President's words should show understanding of religious diversity

By J. Brent Walker

Reflections
March 5, 2003

The president's speeches and public pronouncements over the past several months — laced as they have been with evangelical religious rhetoric — have caused some to question the propriety of politicians associating their policy aims so closely with one religious point of view. From talking heads on television to radio call-in programs to the news print media, commentators and the public thoroughly aired the topic. For better or worse, it clearly belies the mistaken assertion that we have a "naked public square" when it comes to religion.

My take on it is that we must grapple with the tension created by our understanding that we have a separation of church and state in this country, but not a divorcement of religion from politics.

American politicians do not have to check their religious beliefs at the door when they enter public office. Nor should they have to mute their expression of that faith in words and conduct. I respect the faith convictions of Mr. Bush and other American politicians.

But Mr. Bush was elected to serve as a political leader, not a religious leader. And he is the political leader of the whole nation, not one segment of the religious community. His pronouncements should reflect the understanding that he is president of all the people in this religiously diverse, religious-freedom-loving nation.

In short, this should cause the president to temper his religious rhetoric and exercise more of that old-fashioned Christian virtue of humility — something he said he would do when he ran for office.

This by no means discounts the president's role as something of a "comforter-in-chief." From the Oklahoma City bombing, to September 11, to the Columbia tragedy, presidents of both parties have led the nation in this way. And, when offered with sensitivity and a broad view, religious themes can unite and comfort the nation. However, when done to excess and from a narrow theological perspective, they are divisive and discomforting for many Americans.

It only exacerbates the problem to use religious language without referring to it as such — to use code words to address a religious message to a particular religious community. For example, in his State of the Union Address, the president spoke of the "wonder-working power of the … faith of the American people." As I was sitting in the galleries that evening and heard those words roll out, the hymn I have sung a hundred times in church — "There Is Power in the Blood" — rang in my ears. I am sure millions of evangelical Protestants across the country reacted the same way. Of course, the hymn is not about the public spirit of the American people; it is about salvation in Jesus Christ. The hymn goes on to say: "there is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r in the blood of the Lamb." That phrase clearly was intended to appeal to a particular political/religious constituency.

The impending war with Iraq ups the ante on all of this. Some have called it a "holy war." To his credit the president has said the war should not be about religion. But the cumulative effect of his public theological verbiage contradicts that claim. If anything, one would think that he would go out of his way to avoid suggesting that God is on our side — as something of a cheerleader for American foreign policy.

Again, I'm not saying that religious beliefs should not inform the president's decisions. In many ways, it is more a question of degree, style and rhetoric. But I do believe that it is wrong to baptize one's policy aims in the sacred water of divine approval. If the policy turns out badly — and they all fail to some extent — God is left with much of the blame.

It is true, as Justice Douglas once pointed out, Americans are a "religious people." Public discourse should reflect that fact. However, we live in a constitutional democracy, not a theocracy, with a dizzying religious diversity along with millions of citizens who are nonbelievers.

The president should appreciate that he leads all Americans, not just those with whom he goes to church.