Across the country, it’s not uncommon for a state lawmaker to open up a Bible during a legislative debate to admonish their colleagues about how to vote on a bill. As a result of such attempts to legislate an interpretation of Scripture and efforts to codify Christianity in public schools and other government spaces, some state lawmakers have risen to speak against Christian Nationalism and its threat to constitutional governance of a pluralistic society. What’s a bit unusual is when the denouncement of Christian Nationalism and the reading of the Bible to justify a vote occur in the same speech. Yet, that occurred multiple times this week in Minnesota as lawmakers debated a proposal to take away health care coverage for undocumented workers.
The issue emerged as the state’s leaders sought to avoid a government shutdown amid an impasse over budget negotiations. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (the state party affiliated with the national Democratic Party) controls the governor’s office (with Tim Walz) and holds a narrow one-seat majority in the state Senate. However, the House is split evenly in a power-sharing agreement between the DFL and the Republican Party of Minnesota.
GOP lawmakers refused to budge on their demand that undocumented adults be removed from MinnesotaCare, the state’s health insurance program for the working poor who otherwise lack health insurance. The budget negotiations even went into overtime as Gov. Walz had to call a special session this week to finish the legislation and keep the government running. And that’s when things got biblical.
The Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul. (Creative Commons)
Numerous DFL lawmakers spoke Monday (June 9) to oppose the proposal to cut health care coverage to undocumented adults (coverage for children will continue). During the emotional four-hour debate in the House, multiple lawmakers choked up as they tried to stop the cuts. The pleas went unanswered as DFL leaders ensured it would pass in order to get the rest of the two-year budget approved. An estimated 17,000 people will lose access to coverage.
Throughout the House debate, Jesus got frequent shout-outs and numerous lawmakers talked about their Christian faith. Multiple representatives even cited Bible verses as they implored their colleagues to vote accordingly. But in this case, most of the God-talk and Bible-thumping came not from Republicans but from DFL politicians hoping to prevent the health care coverage cuts.
Ironically, two DFL representatives even denounced Christian Nationalism while also demanding the House vote to enact their interpretation of Christian teachings. So this issue of A Public Witness heads to “the land of 10,000 lakes” to consider Christian Nationalism and how it can emerge on the left as well as the right.
For the Bible Tells Me So
“I am against it as a Christian,” DFL Rep. Andy Smith said on the Minnesota House floor as he opposed the effort to strip health care coverage for undocumented adults.
Smith lamented that such anti-immigrant politics is “alive and well in my own community of Christians.” But he also articulated his opposition to Christian Nationalism: “I’m against Christian Nationalism. I don’t think we make rules based on whether the Bible says it or not or whether we take Deuteronomy literally or whatever you want to specifically talk about.” But then after throwing the fifth book of the Pentateuch under the unliteral bus, he then literally read Bible verses and mentioned his own Christian faith to urge his colleagues to vote against the measure.
“So if you have your Bibles, turn to Genesis chapter 12,” Smith said as he started his 14-minute sermon. “I do apologize, I know Sunday was yesterday, but we’re close.”
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