Jeremy L. Berg

Thomas Nelson Publishers is about to release the New American Patriot’s Bible.  Here’s how they’re marketing it:

THE ONE BIBLE THAT SHOWS HOW ‘A LIGHT FROM ABOVE’ SHAPED OUR NATION. Never has a version of the Bible targeted the spiritual needs of those who love our country more than The American Patriot’s Bible. This extremely unique Bible shows how the history of the United States connects the people and events of the Bible to our lives in a modern world. The story of the United States is wonderfully woven into the teachings of the Bible and includes a beautiful full-color family record section, memorable images from our nation’s history and hundreds of enlightening articles which complement the New King James Version Bible text.

Greg Boyd weighs in on the questionable — or, according to Boyd — pervasively “idolatrous” agenda behind this new themed Bible. According to Boyd:

The Patriot’s Bible completely subverts Jesus’ teaching. George Washington’s perseverance in killing fellow Christians (who were, by the way, also fighting “for God and country”) becomes an illustration of Jesus’ teaching about the perseverance required in service the Kingdom of God. The dedication demanded of all who chose to carry the cross in the name of Christ (Mt 10:38; 16:24) has been cleverly stolen and used to encourage dedication in wielding the sword in the name of America. The call to persevere in sacrificing oneself while loving enemies has become a call to persevere in sacrificing one’s enemies to preserve one’s freedom….In my opinion, the pervasiveness and egregiousness of the nationalistic idolatry found in Patriot’s Bible is nothing short of shocking.”

So, how comfortable are you with comparing George Washington to Moses, or the American Independence to the Exodus from Egypt?  Do Jesus teachings to “love your enemies” jive well with the military legacy of noble American patriots?  These are only a few of the questions this new Bible forces Jesus followers to wrestle with.  

This project will no doubt evoke strong passions both for and against it.  I simply encourage you to read Greg Boyd’s series of reflections on this new Bible.  Before you jump to the wrong conclusion, Boyd is not taking to task any of this country’s brave soldiers or trying to be unpatriotic.  Boyd argues at length in The Myth of a Christian Nation that the church has a unique calling to imitate Christ’s Calvary love to the world, and that this calling must not be co-opted by other political agendas — no matter how noble they may be considered by “kingdom of the world” standards.  For Christ made it very clear that “My Kingdom is not of this world….

What do you think about the idea of the New American Patriot’s Bible?