[rating:3.0]
(New York: Penguin Books, 2016)
260 pgs
Eric Metaxas is an entertaining writer who has a gift for bringing influential leaders from history alive with his pen. His biographies of Wilberforce and Bonhoeffer are outstanding. This particular book is an interesting commentary on American “exceptionalism.” He argues that the United States was founded on a daringly new and radical concept– liberty for all (19). The reason their bold innovation worked, Metaxas argues, is because it was based on a moral people who were guided by their faith. Metaxas’ concern for today is that Americans have largely lost sight of what has made their nation great and, when you forget your past, you forget who you are. And, when a great nation forgets who it is, it will cease to be great.
Metaxas bases the title of his book on an encounter Benjamin Franklin had with a woman. Asked if he and the other founding fathers had created a republic or a monarchy, Franklin replied, “A republic, madam—if you can keep it” (9). Franklin well understood that they had just conceived something unprecedented and he was well aware of the dangers it faced. It’s greatest enemies, however, lay not without, but within. Should American ever lose sight of the great work that had been accomplished, they would be in danger of losing their freedom. Metaxas comments: “It’s our job to ‘keep’ the republic called America, and we can hardly keep what we don’t know we have” (21).
Metaxas argues that much of what has made America unique for over two centuries is being eroded today. For one, other nations have embraced America’s ideas and so not only are they no longer viewed as unique, they are not even viewed as American (22).
Metaxas argues that the daring idea of America was in the concept of self-government (77). Except for a short period in small Greek cities, no nation had been ruled by its citizens before. However, the founding fathers recognized that people could not rule themselves without falling into mob rule if there was not some restraining force that motivated them to act virtuously. That important ingredient to a just society was religion, or faith (34). Metaxas notes, “They knew that religious people were less likely to misbehave” (34). Metaxas concludes: “The faith and virtue of the American people made possible the most free nation in the history of the world” (37).
Metaxas cites Os Guinness and his concept of the “Golden Triangle of Freedom” from his book, A Free Peoples’ Suicide (37). In that book, Guinness claims there are three sides to a free nation. He argues that Freedom requires virtue. A depraved society cannot manage itself. It will inevitably degenerate into anarchy and a dictator will emerge to bring about order. Second, virtue requires faith. It is nonsense to believe that people will simply act virtuously on their own. Guinness notes that the west was deeply influenced by Judeo-Christian ethics. Unlike the French Revolution that was based on secularism and anti-church sentiment, America was founded on the foundation of Judea-Christian beliefs. Third, faith requires freedom. That is, you cannot legislate belief. You can only provide freedom for people to believe.
Metaxas cites the observation of Benjamin Franklin who noted that “only virtuous people . . . are capable of freedom.” (55). He also examines the famous observations of Alexis de Tocqueville who observed the United States in 1831. He wrote: “Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great” (59). He went on to note: “While the law permits the Americans to do what they please, religion prevents them from conceiving, and forbids them to commit, what is rash or unjust” (64).
Metaxas is concerned that as the United States becomes increasingly unreligious, the basis of its virtue is being eroded. Without common decency and morals, society will devolve into anarchy. Today, people take America’s strength and future for granted, but they fail to understand the nature of its greatness, or that it is not guaranteed.
I agree with the basic tenets Metaxas puts forth. Especially in recent days, it has been appalling to watch American society seemingly degenerating on numerous fronts. Corruption, immorality, and a constant drive to push indecency to deeper and deeper levels, are all signs that a common moral standard and belief is no longer undergirding the nation.
Metaxas argues that Liberals make the mistake of assuming that liberty is the same as license. That is, for a people to be free, they should be allowed to indulge in any depth of depravity they choose without any intervention from others. Metaxas claims that Conservatives make the mistake of assuming that, if given their freedom, people will naturally embrace it and cherish it. Recent history has proven that people who have not been educated to understand virtue or freedom, are not prepared to handle freedom when it is given to them.
While I enjoy Metaxas’ style and his ability to bring to life ancient heroes, I do at times question some of what can appear to be idealized history. For example, he asks, “Who today would dare to say the poor should look after themselves and that no one bears any responsibility to help them?” (74). Apparently Metaxas does not read right wing blogs or listen to right wing podcasts! There are many on the extreme right wing who resent giving any of their tax money for such causes as helping the poor. This lack of concern is most likely further evidence that the virtue and faith of America has eroded.
Metaxas also tends to give too much credit to American heroes such as Franklin, Jefferson, and Lincoln. He argues that Jefferson must have been a person of faith due to some of his writings (66). This seems a bit naïve. Clearly Jefferson was well-versed in the literature of that day which made ample use of biblical imagery. Nevertheless, it is clear that neither he nor Lincoln ever came to a personal faith in the Christ of Scripture.
Metaxas also states, “Since the Pilgrims came to our shores in 1620, religious freedom and religious toleration has been the single most important principle of American life” (70). Again, this may be true, but it needs to be qualified. New England Congregationalists were indeed concerned with their own religious freedom to worship in a manner of their own choosing without fear of the Church of England harassing them. However, Congregationalists often acted as if theirs was the only true and acceptable way to worship God and they were not adverse arresting and persecuting those who did not hold to their views. Anabaptists, Quakers, and Baptists were whipped and jailed by Congregationalists who supposedly believed in religious freedom. Baptists and others in Virginia and suffered much discrimination until the First Amendment was finally added to the Constitution. While it is true that America provided more liberty than any other major nation on earth for religion, that was something that had to be worked out over time.
Metaxas describes George Whitefield as the Founding Spiritual father of America” (113). Whitefield’s declaration that every man was accountable to God, helped to create an egalitarian system where even the magistrates were to be judged for how they treated those under their rule. And, while not arguing that Whitefield played an enormous role in shaping the American culture before the Revolution, Metaxas may be overstating the case to say of Whitefield, “without whom the United States simply could not have come into being” (77).
Metaxas does make a strong case for knowing the heroes” of the past. He declares, “After all, if we don’t know the stories of America, how can we know America?” (131). Metaxas would argue that the statues and memorials of America’s past need to be preserved so we know our past, both good and bad, so that we know ourselves, both the good and evil of which we are capable.
Metaxas argues for American “exceptionalism” (182). While such a concept was downplayed under Barak Obama, Metaxas argues that America has truly made an enormous contribution to the world and Americans; need to be reminded of it. Metaxas argues that it is good to love one’s country, as long as it is a healthy, honest love. For that, a nation’s people must be educated and helped to know and understand its past.
Metaxas closes the book by citing Abraham Lincoln’s warning that no outside enemy can destroy America, but America can kill itself from within (216).
Overall I enjoyed this book. In light of the condition of American society today, it is a stark warning. Americans take far too much for granted. Americans assume they are good and great because they are Americans. This is a very relevant book for today. Metaxas makes use of the voices of the past to help shine a clear light on our path of today.
by Richard Blackaby