Mr Johnson’s brand of Christianity is decidedly right-wing, and he has since come under a lot of criticism and condemnation, which for a politician who chooses to put his religious beliefs at the center of his public life That’s completely natural. But Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), whose progressivism on issues related to economic justice is rooted in the social teachings of the Catholic tradition, has a different approach to the issue.
DeLauro and I have previously discussed the relationship between religion and politics, so when she called me recently to report that she was thinking a lot about Johnson’s comments about the Bible explaining his outlook, I wasn’t surprised. Her purpose, she said, was not to question Mr. Johnson’s commitment to Christianity. On the contrary, DeLauro went out of his way to honor Johnson’s spiritual life.
“He’s a man of faith, and that’s where I start,” DeLauro said. “And he said his beliefs were rooted in the Bible, which many of us believe. It is full of guidance such as caution,” she said. “And the Bible presents a faith-based policy agenda that supports social justice.”
She then departed, citing the Exodus command not to oppress the poor and strangers, and saying that her cry would be heard by God. Leviticus talks about setting aside a share of the harvest for the poor. The Gospel of Matthew about the need for a living wage. James’ letter about the duty not to show favoritism to the rich over the poor.
There’s a lot more to where this came from because the Bible has a lot to say about these issues. But not content to rely solely on his intuition, Mr. DeLauro consulted with his friend (and constituent) Reverend Frederick Street of Yale Divinity School and his collaborators at the Children’s Defense Fund to understand what the Bible says. I thought thoroughly about what I was asking for. Their conclusion (and I share it) is that it’s hard not to take the Bible seriously and listen to what it teaches about poverty, justice, and overcoming oppression.
Mr. DeLauro is a tough, pragmatic politician accustomed to rough negotiations. She can play hard, but she’s not used to softening public judgment for the sake of civility. As a practical matter, there is no doubt that Mr. DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, will fight with Mr. Johnson over budget issues, but this may well be influenced by how both parties read the scriptures. It is in.
But in this case, DeLauro wanted to make clear that he was not criticizing Johnson in any way, no matter how much he disagreed with him on many questions. Instead, she wants to invite him into a dialogue about what it means to take the Bible seriously. When I asked her what message she was trying to send to her speakers, she suggested preaching rather than dogma.
“You are a person of faith. I believe myself to be a woman of faith. And how our faith traditions guide us, we divide people. That we were raised to build bridges, not to serve. To care for the vulnerable, to feed the hungry, to welcome the stranger, to act as a community. Don’t use the very important tenets of your faith as divisive.
“Only a few thousand of us have ever served in this agency,” she continued, referring to Congress. “Let us take this opportunity to make government an instrument of peace, an instrument of justice, and an instrument of equality that uplifts all people, so that people can understand one another and respect one another.”
The spirit of her intervention reminds us that Christianity is best seen as a challenge rather than an identity, a call to reason together. This rarely happens, so you’re lucky when you encounter it.
It also serves as a reminder that no political party or political movement has a monopoly on faith.
As the Civil War drew to a close, Abraham Lincoln encouraged both countries to engage in bloody conflict. It is about realizing that “we both read the same Bible, we pray to the same God, and we both seek God’s help for the other.” When it comes to the political life of this now more religiously diverse nation, it’s always good to heed the first Republican president’s call for humility regarding God and the Bible.