During a July 25 book-signing event at the Billy Graham Library, Dr. Ben Carson spoke of America’s founding in spiritual terms, calling the U.S. Constitution a “God-inspired document.” The neurosurgeon and former Trump administration official was in Charlotte, North Carolina, to sign his newest book, “The Perilous Fight: Overcoming Our Culture’s War on the American Family.”
The Founding Fathers “studied every government system that ever existed in the history of the world,” Carson said, “because they wanted to take the good things and leave the bad things out. And give us the kind of country that would last and would have freedoms for our people.”
Carson continued:
But it was a rough go, and at that last Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, the whole thing almost broke apart because there were so many disagreements about how it should be done. And then the elder statesman, 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, came up and he said, “Gentlemen, stop! Let’s get down on our knees, and let’s seek wisdom from God.” And they knelt and prayed. And they got up, and they put together the Constitution of the United States, which I think is a God-inspired document.”
Ben Carson Sparks Constitution Controversy
Evangelist Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham and president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, shared a now-deleted clip from Carson’s speech, writing: “The U.S. Constitution is a God-inspired document. @RealBenCarson @TheBGLibrary”
In the comments of Graham’s post, some people agreed with Carson and praised his “gifted way with words.” Others challenged the historical and spiritual accuracy of the former cabinet member’s comments.
West Virginia Pastor Joel Rainey replied, simply, “No. It’s not.”
Progressive Christian Pastor Zach Lambert commented, “My God didn’t inspire the 3/5ths Compromise, the Fugitive Slave Clause, the Indian Commerce Clause, or any other part of the Constitution. Garbage like this is a big reason why 40 million Americans have walked away from Christian churches in the last 25 years.”
Author and abuse survivor Jennifer Greenberg wrote:
In Christian theology, when we say that the Bible is “inspired” by God, it means a lot more than “God gave some folks a good idea.” It means that God dictated the original manuscripts. They are “God-breathed.” It is unwise to use this term to describe any document aside from God’s Word. The Constitution is a very good idea, and that good idea is a blessing from God, but the Constitution is not the Word of God, or even a theological document. It is a man-made document, and it will not endure forever.
Lambert replied:
I agree with your point about the Constitution not being inspired by God, but the doctrine of inspiration does not mean “God dictated the original manuscripts.” The doctrine of inerrancy (as articulated in the Chicago Statements) comes closer to making this claim as it says the Bible was, “wholly and verbally God-given” on page 3. It’s important not to conflate the doctrines of inspiration and inerrancy for a myriad of reasons, including that many people who believe in inspiration do not believe in inerrancy.
Warren Throckmorton: ‘Dr. Carson Should Retract’
Psychology professor Warren Throckmorton, who challenges what he calls “Christian nationalists’ revisionist history,” took strong issue with Carson’s description of the U.S. Constitution.
“This never happened,” he wrote. “Dr. Carson should retract.”
“Ben Franklin suggested daily prayers but the Convention adjourned without voting on his suggestion, said Throckmorton. “They did not get on their knees and pray. Franklin said: ‘The Convention except three or four Persons, thought Prayers unnecessary!’”
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