As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., presents an essential exhibition titled “Sacred Liberty.” Founded nine years ago, the museum aims to ignite curiosity in Christian scriptures, focusing on their historical impact.

The Museum’s Mission

Senior curator Anthony Schmidt highlights the Bible’s influence during America’s founding. He mentions that while key documents like the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence don’t explicitly discuss faith, excluding the Bible’s impact misses a crucial historical element.

The exhibition opened on July 3, presenting a complex narrative. It aligns with the museum’s mission to use its extensive collection to underscore the truth of the Bible, as affirmed by its evangelical founders and board members.

Varying Perspectives

Catherine Brekus, a historian at Harvard, notes the exhibition focuses heavily on evangelical viewpoints. However, she stresses that it omits other perspectives on the Bible’s role in revolutionary discourse.

Mark David Hall of Regent University describes the exhibition as a necessary correction. He argues that recent decades have downplayed the Bible’s significance in America. According to him, the Bible was a crucial text in the nation’s founding.

Highlighted Artifacts

The exhibition showcases several significant artifacts.

• The Aitken Bible: This artifact was the first Bible printed in English in North America, often referred to as the “Bible of the Revolution.” Congress praised its printer, Robert Aitken. However, it’s important to note Congress declined to finance its printing, reflecting ongoing debates about religion’s role in the new nation.
• Thomas Jefferson’s Letter: Jefferson’s 1809 message to a Connecticut church underscores religious liberty. He praises the Constitution for safeguarding individual conscience from governmental overreach. His famous concept of the “wall of separation between church and state” appears in an 1802 letter. The exhibit’s timing coincides with contemporary shifts in the Supreme Court’s approach to religion.
• Judah Monis’s Textbook: As the first Hebrew textbook printed in America, it symbolizes early Jewish existence in colonial times. Alongside a prayer book and marriage contract, these items reveal Jewish participation in American society. Yet, the exhibit does not address the discrimination faced by this community, such as exclusion from public office or religious restrictions.
• Jacob Duché’s Sermon: Duché, the first Continental Congress chaplain, delivered notable sermons during the Revolution. His 1775 sermon, shown in the exhibition, follows his famous address to the Continental Congress. Despite his later retraction of revolutionary support, Duché’s sermons remain an intriguing part of revolutionary history.