America Reads the Bible?

Reading the Bible is a good thing. I read the Bible, and several times I have read the Bible straight through, from cover to cover. And I am not the only one. Maybe you have done that. It is a good thing. Such a reader discovers all sorts of things that never make it into sermons and Sunday School lessons. But a reader also discovers the beautiful message of Holy Scripture, of one creation and one humanity, of loving God and loving our neighbor.

Yes, reading the Bible is a good thing, and somebody had a good idea some time ago: let’s celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States by reading the Bible.  The Bible has been an important book in the history of our nation, not as much as some people imagine and not as much as many of us want. Nevertheless, reading the Bible, every single verse, can be a good thing for everybody living in these United States.

Unless, of course, this reading of the Bible becomes a political thing; unless, this reading of the Bible is designed to include some people and ideas and exclude other people and ideas; unless, this reading is tied to one political party, even one religious community.

Every day, now, from morning until evening, people are executing a public reading of the whole Bible, cover to cover. This “America Reads the Bible” is hosted by the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC and is sponsored by a group called Christians Engaged. My search turned up an AI summary of information available: The reading “features top Republican leaders and conservative Christian figures….” And that is an accurate summary, best I can tell.

I have read through the list of readers and worship leaders (and yes, each day has a worship leader, which is generally an individual or group representing contemporary Christian music). Most of names I do not recognize, but those I researched come from evangelical megachurch culture and conservative political action organizations. There are many politicians on the reading lists, and all of them–all of them–are either current or former elected officials representing the Republican party.

I have not read the entire list of 475, but I have scanned through hundreds of names and not a Democrat is to be found. Not a Progressive is scheduled to read. Only two Catholic clergy, but certainly no Jewish leaders. You might think the Bible would transcend political and social divisions, but no, not on this watch. Reading the Bible itself becomes a means of segregating people and organizations into those acceptable and those rejected.

That is, instead of this Bible Reading extravaganza pulling us together as a nation to celebrate our moral and spiritual and religious heritage, it is being staged to deepen the wounds of division and discord.

There is a deep sadness in this public deception.  The cohort of Bible readers gathering this week in Washington had the opportunity to enact that great phrase of our pledge: One Nation Under God.  They could have opened up the Bible to all of us, like public libraries do, and public schools, and public parks, and businesses of all kinds. They could have used the Fourth of July model for public celebrations: “The orchestra is here, we will read the declaration of independence, bring your lawn chair and your kids and join together to sing of few familiar songs. We are all in this thing together.”

But no, not by a long shot.  These Bible Readers are the same charismatic, conservative, and crusading people who have taken over the federal government, some state legislatures, and even a few library boards to cram down our throats their vision of what it means to be American and Christian. Not even Pope Leo would be welcome at this public reading of the Bible.

This “America Reads the Bible” is just another sly strategy to install somebody’s version of White Christian America upon all of us. I don’t like it. You might, and if you so, you can watch online as people sing and read.  You have to register, though, and give your name and contact info, which is why I opted out.

But it might do you some good. It might help you get elected to the local school board or get your manuscript published. It might help you get a job.  But it is not going to help our nation address the issues that divide and demoralize us as a people. It is not going to heal our wounds and bind up our broken hearts. It is not going to promote unity and understanding because at its very core is the harsh judgment of who is righteous and who is wicked, who is worthy and who is unworthy, who does it right and who does it wrong.

The Bible is a book for all people, just like America is a nation for all people. The Bible is a book for saints and sinners and seekers, for Jews, Christians, Muslims, and believers of all kinds. We don’t all have to arrive at the same interpretation of the Bible to have our hearts warmed, our minds opened, and our spirits inspired by the story it tells.

This sectarian display of religiosity sits in contrast to the moon expedition two weeks ago, when four people (reflecting the diversity of our continent) climbed into that small manufactured capsule and sailed into space. I watched the launch, especially that filmed by some random passenger in a plane that happened to be flying over Florida. These four astronauts, from their vantage point in deep, dark space, could see afresh that one single sphere of beauty we call Earth. It was spectacular, and it demonstrated again, that we are all together for these moments of living and learning, of exploration and discovery, of wonder and worship; and it felt so good.