Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What was the place of Christianity in early America? How did calls from Presbyterians around ecclesiastical reform branch out into political revolution? Is "Christian nationalism" an anachronism? Hillsdale College historians, Miles Smith and Darryl Hart, join Michael Horton to discuss the history of Christianity in early America as the United States celebrates its 250th year as a nation.
0:00 Two opposite errors studying American history
6:36 Distinguishing church and religion
9:26 The United States was neither theocratic nor secular
13:53 Is the church only spiritual?
18:25 Christian institutionalism
22:49 The American revolution as a Presbyterian rebellion
29:19 American revisions to the Westminster Confession of Faith
43:53 At the Revolution, Presbyterians were tired of the state promoting religion
GET YOUR FREE SOLA NEWSPAPER - solamedia.org/newspaper/?sc=NN00NPVY
A quarterly print publication featuring articles on theology, the historic creeds and confessions, and reflections for the Christian life, delivered straight to your mailbox. For free.
Religion and Republic: Christian America from the Founding to the Civil War by Miles Smith - https://a.co/d/03jSr7jK
Protestants and Patriots: Presbyterians in the Age of Revolution by D. G. Hart - https://a.co/d/0gK3lp93
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/core-christianity/id1429252261
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/220j3RAVuNh60OmB7ehIfh?si=dd817fde07d54c98
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ABOUT CORE CHRISTIANITY
Pastor Adriel Sanchez answers the questions believers are actually asking, about the Bible, doctrine, and the Christian life.
WHO WE ARE
For over thirty-five years, Sola has walked alongside Christians in their faith, pointing away from novelty and ourselves, and toward Christ and his gospel as proclaimed in the Scriptures, articulated in the ancient Christian Creeds, and summarized in the confessions of the Protestant Reformation.
solamedia.org
What was the place of Christianity in early America? How did calls from Presbyterians around ecclesiastical reform branch out into political revolution? Is "Christian nationalism" an anachronism? Hillsdale College historians, Miles Smith and Darryl Hart, join Michael Horton to discuss the history of Christianity in early America as the United States celebrates its 250th year as a nation.
0:00 Two opposite errors studying American history
6:36 Distinguishing church and religion
9:26 The United States was neither theocratic nor secular
13:53 Is the church only spiritual?
18:25 Christian institutionalism
22:49 The American revolution as a Presbyterian rebellion
29:19 American revisions to the Westminster Confession of Faith
43:53 At the Revolution, Presbyterians were tired of the state promoting religion
GET YOUR FREE SOLA NEWSPAPER - solamedia.org/newspaper/?sc=NN00NPVY
A quarterly print publication featuring articles on theology, the historic creeds and confessions, and reflections for the Christian life, delivered straight to your mailbox. For free.
Religion and Republic: Christian America from the Founding to the Civil War by Miles Smith - https://a.co/d/03jSr7jK
Protestants and Patriots: Presbyterians in the Age of Revolution by D. G. Hart - https://a.co/d/0gK3lp93
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/core-christianity/id1429252261
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/220j3RAVuNh60OmB7ehIfh?si=dd817fde07d54c98
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
solamedia.org/subscribe
FOLLOW US
Instagram instagram.com/solamediaorg/
X/Twitter https://x.com/solamediaorg
Facebook facebook.com/solamediaorg/
ABOUT CORE CHRISTIANITY
Pastor Adriel Sanchez answers the questions believers are actually asking, about the Bible, doctrine, and the Christian life.
WHO WE ARE
For over thirty-five years, Sola has walked alongside Christians in their faith, pointing away from novelty and ourselves, and toward Christ and his gospel as proclaimed in the Scriptures, articulated in the ancient Christian Creeds, and summarized in the confessions of the Protestant Reformation.
solamedia.org
