Senator Josh Hawley recently published an article in First Things titled Our Christian Nation, where he argues that America can become a more Christian nation through public school prayer and higher wages for workers. While Hawley rightly rejects the desire for a Christian nationalist agenda in civil law, he fails to properly address the role of the church in shaping society. In fact, his article only mentions the church three times in over 4000 words.　　Without strong churches, how can a Christian nation emerge or endure? Hawleys analysis seems to imply that the nations religion is chiefly an expression of governmental policy rather than originating in civil society. This perspective is not in line with a traditional American viewpoint which recognizes that the populations religiosity inevitably reflects in public policy.　　Hawley also overlooks the decline in Christian affiliation and vitality in America. Instead, he describes growing arid secularism as an imposition of the left, leaving no moral order to bind us together. He insists that our countrys future requires renewing the influence of biblical faith in America, but fails to mention the responsibility of churches and individual Christians to transmit the faith more widely.　　While Hawley advocates for a specifically Christian politics, earlier Christian conservative thinkers like Francis Schaeffer, Carl Henry, Michael Novak, and Richard Neuhaus advocated for a Christian-friendly pluralism. They were concerned with evangelism, effective discipleship, and revitalizing the church. Any concern about a Christian America should begin with evangelism, discipleship, charitable works of mercy, and the construction of lasting Christian institutions to replace dying denominationalism.　　Developing a politics rooted in traditional Christian insights is important, but pretending that America can become more Christian through politics when the church is mostly in retreat is unreasonable. America will be more Christian when more Americans take Christianity seriously. As historian Mark Noll recently explained, Methodism became Americas largest church in the Second Great Awakening because it was largely non-political, although its rise had enormous social impact.　　In conclusion, Hawleys faith can be appreciated, but bringing America to God is the project of preachers, not politicians. If the scriptures are true, it begins with humility and a call to repentance.