I had to look that phrase up, because it seems to invoke a lot of arguing and finger pointing. Here is a good operating definition from the Britannica:
"American exceptionalism, idea that the United States of American is a unique and even morally superior country for historical, ideological, or religious reasons. Proponents of American exceptionalism generally pair the belief with the claim that the United States is obligated to play a special role in global politics." [1]
This definition played out when we landed on the moon in 1969. As a kid, it seemed that there was nothing we couldn't do as a nation.
My history books seem to imply that when we made our way out West, it was one vast empty plain. I remember one Indian attack, on a poor hapless woman evangelist. Imagine my surprise when I learned about the complexities existing between native peoples and westward expansion. Dances With Wolves was a revelation.
Slavery? We focused on the Emancipation Proclamation. That was about it.
Back then, it was easy to believe America got it right every time, or at least, rarely got it wrong.
I am not here to bash America. It has become very trendy to point out all of our faults, seriously flawed beliefs and failures. That is why Trump seems so out of place in the public arena for a lot of people. His beliefs about America echo what I heard growing up and what I read about in my history books.
Was what I learned all wrong? No, I don't believe so. I think a lot of it was not discussed, because it didn't fit the idea of American Exceptionalism, so it was left out. I perceived that Viet Nam seem to be a mistake, only because my dad was angry about it. We consoled ourselves with the thought that at least we got out with what Nixon called "Peace with honor." The war and its destructive effects on our soldiers and America's confidence in itself took decades to heal, but we carried on with our definition of our greatness.
I remember a college professor who taught exactly the opposite of what I had been taught. When I asked him about this, he said, "I am teaching the other side." I hadn't really thought there was another side.
Yes, there was.
The Jewish people, the chosen people, had that same sense of destiny and being special. They were to be a blessing to all nations, as God told Abraham, who had been willing to offer up his son:
"I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” (Gen. 22:17-18)
Peter takes this idea and applies it to include those who follow Jesus, whether Jew or Gentile: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9)
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
Why did God chose the Jewish people? He tells them:
"The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments." (Deut. 7:7-9)
For what purpose were they chosen? God tells Moses: "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Ex. 19:5-6)
Priests point to God, teach about God and live in such a manner that people may know about Him by watching how His people live.
Imagine then, the day Jesus and His disciples were in Jerusalem for the Passover. They stood in utter awe of the Temple. It was a mind-boggling and breathtaking architectural achievement. But more than that: God resided there.
God's house. Chosen people. Exceptional among the nations.
But He blew them away:
"Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 'Do you see all these things?' he asked. 'Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.'” (Matt. 24:1-2)
I am sure the disciples were dumbfounded. They wanted to soften this statement by Jesus, and put it in its larger (read: future) context--someday, far away from now (the disciples were hoping) and they asked Him to explain. The picture He painted was scary, but seemed far off... They must have breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe, they thought, Jesus was just being metaphorical. He loved to teach in parables, after all.
But it was only about 40 years in the future.
What is known as the Great Revolt, where some Jewish radicals, disgusted with the Romans, rose up in Galilee in 66 AD. For several years, many uprisings occurred, and the Roman army, in characteristic fashion, crushed these revolts. By 70 AD, the Romans went in without mercy into Jerusalem after a siege, and threw down the walls of the mighty Temple just as Jesus predicted. The army looted the Holy Place and Holy of Holies. They killed or enslaved the Jewish people. There were a few more revolts, and by the 130's, the Jews were exiled altogether from Israel, and would not return until 1948.
It was catastrophic.
This echoes the destruction of Israel (the northern kingdom) by the Assyrians in 732 BCE and the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 587 BCE, resulting in their captivity in Babylon for 70 years.
There, God allowed pagan nations to punish His people for their disobedience of His laws and decrees. They disregarded their exceptionalism and took on the practices of their pagan neighbors: worshipping idols and engaging in their practices of sexual immortality and child sacrifice. They were no longer acting as priests to the nations.
Or, as in the Great Revolt, they grew weary of their oppression and took matters into their own hands, ignoring God and assuming He'd just get on board once they started. They believed in God, but believed even more in their just cause.
Pagan practices. Disloyalty to God. Failure to act and behave in a manner that behooved the chosen of God. It's as if God said, You so admire pagan practices, pagan ways and pagan kings. You will come out from under My eagles' wings, and live, die and be scattered by those people you so admire and emulate.
Their exceptionalism demanded they be acceptable to God.
And they weren't.
Are we a kind of Israel? The American exceptionalism definition seems to have an implied affinity with Israel--that we have been chosen by God.
But is our exceptionalism being lived out, or are we imitating the ways and behaviors of nations that have turned away from God? Are we taking matters into our own hands, trying to be progressive, savvy and not burdened with conventional morality?
There were certainly Jews who did not go along with what their kings were doing and how their neighbors were acting. They listened to the prophets who warned the nation and tried to make changes.
But overall?
God used His word, His prophets and an occasional king to try to turn the people back to Himself. But the people ignored Him. Judgment came. This sad biblical history of blessing, descending into disobedience, ignoring warning and then receiving judgment is there for one reason: To teach humanity that God takes very seriously that nations uphold His morality.
Micah put it so well:
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God." (6:8)
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God." (6:8)
The bar was set higher for His chosen.
We have set the bar higher for our nation, seeing it as exceptional.
Consequently, are we acting in ways that are acceptable to God?
[1] https://www.britannica.com/topic/American-exceptionalism
