The Danger of National Conceit

The mythology of the United States, those ideas that form the nation's self-image, includes the idea that the United States is the greatest society that has ever existed or will ever exist, although it will probably go on in greatness forever. This is accepted as an obvious fact by politicians from both major parties and by the general public. Questioning this is considered heresy. If any newly-elected senator said, "I would like to thank the voters of this state giving me the opportunity to proudly serve a pretty good country," his supporters would be appalled and wonder if he thought they had just elected him to the Canadian parliament.

Supporting this idea that the United States is the greatest nation of all time are other similar assumptions. Most Americans take for granted that democracy is the greatest political ideal and that the American brand of democracy is the best possible system of government. It is certainly better than all those crazy systems with prime ministers and unscheduled elections that no one really understands. Americans also take for granted that the ideals on which the nation was supposedly founded are the greatest of all ideals and that America is the greatest possible expression of those ideals.

I do not know how long this idea has dominated the way the United States views itself, but it is almost certain that this has not always been the case. The founders and their contemporaries were likely optimistic about their attempt to form a nation, but they would have been fools to think that it was the greatest one on earth. If not for an apathetic British populous and advantageously exploiting centuries of animosity between the French and English, the United Sates would not have won independence. For the majority of the time since the United States gained independence, the United Kingdom was more powerful. Elements of the myth of greatness likely arose with the idea of Manifest Destiny. It would be interesting to look at historical documents (letters, speeches, etc.) to see when and how this idea developed and gained popularity. I will leave any additional historical speculation or research to Daniel. As for contemporary influences, I believe that the emphasis on self-confidence and positive reinforcement in today's society has helped to reinforce this concept. People are taught to believe that they and everything they are a part of are the best some category and that category is the one that really matters.

This actually points to part of the reason that rational people accept this idea so completely. We judge ourselves by our own standards, and we assume that people in other countries are using the same standards. This is why we are confused when other countries don't like us, and we think that it must be because they are envious. The idea that America is the best is so deeply rooted that when we start slipping in one of our criterion of greatness we adjust the criterion.

I don't know exactly how other countries view themselves or us, but I assume that most are not so conceited as to think of themselves as the greatest nation of all time. Last summer I visited Scotland, and as soon as I got off the airplane I was amused to see posters welcoming me "to the best small country in the world." These were just tourism posters, of course; more serious Scottish self-evaluation is far less exalted. Some countries probably see themselves as the best at certain things or in certain categories, but few if any see themselves the way we do.

By this point, I have likely infuriated some people (if anyone is actually reading this), and such people may have quit reading, but in case any have made it this far, a few qualifications are in order. I am not saying that I do not think America is really great. America is great. It is the most powerful nation in the world. It has the highest GDP (nominal, PPP) of any nation in the world (although the total for the EU is higher by most measures). It has a good system of government. I really like it here. I like capitalism and the republican form of govern. The United States may be the greatest nation (whatever that means) in the world at the moment, but it is far too soon to make any historical judgments. The U.S. is still in its rookie season or sophomore season compared to the careers of the great empires of history. It is also foolish to claim that certain American ideals are superior to competing ideals in every way. God did not give ancient Israel a republic with three branches of government. Chances are that for some future society a different system will work much better than ours could.

Regardless of how great America may actually be, it is very dangerous to accept America's greatness as an absolute fact. For one, thinking that we are better than everyone else is a good way to make them all hate us. More importantly, accepting any uncertain principle as an absolute leads to a temptation to wrap it up with true absolutes. This is largely the cause of the misdirected passions of the religious right. If Christians accept certain political principles as absolutes, then it is logical to promote them with the same unwavering determination with which the gospel should be promoted. I am not saying that Christians should not be involved in or passionate about the political process. Christians should not, however, put any political ideal ahead of the gospel or anywhere near it. The gospel and all of Scripture should inform political decisions, but politics must never be made into a gospel. This is true for both domestic and international politics. God is neither a Republican nor an American. Just as Christians should not support any political party with absolute zeal, they should not support the spread of American political ideals overseas with absolute zeal. Instead, they should carefully and constantly examine the entirety of both in the light of the Scriptures.

If we are to stop thinking of America as the absolutely greatest nation of all time, we must develop a new image of our nation. I believe it is safe to apply the instructions given in Romans 12:3 to our nation as well as to ourselves: "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned" (ESV). I believe Philippians 2:3 is also applicable here: "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (ESV). Sober judgment and humility will serve us well as we think about ourselves and our nation.