The Idolatry of American Politicians

In the second debate between the major parties’ presidential candidates Sen. John McCain declared that “[T]he fact is, America is the greatest force for good in the history of the world.” Last week his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, said that the worldview she and Sen. McCain share is that America is to be “that shining city on a hill.” (This quote is often attributed to Pres. Ronald Reagan, but we all know it belongs to Jesus of Nazareth. Of course, Jesus was not speaking of the United States of America, but we will get to that soon enough.) Just yesterday Gov. Palin was quoted as saying, “We (her and Sen. McCain) see America as the greatest force for good in this world.”

Many, when hearing these words, nod in agreement and pronounce hearty “Amens!” Many conservative Christians’ ears perk up when they hear allusions to the Christian scriptures in political speeches. This is one of the reasons Pres. G.W. Bush was so ineluctably embraced by many of them when he was campaigning for president. It seems to me, however, that Christians, and other people of faith, should bristle when they hear such words. Why? Because it is idolatrous.

As a Christian, I call it heresy to proclaim any nation the “shining city on a hill.” That title belongs to the Kingdom of God established in the earthly ministry of Jesus. No earthly nation or government can claim that title, and to do so is to speak with such hubris that I am nervous walking around in such a nation for fear that God may decide to expose this idolatrous lie. To prop up the mightiest empire of our day with the words Jesus used to subvert the mightiest empire of his day is a perversion of Jesus’ words and an abuse of the biblical text. Christians should not be comfortable with such rhetoric.

To make such proclamations also denies history. America gained its land through genocide and violent war. It built its wealth on the backs of African slaves forcefully removed from their homeland. It is the only country to ever use atomic weapons in war. It has known very few years in its history where it has not been in military conflict. Its foreign policy has exploited millions of people’s around the world. Its stake in the global, capitalist, economic system has helped the rich get richer while the poor get poorer. Yes, America has contributed many advances in the world medically, technologically, politically and philosophically. I do not deny these contributions. They do not, however, negate the evil and injustice performed in the name of democracy and capitalism.

It makes me very nervous when I hear politicians use such language in their speeches, interviews and debates. It makes me even more nervous to know that there are people of faith who are accepting such rhetoric without questioning the theological problems with such statements. There can be no greater form of idolatry today than to proclaim that America has replaced God’s kingdom as the “shining city on a hill” and the “greatest force for good in the world.” It speaks to the arrogance and lack of humility present in our political rhetoric. It is a demonstration of the lack of critical theological thought in the lives of many American Christians.

If Gov. Palin and Sen. McCain truly believe these words they are wrong, and they espouse an idolatrous worldview. If they do not, they are misleading the American public and should be criticized for such manipulation. Let us, as people of faith, call out politicians when they use such statements to grab votes, and let us be careful of giving our votes to those with such a misguided theological understanding of America’s place in the world. Bad theology often equals bad politics. Let us keep that in mind as we examine these candidates.

A version of this was first posted on my seminary class blog “Religion and Politics” last night. Join the conversation there or here.