Many uphold the United States is a Christian nation because the U.S. Constitution is based on Biblical principles. This claim implies using Biblical principles automatically makes something Christian or Godly. Is this true?  

First of all, using Biblical principles is no great shakes. All life is based on Biblical principles. There is simply no other option. From planting seeds to the birds flying in the air, from the sun, moon, and stars in their courses to man’s work here on earth, the entire creation is subject to God’s laws, aka Biblical principles. 

The farmer who plants in God’s seasons and harvests in God’s seasons is using Biblical principles. Otherwise he would fail. The greenhouse farmer who provides certain kinds of light to simulate day and darkness to simulate night is using Biblical principles. Otherwise he would fail. 

Does using Biblical principles make these two farmers Christian? Of course, not. Does it make them Godly? No, it does not. In fact, some successful farmers I know would say absolutely not!

What about businesses? Do they use Biblical principles? If they want to succeed they will. Successful businesses follow these business principles: 1) Work hard; 2) Organize; 3) Be willing to learn; 4) Set realistic goals; 5) Be generous. 

These business principles sound secular, but in fact, they are Biblical principles: 

1. Work hard.
   Proverbs 12:24 — Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.  
2. Organize.
   Proverbs 24:27— Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready, after that, build your house.
3. Be willing to learn.
   Proverbs 15:22— Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. 
4. Set realistic goals.
   Luke 14:28 – Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?  
5. Be generous.
   Some businesses give 10 percent or more to charities: aka a tithe. 

Malachi 3:10—Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse… Test me in this and see if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it. 

When a business follows these Biblical principles, does it mean it is a Christian or Godly business?  No. 

What steps does a business need to take beyond using Biblical principles to be Christian or Godly? To be Christian or Godly, a business must acknowledge Christ and God in its mission statement and then ensure God and His Word rule from there.  

In other words, using Biblical principles does not automatically confer Christian or Godly status on a farmer or on a business, so why would it automatically confer Christian or Godly status on a nation?  The answer is, it does not.

Just as the farmer and the business must take steps beyond relying on Biblical principles to be Christian or Godly, it follows a nation must take those same steps: acknowledge Christ and God in its mission statement (the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution) and then ensure God and His Word rule from there.

In summary, an old Hollywood phrase comes to mind: “If it ain’t on the page, it ain’t on the stage.”