Imago Dei vs. American Bigotry

Who is included in “We the people”?

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AS THE UNITED STATES celebrates its 250th birthday this year, I am thinking about who is included in the “We the people” of the Constitution’s preamble. This is particularly urgent in light of the MAGA movement, the largest effort in over a generation to redefine who and what is truly American.

Since its inception our nation has been in a tug of war between those seeking to narrow “We the people” to primarily white men and those seeking to expand it to include every person. Sadly, white evangelical Christians remain more fearful and resistant to the nation’s changing demographics compared to all other religious groups, as recent surveys from both Pew and PRRI have shown. Rather than a source of hope and a glimpse of the kingdom to come, our increasing diversity has been used to build political power by stoking anxiety and prejudice.

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