One Nation Under God? How About One People Under God?

"The Father and I are one." ~ John 10:30

Tomorrow, Sunday, May 17, 2026, a gathering is planned on the National Mall for a day of prayer, praise and thanksgiving. The event marks 250 years since the Continental Congress called for a day of prayer in 1776. The event promises that thousands of participants will be regaled with plenty of patriotic and Christian speeches, music, and red, white and blue.

Back in 1776, in the colonies, Whigs and Tories were divided over their desire to become independent from British rule or to remain part of the Royal crown and under British rule. If you don't remember the Whigs and Tories from high school civics, let's make it simple. Whigs was the party of small, independent businesspeople (think independent farmers, etc.) vs. the Tories, the part of larger, wealthier concerns (shipping, trade, etc.). Even parts of the Church joined in!

Having a day of prayer might unite the colonists, so said the Whigs in power, who desired to pull away from the crown and begin their own, independent nation. The Whigs pretty much controlled the Continental Congress, and it was this group calling for prayer. That particular proclamation called for people to repent from sin and beseech God's help in military success over Britain.

There is a great deal of dispute and debate, and a fair amount of division, over the question of whether America truly is a Christian nation. There is not enough space for all the words it would take to adequately debate that question here, so let's approach the issue from a different angle.

Is the problem that we are one nation under God?

Or is the problem that we are not one people under God?

Further, will the majority of people gathered tomorrow have a heart for personal humility, repentance and turning back to God, or will the focus be on something altogether different. This country will not be one nation under God until God's people become one people under God. That's a difficult statement, so it might be good to sit with that for a moment.

The best strategy - whether defense, international relations, or national policy - will be built on Kingdom ethics if we truly are a Christian nation. The Church is certainly within Her realm to pray for this, but also to speak up, truth to power style, when national policy, tone, and tenor are morally and ethically wrong.

Thousands are expected to meet on the National Mall tomorrow. I imagine there will be lots of media, probably merchandise vendors, and lots of fanfare.

Nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus assembled a few friends and followers in a garden, and he prayed. This prayer occurred shortly before He went to the cross. No media, no merchandise vendors, and no fanfare. Lee Greenwood didn't sing, and His friends and followers couldn't even stay awake

Regardless, Jesus prayed.

What did He pray for? One theme was unity.

John 17:9-11

“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are."

Jesus was not praying that we would be of the same mind politically. His prayer was bigger, more visionary, and infinitely more important.

To understand unity as Jesus prayed for, we look at John 10:30. "The Father and I are one." The entire gospel of John distinguishes between the Father and the Son - think how the Father sends the Son and the Son prays to the Father (Biblical Theology Study Bible commentary). We read this and we think of our Christian belief of the Trinity, but let's look at it from a different perspective.

This prayer of Jesus is is about unification in essence, will, and action. In other words, what the Son does the Father does or what the Father wills the Son wills. This is Jesus's prayer for us - that we will be unified with Him in His essence, will, and action.

Remember Jesus's Sermon on the Mount?

Matthew 5:3-10, NLT

"God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."

In the opening of His greatest sermon, Jesus lays out the ethics and values of His Kingdom. It is only when we desire these same ethics and values and when our very essence, will, and actions line up with Jesus and His Kingdom ethics and values that we begin to live as one people under God.

Sit with this. Read it out loud a few times. Get out your journal and copy it in your own handwriting. Then, circle the values that seem most out of place with your thinking or with the thinking and actions of the Church or our nation. These become the issues that you can deal with between you and the Father, as you pray to Him as Jesus did.

Here's another portion of Jesus's greatest sermon.

Matthew 5:13-16, NLT

"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. "You are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."

Jesus doesn't just lay out his ideas about things like ethics and values; Jesus tells His people that the way they live out His Kingdom ethics and values is like salt and light. Kingdom people change the flavor of communities and families and serve as preserving forces in a world where the enemy seeks to steal, kill and destroy. Just like salt. Kingdom people bring light into dark places, helping people see situations, truth, and their actual needs. Just like bright lights in a very dark world.

It may be exciting to be with thousands on the National Mall, bedazzled in red, white, and blue and regaled with patriotic songs and energizing speeches.

But can you imagine the power and Holy presence as Jesus prayed that we, as His friends and followers, would be so much like Him in our essence, will, and action, that the world would look at us and see Him?

American Christians - let's pray like Jesus, for the things Jesus prayed for. Whether you are headed to the National Mall or gather with the local Church where God has placed you (which is a privilege, blessing, and is biblical), let's keep the mind and heart of Jesus in view.

No one but God can judge whether the majority of people gathered tomorrow on the National Mall have a heart for personal humility, repentance and turning back to God, or whether their heart focus is on something altogether different. But one thing is certain. This country will not be one nation under God until God's people become one people under God.