In this episode, Dr. Travis Montgomery interviews Dr. Thomas Kidd—research professor of church history at Midwestern Seminary and leading historian of early America—on the perennial question: Was America founded as a Christian nation? Drawing on decades of scholarship, Dr. Kidd explains how Christian ideas shaped the founding, why the legal structure of the United States avoids a national church, and how evangelicals (especially Baptists) influenced key developments such as religious liberty. The conversation explores the First Great Awakening, the mixed personal beliefs of the founders, the relevance of church history to pastoral ministry, and how Christians today should think about political theology in light of America’s past. Students from around the world can study with Dr. Kidd through Midwestern Seminary’s Global Campus: mbts.edu/global.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a show for everyday Christians preparing for ministry and leadership through Midwestern Seminary’s Global Campus. Learn more at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

American founding, Christian nation, religious liberty, First Great Awakening, Thomas Jefferson, deism, church history, Baptist political theology, America and Christianity

Takeaways

• Christian ideas deeply influenced the American founding, especially views of human nature, political power, and equality.

• The Constitution intentionally avoided establishing a national church, emphasizing free exercise of religion instead.

• Many evangelicals—especially Baptists—celebrated disestablishment because they had been persecuted under state churches.

• Not all founding fathers were Christians; several, including Jefferson and Franklin, rejected core doctrines like the Trinity and the deity of Christ.

• Studying church history helps pastors answer real questions their congregations ask about America’s identity.

• Advocating Christian morality is appropriate, but Christians should not desire a state church.

• Religious liberty helped fuel the Second Great Awakening and the greatest era of church growth in American history.

Sound Bites

• “Christian ideas are everywhere in the founding—but that doesn’t make the nation a Christian nation legally.”

• “Baptists didn’t want state support. They wanted to be left alone to preach the gospel.”

• “Calling Jefferson a Christian requires redefining Christianity—and we must not do that.”

• “Religious freedom works. It helped spark the greatest revival era in American history.”

Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? | A Conversation with Thomas Kidd