Biblical Foundations of U.S. Government and Law

Introduction

The Bible is a core foundational document that helped shape the United States of America. Many of the policies and procedures adopted by government during the country's founding bear strong influences from the Christian Bible. These principles include the role of God and how he provides meaning and influence in the lives of others — an influence that shapes behavior in society and informs many of the checks and balances Americans benefit from today.

The notions of justice and fairness in American society have their roots in biblical text. Likewise, the imperative to help others and show kindness to fellow human beings underlies many of the humanitarian efforts present throughout the nation's founding. Indirectly, the Bible has also reinforced the strong sense of national pride many Americans feel. According to the Bible, God made man in his own image, and many Americans have come to believe that their country embodies the ideals of God through worship and obedience to his word. The greatness the country has experienced over the years is, for many citizens, attributed to God's blessing — reinforcing belief in the influence of Christianity on daily life. American society therefore uses the wealth and power of America as a justification that the principles espoused by Christianity are correct and warranted (Berkhof, 2015).

Inalienable Rights and Biblical Influence

Among the specific biblical concepts that have contributed to the role of government in the United States, the first is that of inalienable rights. One of the most famous passages from the American founding documents reads:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."

A core tenet of this preamble is the concept of inalienable rights — rights endowed by God to man that cannot be revoked. This concept draws directly from the Bible in acknowledging the universal power of God and man's inability to challenge these rights. Essentially, these rights are conferred at birth and must therefore be honored by society. Initially, this concept was somewhat contradictory, given that the men who created the preamble were all wealthy, land-owning white men. As is well documented, enslaved people and white women were not included in the phrase "all men are created equal." However, this general premise has since enabled society to extend rights to women and minorities in order to better adhere to the principles of equality and inalienable rights for all people (Boys, 2019).

Congress has also been granted enumerated powers such as levying taxes, maintaining the military, declaring war, coining money, regulating commerce, and making laws. These powers are kept in check through other branches of government. The Legislative branch has the authority to declare war; the Executive branch has the power to veto legislation and helps enforce laws; and the Judicial branch interprets the laws and can determine whether certain laws are unconstitutional. Together, these mechanisms prevent any one branch from accumulating too much power. A recent example occurred with the vaccination mandate issued through executive order, which the Judicial branch subsequently ruled unconstitutional. This policy sought to leverage biblical principles of care and advocacy for those suffering in society, yet it also violated the rights and sovereignty of other citizens and was therefore struck down (Burgess, 2017).

Natural Law, Church and State, and the Sin-Crime Distinction

The next concept is that of natural law — a system of laws based on human nature and intrinsic human values. This concept closely resembles that of inalienable rights in that these rights are not conferred by a legislative act but are instead given by nature. Natural law is referenced extensively in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. In fact, the concept has been present in human civilization since the Roman Empire, due in part to the work of the Christian philosopher Thomas Aquinas. The prevailing thesis behind natural law is that human beings are sentient creatures who possess reason — a distinguishing trait given by the divine. Because of this, all human lives are considered sacred and of infinite value compared to other objects in the world. Romans 2:15 speaks to this concept directly: "They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them."

In addition to inalienable rights and natural law, the founding of the nation also sought to separate church and state. This concept, too, has origins that predate American civilization. The separation of church and state allows individuals to worship as they see fit without interference from government. The prevailing rationale is that man should not possess the legislative power to direct the activities of God or the Church. Without this separation, individuals might claim authority over religious institutions as a means of expanding their own power. By maintaining the separation, society acknowledges the distinct and sovereign authority of God within civilization (Clark, 2016).

The distinction between sin and crime is another mechanism used to maintain society and its biblical principles. Throughout the Bible, sin was heavily condemned by both God and society. The Ten Commandments contain principles that remain embedded in modern society. For a society to function successfully, its members must refrain from stealing, murder, lying, and other acts that undermine social order. Many of these biblical tenets have therefore been codified in American law and are subject to serious punishment when violated. These offenses are often characterized as sins in the Bible, and society is structured to mitigate their occurrence (Bennett, 2002).