The Museum of the Bible, located in Washington, D.C., has unveiled its ‘Sacred Liberty’ exhibition. This exhibition celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States and highlights the Bible’s influence on America’s founding.
Senior curator Anthony Schmidt underscores the Bible’s significance during discussions about government roles and the origins of royal authority. He emphasizes that comprehending the Bible’s impact is essential for understanding the historical context behind key American documents like the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
The exhibit, which began on July 3, aligns closely with the museum’s mission. It seeks to utilize its expansive collection to narrate complex stories while honoring the convictions of its evangelical founders and board members, who affirm their faith in the Bible’s truth.
Schmidt clarifies that ‘Sacred Liberty’ suggests how vital the Bible was to revolutionary discourse. However, historian Catherine Brekus notes the exhibition focuses primarily on evangelical viewpoints, overlooking other narratives. Mark David Hall, a scholar from Regent University, believes that a correction is underway to emphasize the Bible’s significant role and influence in America’s founding history.
The ‘Sacred Liberty’ exhibition features various items to illustrate the Bible’s impact on America:
The Aitken Bible, known as the ‘Bible of the Revolution,’ was the first Bible printed in English in North America. Printer Robert Aitken received praise from the Continental Congress, though they chose not to fund its production. This reflects discussions about religion’s role in the new nation.
Thomas Jefferson’s letter to a Connecticut church praises the Constitution’s protection of religious liberty. Jefferson famously described the First Amendment as creating a ‘wall of separation between church and state,’ a principle recently challenged by Supreme Court rulings.
Judah Monis’s Hebrew textbook and other Jewish artifacts depict early Jewish life in colonial America. The exhibit does not mention the discrimination Jews faced, such as being barred from public office. It highlights Monis’s achievement as the first Jew to earn a college degree in the colonies, despite converting to Christianity to do so.
Jacob Duché’s sermon, delivered as chaplain to the Continental Congress, invoked divine protection for those resisting oppression. Though Duché later renounced the revolution, his story adds complexity to the exhibition’s narrative.
Overall, the ‘Sacred Liberty’ exhibition offers visitors a multifaceted view of the Bible’s significant contribution to America’s founding, though it’s shaped heavily by evangelical perspectives.