Several things in the last several days have prompted me to
remember and affirm that all economic and political philosophies are of human
invention, not mandated by God. Justice and compassion for people who are poor,
weak, needy, widowed, orphaned, foreign are consistently biblical from Genesis
to Revelation. Both the “capitalism and socialism,” “conservatism and
liberalism” that vie for attention in our time have features that support and
undermine this fundamental biblical value. It seems to me that when Bible
people (Christians of all varieties and yes, Jews too) advocate for any
particular political or economic philosophy, demonstrating how it actually
brings justice and compassion for people who are poor, weak, needy, widowed,
orphaned, foreign is essential and central.
Of course, these are just the philosophies of our time. In
previous generations the politics of empire, Christendom, feudalism, enlightenment,
and more prompted other debates. In our time of multiple Bible translations,
some quarters have argued for the “Authorized Version,” known as the King James
Bible for literary, theological, and certainly political reasons. I find an
interesting parallel to our time. The Reformation, Guttenberg’s printing press,
political instability in England and elsewhere in Europe was fertile soil for
the multiplication of new English translations of the Bible. King James (not
church and certainly not God) authorized a translation to head off the Puritans
who were a rising political force threatening the throne. So King James wanted
to be sure the translation he authorized supported the principle of the divine
right of kings, and insured that certain passages were slanted that way.
A related curiosity is how the translators dedicated their
work to King James and called him “the defender of the faith.” His inheritance
of that title came through King Henry VIII. On October 11, 1521 Pope Leo X gave
that title to King Henry VIII for his book Defense of the Seven Sacraments which defended the
primacy of the Pope and opposed the Reformation, especially the ideas of Martin
Luther. When Henry VIII broke with Rome and made himself head of the Church of
England in 1530 over his divorce and marriage and other political issues, the
title was revoked by Pope Paul III, but in 1544 the English Parliament conferred
the title on Henry VIII and his successors. While making exact
correlations is dangerous at best, I do find it simultaneously amusing and
sobering to consider the parallels with some current religious leaders’
affirmations of Donald Trump as God’s choice for US President, though his
marital and sexual history is at some variance with what has been conventional
Christian teaching.
Here is the King James Bible translators’ dedication of their
work. I believe the all caps are original, which is also amusing in our social
network norms of considering all caps to be unnecessary shouting.
TO THE MOST HIGH AND
MIGHTY PRINCE, JAMES, by the Grace of God, KING OF GREAT
BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRELAND, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, etc. The
Translators of the Bible wish Grace, Mercy, and Peace through JESUS
CHRIST our Lord.
I know this may seem to be disconnected stream of
consciousness and different thoughts have rumbled around in my mind the last
several days. You are welcome to write it off as just so much random rambling,
but I do hope I evoked at least a smile or two (even if grimly) and prompted
some reflection on the cacophony of ideas and words swirling around us these
days.
