royal nation--the church. He is bringing Jew and Gentile to it even now. In every place, He still orchestrates circumstances so that some will hear and believe the testimony of Jesus.

It is no argument that Americans have allied with Israel, sent missionaries, funded evangelism, etc. as proof of special relationship with America. In Christ, we have no resume. He alone is our Qualifier. To the extent He has sovereignly chosen to use people in the US for these ends is to His glory and says nothing of merit about America itself.

Hi All

one of the strongest things that God taught me was that as a christian my birth and blood nationality no longer mattered as i am "neither Jew nor Gentile" i am a christian which makes me "no longer of this world" at first i didn't understand this as i was proud of my country but later i realized that their is a judgement that came from my own heart to other countries that did not reach the same standards thus creating a barrier spiritually and an arrogance towards equality.

America has had many true holy spirit filled preachers that have advanced the witness of the gospel but it has also spread some of the most devastating filth to which the world has ever seen. I know because the country i live in follows and adopts everything that America does. Drugs, porn, musical influence, false christian teachings that rape the prosperity of those that are sick and the worst one of all, Narcissism.

In saying this i love all people as much as any other and it is my hope that in all the western worlds God will raise up men to speak out against this filth in their countries and whilst this happens a great revival and reaping follow.

which is more in favor with God those that are loyal to something created or those that are loyal to the creator. Every one wants to be the chosen race, Christians are the chosen race and God will bless their lands because of faithful Christians that stand up against sin. The world is dying due to the fall of man that is why we have a new world waiting for us and i doubt very much that we will stand before the lord as representatives of the countries that we lived in but rather our own hearts towards him.

Australia has been a very blessed country due to christian principles embedded in our nation but over the last 30 years these have been ripped out one by one by different political groups. Many Australians don't even realize that the parliament house was designed by new age believes that incorporated a part of its structure as a pyramid to bring their spirituality into a Government.

no offense intended at all, so please don't take it that way. I come onto sermon index not because it comes from America but in the hope to fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ, the testimonies from others in different countries is education to my heart of what God is doing.

Psalms 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Nation=Gowy
n m
nation, people
nation, people
usually of non-Hebrew people
of descendants of Abraham
of Israel
of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.)
n pr m
Goyim? = "nations"

Does this not sound like a special relationship?

JFW, Israel was the only nation whose God was the LORD. (All caps from the verse, not me yelling.) "I will be your God and you will be my people." Lev. 26:12. Jeremiah 30 also looks to a day to come when the remnant of Israel will turn again and serve God and His enthroned King on David's seat, Jesus. There again He says this statement of being the God of the nation Israel. And He will be the God of all of Israel, including the grafted in Gentile church, made partakers of the promises of God with Israel, a holy nation made one in Him.

Other than this, nations as nations cannot unilaterally declare God as their LORD. And, the United States has, in spite of its sputtering declarations about God, has never been made by God to be His nation. Never. Some early forbears certainly seemed to think so, and some people do still. But it is made up of whole and imaginary cloth.

Has God graced America? No doubt. Did He create America? As He has all nations. Does His promise of eternal life in Christ for those who repent and obey the Gospel extend here? Praise God, YES! John 1:12. But, we are in no special national standing before God.

Well Dear Brother it seems we disagree on this one, as this scripture and the historic record read differently to me.

However I can wholeheartedly share with the sentiment and join you in your intinal prayerful response:)

Btw what did you think of Johnathan's speech?

If we look to the examples in Scripture found in the book of Judges. One will see that there is a nation, and that there are generations within that nation. And God works in each generation to separate a people unto Himself. And as in the book of Deuteronomy, Moses describes the blessing and curses that come upon a generation within a nation. The word of God is powerful and not without effect throughout the generations of His creation.

So when God and not man brings revival to a generation with in a nation, one will see that there are blessings that are promised.

In my short life time I have seen what God has done in Southern California during the Hippie days. I have seen the Word of God transform the multitude of cultures and bring unity through the Calvary Chapel generation. Gang bangers, hippies, stuffy old white people, all fall in love with God and as a consequence of the love for God learn to love one another. When God brings revival, God establishes favor on that people in that generation.

I now live in central Pennsylvania, and everywhere I go, over the next hill, there is an old Methodist church standing as a altar to the work God once did in a generation long past. When one sees all these old old churches one should be able to see that God blessed a generation or two in a special way. The salt of that blessing is passing like in the days of the Judges.

Contemplate the revival history of the past in this country, it was not man that created it. It was and is God who establishes His new works in new wine skins. The old wine skins cannot contain new wine. God is looking for a new generation of people who will become the new wine skins.

Rookie, I agree with you that God has moved in various times to bring His sovereign revival. But that does not equate to, or point to America being a particularly special nation. God has been moving sovereignly in China in revival bring multitudes into new life. Does this mean that China is a nation in a special relationship with God? I would suggest not!

JFW, The psalmist you quoted "blessed is the nation whoes God is the LORD" is clearly meaning the nation of Israel, not any nation. As has been pointed out, only Israel can claim to be a 'nation' whom God chosse to put His name. Today He puts His name on the church of Jesus Christ, it would be blasphemous to suggest He would transfer His glory from His church to an earthly nation.

Hello brother Dave,
I can respect your position all the while take a different position.
For me when I hear Johnathan's speech or read the historic record of Washington's inaugural address,to which he refers, I cannot but think and infer that this country was indeed brought into existence for the purposes of God.
Meaning that from what I read and can understand , this country was in fact unilaterally dedicated to and brought into existence for the purposes of God.
And as Jonathan makes point of in his speech, this was affirmed and reaffirmed both publicly and thru historical record and is for me, an undeniable fact of history.
So yes I believe that actually happened and God honored that and has done a most marvelous thing in and thru this country like no other on earth save Israel herself.
Now as brother Jeff points out and I (for what it's worth) agree that the Lord is seeking a new wine skin, a new generation who will humble themselves and let Him use them to bring glory to His Son and "shine as stars in the universe as they hold out the words of life to a depraved and crooked generation".

I hope this helps to clarify and that you don't find my words/thoughts blasphemous brother as that is certainly not my intent.

I understand the sentiment of it. I pray that American Christians lose that sentiment.

Jefferson denied the divinity, virgin birth miracles and resurrection of Jesus.

Washington refused throughout his life to receive communion and would not remain in the service while his wife partook.

By the early 1830's, some preachers in New England had taken to lamenting that not one President to that time was a professing Christian.

My point is not to harass history. This country was founded and set upon its course by God. He turns the hearts of kings like a river. But a large plurality or majority of them were not Christian men as the bible defines it.

I am not a Cahn critic. He has a a particular use for them as he sells books about mysteries and codes, etc. I have no particular use for them in light of the times.

Brother Tim,
I can agree to that as your point is well received.
Also I too have never read any of this mans writings and was completely unaware of him prior to this speech.
Btw I appreciate the grace you've shown me here and tho I have opinions they are not all set in stone and am certainly still learning:)