The “God Bless The USA” Bible
This week there was a news story about a Bible for sale at the price of $59.99. Of course, the headline grabbed my eye and I wanted to learn why this was making news? The more I read the more I became concerned because the Bible being sold is a symbol of Christian Nationalism.
On Wednesday former president Donald Trump posted on social media. “Happy Holy Week! Let’s Make America Pray Again. As we lead into Good Friday and Easter, I encourage you to get a copy of the God Bless the USA Bible.”
The message of inviting Americans to pray more frequently is one I agree with. I also appreciate the acknowledgment of Holy Week. That said, there are three things about this Bible and what it represents that deeply disturb me as a follower of Jesus.
First, the cover of the leather Bible has an American flag across the front of it. Maybe you are reading that thinking, “why does that bother you Pastor Mike?” We must remember that the Bible is God’s redemption story for all humanity and all creation. Centering the United States at the heart of that story could cause us to misinterpret what God is trying to do in the lives of all people around the world. Easter is not just for one country, it is an invitation to all the world.
Second, In addition to the 66 canonical books this Bible features a copy of the US Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and Pledge of Allegiance. These documents are important but they have never been considered the word of God or divinely inspired. As such, they should not be included within a pages of a Bible.
Third, this Bible is symbolic of the modern heresy of Christian Nationalism. You have probably heard or read about Christian Nationalism but have you ever heard it defined? Dr. David W. Scott a fellow United Methodist leader serving at the General Board of Global ministries offers a definition. “Christian nationalism identifies the nation with God's will and action in the world; conflates national and Christian identity; and identifies service of the nation with service of God.” This is different than voting for people candidates who are Christian or sharing Christian ideals that can influence policy decisions.
The witness of scripture and the life of Christ do not align with Christian Nationalism. Jesus says, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36) As followers of Jesus, our allegiance is always to Christ and the values the gospel. That allegiance and those values should always inform our actions as citizens of the United States or any other country. If you’d like to talk more about this topic or have further questions I’d welcome further conversation, email me at PastorMike@SpringChurch.org.
