Christian Social Impact on American Society

Again, citing D’Tocqueville because he described in detail Christianity’s impact upon society and social norms (as distinct from just doctrinal differences) we turn to his description of hypocrisy and the impact upon early American:

In the Anglo-Americans there are some who profess Christian dogmas because they believe them and others who do so because they are afraid to look as though they did not believe in them. So, Christianity reigns without obstacles, by universal consent; consequently, as I have said elsewhere, everything in the moral field is certain and fixed, although the world of politics seems given over to argument and experiment. So the human spirit never sees an unlimited field before itself; however bad it is, from time to time it feels that it must halt before insurmountable barriers. Before innovating, it is forced to accept certain primary assumptions and to submit its boldest conceptions to certain formalities which retard and check it.

Many simply do not understand the lessons D’Tocqueville points to in American Christianity. Very few Christians understand these issues. Consequently, though D’Tocqueville didn’t intend it as a “for all ages commentary”, his exposure to Biblical precepts in his study of Puritans, Reformation Europe and American Christianity undoubtedly equipped him to discern these “jewels” of Christian thinking referenced in the above quote. However he arrived at them, they draw upon obvious citations in the Scriptures:

1. Christianity is designed by God to use the Bible to create a people who are standards for the society. (Matthew 13: parable of the sower implies the Word as operative upon various types of people; Matthew 28: 18- 20: all nations will be affected by the Word of the Lord; Romans 1: Paul calls for obedience to the faith among all nations).
   
   

2. Christianity has AT LEAST two characters within it: hypocrites and sincere professors. The hypocrites wish to be SEEN as Christian for their public “image” (Laodicean type of Christianity- Revelation 3), though inwardly they do NOT really have a relationship with Christ. Christians tend to judge people have sinned openly as “hypocrite” when in fact this person HIDES his real sins cleverly. It is because of this trait that, with both sincere Christians and hypocritical/Laodicean types of Christians professedly defending an outward STATUS QUO where the faith is upheld, then Christianity rules by an almost universal consent (“salt like effect” of the Word of God).
   
   

3. As a result, everything in such a society is agreed upon as far as a basic morality is concerned. Such a society tends to be safer to live and prosper in, and a huge field for the Gospel as many who are lukewarm are moved from that position to a real Christianity.
   
   

4. Such a society tends to produce a political atmosphere where Biblical ideals are being studied and debated for creating a just system of governance. This is due to the fact that, when righteousness is exercised throughout society, governance has before the kinds of support needed to study human action sufficiently for development of law and order.
   
   

5. Very few at that time in our history, including social revolutionaries of all kinds, allowed themselves the luxury of espousing bold social theories contrary to the faith as long as Christianity remained strong and defended the culture it had now persuasively dominated. It’s not because such people loved the faith. It is the fact that they recognized they would lose credibility and be ostracized from society to the degree their theories endangered society. (Proverbs 2: 6-22 warns the son concerning such social revolutionaries. These are NOT just evil people. The man with the forward tongue is a social revolutionary. He is stopped by the standard of the society he is a part of, as is the social revolutionary female, a “flatterer” like Prynne and Aspasia (mentioned earlier), Delilah , Jezebel, and others who undermine public morality by flaunting immorality, not just sinning in it. They ARE a revolution in their actions and beliefs.
   
   

6. The home and marriage also tend to follow these societal trends that D’Tocqueville points to, making divorce less acceptable to society. People in general tend to feel strongly the powerful influence of Christianity…when Christianity IS strong. It often is not however, and society will not be influenced by it… much. It is that strong presence which is powerfully convicting, even though a person may not be “saved” (regenerated and justified).
   
   
   

7. In like manner, when society is affected as a whole by the Christian faith, marriages tend to last and people learn to love, if they are not already “in love” inside the marriage. Or… at least, they learn to “get along with” their spouse and treat one another outwardly, in a kind manner. Spouses tend to make homes, child rearing, and marital fidelity successes “outwardly” because societal pressure does not accept the willful failure of a spouse to keep a marriage. People tend to have higher regard for the REASONS for marriage and the REASONS for divorce.
    

   While traveling in the depths of the forests of Pennsylvania, D’Tocqueville found he needed shelter for the night. He happened upon a wealthy landowner who was French by native birth as he was. They began to chat “with the freedom suitable to people meeting in the depths of the forest two thousand leagues from their native land.” As the night wore on, D’Tocqueville recognized this man as one of the foremost leaders among the (atheistic) French revolutionaries of a generation earlier. So here he was! In the forests of America! This is where he had fled to escape the murderous revolution that had turned on every one involved in it with the guillotine. But, a strange thing had occurred in the heart of this former revolutionary “leveler” of society. Instead of advocating communistic ownership, he was defending the glory of private property and ownership. Instead of licentious mocking, he defended the necessity of good morals in society AS NECESSARY FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT. Instead of revolutionary doctrine, he defended Republican government. Instead of atheism, he defended Christian belief and practice. He even mentioned the name of Jesus Christ in support of his new homeland, its laws, its people and its principles. D’Tocqueville was astounded at the impact of Christianity upon this man’s character and opinions. Where others may only see a religion, he saw a way of life. Where others may only see Sunday School lessons for children, he saw a civilization. He was not necessarily a Christian, but he saw the beauty of the principles of that faith in his newly adopted land… and could adequately defend them!

   
   

Don't Forget Your Bonuses