Today’s empire requires neither annexation nor traditional expansion. Empire is “a situation in which a single state shapes the behavior of others, whether directly or indirectly, partially or completely, by means that can range from the outright use of force through intimidation, dependency, inducements, and even inspirations.” An empire is any “large, ambitious, and expanding nation determined to grow in size, power, and influence – a nation determined to overcome all obstacles that block its path to greatness.” One prominent author has coined the term “empire lite” to describe America’s empire of free market economy, democracy and human rights, enforced by the most awesome military power the world has ever known. Others put it more bluntly: The American Empire amounts to armed American global supremacy.
A year after 9/11 President Bush stood before the Statue of Liberty and said:
“The ideal of America is the hope of all mankind. That hope drew millions to this harbor. That hope still lights our way. And the light shines in the darkness. And the darkness will not overcome it. May God bless America.”
The intensely theological language in John 1:5 is in the past tense, “…and the darkness did not overcome it.” The use of the past tense is an acknowledgement of the accomplished wonder of Christ revealing his relationship to God and the salvation brought to all people. Christ is the life and the ‘true light’ and although threatened by the spiritual darkness of ignorance and confronted with rejection, the light was not overcome.
Bush’s rendering, on the other hand, strips the actual meaning of the text in order to give rhetorical significance to American values-freedom, human dignity, peace, and hope. By changing the tense, the light became descriptive of America’s present role in foreign affairs and the victory over darkness was made into something to still happen in the future. This use of scripture and the substitution of America for Christ are idolatrous.[1]
Peter Thompson
[1] Stephen B. Chapman, “Imperial Exegesis: When Caesar Interprets Scripture” in Anxious About Empire, ed. Wes Avram (Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2004)
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