The Ballot and the Bible

1. The Bible's role in shaping American political identity

We are a Bible-haunted nation.

Biblical language permeates American politics. From John Winthrop's "city upon a hill" sermon to modern presidential speeches, Scripture has been used to articulate American identity and purpose. This reflects a deep desire for transcendent meaning in political life, but also risks misappropriating biblical texts for nationalist aims.

The challenge is twofold:

• Recognizing the Bible's formative influence on American culture and rhetoric
• Distinguishing between faithful application and self-serving misuse of Scripture

Biblical interpretation in politics often reveals more about the interpreter's context and biases than about the text itself. Understanding this history can help Christians approach political engagement with greater wisdom and humility.

2. Revolutionary era: Conflicting biblical interpretations of authority

We all cherry-pick verses. There is sometimes a good impulse at the heart of this mistake.

Loyalists and Patriots both claimed biblical support. Loyalist clergy emphasized Romans 13's call to submit to governing authorities, while Patriots drew on Old Testament stories of liberation and resistance to unjust rule. This illustrates how the same biblical texts can be used to support opposing political positions.

Key lessons:

• Context shapes interpretation: Political circumstances influence how we read Scripture
• Selective emphasis: Both sides chose texts that supported their predetermined views
• Narrative power: Patriots effectively used biblical stories to inspire action

This period highlights the need for a holistic approach to Scripture in politics, considering the full biblical narrative rather than isolated proof-texts.

3. Civil War: Scripture used to defend and oppose slavery

We miss this covenant when we appropriate covenants with Israel for our own countries—to our own peril.

Slavery debate revealed deep hermeneutical divisions. Pro-slavery Christians cited passages seeming to condone slavery, while abolitionists emphasized broader biblical themes of human dignity and liberation. Enslaved people found hope and strength in exodus narratives and prophetic calls for justice.

Contrasting approaches:

• Pro-slavery: Literal readings of specific texts
• Abolitionist: Emphasis on general moral principles
• Black Christians: Identifying with biblical stories of oppression and deliverance

This era demonstrates how social location and lived experience profoundly shape biblical interpretation, especially regarding issues of justice and oppression.

4. Social Gospel movement: Applying the Bible to social reform

We need to examine what influences are shaping our voting habits.

Progressive Christians sought biblical basis for social reform. The movement emphasized Jesus' teachings on caring for the poor and biblical visions of societal transformation. Critics argued this approach reduced the gospel to social activism.

Key debates:

• Individual vs. social sin
• Spiritual vs. material interpretations of Scripture
• Role of government in realizing biblical ideals

The Social Gospel legacy challenges Christians to consider how faith should inform engagement with systemic injustice while maintaining focus on personal spiritual transformation.

5. Civil Rights era: Biblical language fueling social change

King was preaching. He wove the story of the civil rights movement into the biblical story—the story of an oppressed people, promised flourishing by God, awaiting God's redemptive work on behalf of all creation.

Martin Luther King Jr. exemplified prophetic use of Scripture. King and other civil rights leaders drew extensively on biblical language and narratives to articulate their vision for racial justice. This approach connected contemporary struggles to the broader story of God's liberating work in history.

Key elements of King's biblical approach:

• Exodus narrative as paradigm for liberation
• Prophetic critique of injustice
• Vision of beloved community rooted in Scripture

King's legacy challenges Christians to see themselves as part of an ongoing story of God's redemptive work in the world, with implications for how we engage in social and political life.

6. Cold War: Eschatology and political engagement

We need to examine what feelings we might bring with us to the biblical text—fear we are looking to inflame, anger we are looking to justify, sadness we are looking to heal—so that we can be aware of how they might influence our reading.

End-times beliefs shaped political attitudes. Popular books like The Late Great Planet Earth connected biblical prophecy to current events, influencing views on foreign policy and social issues. This often led to a focus on predicting future events rather than applying biblical ethics to present challenges.

Challenges of prophetic interpretation:

• Overconfidence in mapping biblical prophecy onto current events
• Neglect of Scripture's ethical teachings in favor of speculative timelines
• Risk of passivity or fatalism in political engagement

This period highlights the need for a more holistic approach to biblical eschatology that emphasizes faithful living in the present while maintaining hope for God's future redemption.

7. Modern presidencies: Faith, policy, and biblical rhetoric

We do not need to avoid Christian convictions in public life because others have misused or abused them.

Presidents navigate complex relationship between faith and politics. George W. Bush emphasized personal faith while avoiding explicit policy connections. Barack Obama more directly linked biblical principles to specific policies. Both faced challenges in articulating the role of faith in a pluralistic society.

Key tensions:

• Personal faith vs. public policy
• Biblical language in a diverse society
• Expectations of religious voters

This era reveals ongoing debates about the proper role of religious convictions in shaping public policy and political rhetoric.

8. Trump era: Redefining Christian political engagement

Rather than focusing on "literal" interpretations of Scripture, we should examine the hermeneutics we're bringing to the text.

Trump's presidency challenged traditional evangelical approaches. Many Christian leaders used biblical language to justify support for Trump despite concerns about his character. This often involved reinterpreting passages like "render unto Caesar" to create a sharp divide between personal morality and political engagement.

Key shifts:

• Emphasis on political outcomes over personal character
• Reinterpretation of biblical teachings on authority
• Debates over the meaning of "Christian" political engagement

This period highlights the need for careful examination of how political loyalties can shape biblical interpretation and ethical reasoning.

9. Jeremiah 29: A model for faithful political participation

We need to have prophetic Christians today—not people who enjoy feeling brash or bold or who joyfully enter into conflict, but people who can carefully and courageously read God's Word and God's world.

Jeremiah's letter to exiles offers timely wisdom. The passage has been interpreted differently throughout history, but it consistently challenges God's people to seek the welfare of their broader community while maintaining distinct identity and values.

Key principles:

• Engaged presence: Participate in society without assimilation
• Long-term perspective: Work for flourishing even in difficult circumstances
• Dual loyalty: Seek the good of earthly cities while ultimate allegiance is to God's kingdom

Jeremiah 29 provides a model for political engagement that avoids both withdrawal and uncritical embrace of dominant culture, calling Christians to faithful witness in complex political landscapes.

Last updated: November 24, 2024