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The Myth of Christian America  /  MCA (13 of 14): Faith of the Founding Fathers #3  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 4
Adams helped craft a Massachusetts Constitution that supported public worship through taxes and required senators and governors to be “of the Christian religion”; how would the early Christians (who rejected coercion and state religion) have viewed this use of government to promote Christianity, and what does it expose about the temptation to confuse “public good” with “kingdom of God”?
Another way to ask: Adams supported laws that used taxes to support worship and required leaders to be Christian. How might the early Christians, who rejected forced religion, view that, and how can “public good” get confused with the “kingdom of God”?

Direct Answer Based on Bercot’s comments about “the two kingdoms,” the early Christians would likely have seen Adams’ approach—tax support for worship and Christian-only officeholding—as a confusion of Christ’s kingdom with government, treating Christianity mainly as a tool for social stability.

Support from Transcript:

  • Adams put into the Massachusetts Constitution “many references…to God” and a provision for the state “to help support public worship.”
  • Bercot explains the logic: Christianity was viewed as “good for society as a whole,” like education, so “everyone should pay taxes” to support churches and religious teachers.
  • The Constitution included religious tests: “no person…elected as a senator who is not of the Christian religion,” and the governor “shall be of the Christian religion.”
  • Bercot says Adams lived by Christian morality but was “not understanding the two kingdoms,” implying a category error.
  • Bercot later affirms separation: “I agree with Madison about the need to separate these two kingdoms…that is how Jesus established His church.”
  • He distinguishes social benefit from church purpose: Christian influence can bless society, but “That’s not their primary purpose.”
Discussion Follow-ups When we argue “Christianity is good for society,” how do we keep that from becoming an argument for control? What signs show we’re seeking the kingdom of God versus merely “public order”?

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