5 Inaugural Prayers Show Ongoing Christian Influence - But Dangers Remain

Religious observances held a prominent place at President Donald Trump's second inauguration ceremony. Fully 15 minutes of the two-hour ceremony (one-eighth of the total) was devoted to prayers by five different clerics. Significantly, the religious leaders who prayed -- and those who did not -- demonstrate the extent to which Christianity has an ongoing influence in America's civic life.

Before the swearing-in, Catholic Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan and evangelical Franklin Graham offered prayers of invocation. Dolan quoted Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations." He prayed to "the God in whom we trust, who lives and reigns forever and ever." His prayer drew on deep understanding of biblical theology, referencing mankind's preeminence in the created order (Genesis 1:26-28), government's role as God's servant (Romans 13:1-4), and our need to pray for wisdom (James 1:5-6).

For his part, Graham quoted Psalm 33:12, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." He also referenced 1 Samuel 12:7 and quoted at length Daniel 2:20-23, which proclaims God's sovereign power over the affairs of nations. Graham opened his prayer by calling upon "our Father and our God," and he closed it in the name of "the Lord Jesus Christ."

Following Trump's inaugural address were three more prayers of benediction. Jewish Rabbi Ari Berman prayed to "Almighty God," alluded to Psalm 1:3, and quoted Jeremiah 17:7, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord." Evangelical pastor Lorenzo Sewell (a black pastor from Detroit) opened his prayer to our "Heavenly Father, Great God" and drew significantly upon Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech (the federal government observed MLK Day on Monday). Catholic priest Frank Mann concluded with a prayer to "almighty and eternal God" that pleaded for a government that would seek justice and peace.

Such prayers transferred solemnity upon the proceedings, reminding attendees of government's sacred (or, at least, God-given) responsibility to provide for the welfare of its citizens. Although the substance was different, the tone of the inauguration ceremony felt much like a church wedding.

In fact, the prayers were not even the only religious elements on the agenda. Interspersed throughout were songs like "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "God Bless America." Both Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance brought along family Bibles to lay their hand on while taking the oath of office (although Trump reportedly forgot to place his hand on top).

It's worth remarking on these religious elements because of the contrast they make with our aggressively secular culture. If such a monumental civic ceremony were designed today, with the same level of religious trappings, anti-Christian activists would sue -- especially if there were any sectarian element. It's hard to imagine any other celebrity-studded ceremony today -- a Hollywood awards show, perhaps -- that expressed the same somber and desperate reliance upon an almighty creator.

Yet the presidential inauguration ceremony has so many religious elements because of the power of tradition. It demonstrates the pervasive Christian influence in society when the ceremony was established at least in its current form. Even if those who first established the ceremony were not committed Christians themselves, they bowed to societal expectations and norms. And, in the process, they created something beautiful, weighty, and enduring -- just like Christianity.

Significantly, Christianity's influence was also seen through who did not pray at the inauguration. According to an early printed program distributed to the press, Muslim Imam Husham Al-Husainy was scheduled to deliver a sixth clerical prayer. A Muslim cleric in Dearborn, Mich., Al-Husainy threw his support behind Trump in the 2024 election, declaring that he "will stand with whoever opposes gay marriage." However, he drew criticism for his past support for Hezbollah and refusal to call Hezbollah a terrorist group. Ultimately, he did not pray at the inauguration.

Without wading too far into the incident, at the very least it demonstrates the ongoing cultural dominance of Christianity. A Muslim prayer at the inauguration was controversial. Even a Sikh prayer, like that offered at the Republican National Convention, was not present. Yet there were four Christian prayers -- two each from Catholics and Protestants -- and one Jewish prayer (which is closely associated with Christianity). This represents America's longstanding religious mixture; if other religions want to have a say, it seems like they must first establish themselves as a cultural fixture.

Yet there are also dangers -- to Christianity -- from this position of cultural dominance. There is a temptation to become more identified with a political movement, a leader, or a flag than with Jesus Christ. There is a temptation to pursue worldly praise at the expense of our Christian convictions. There is a temptation to adopt the world's ideas as our own. This danger was evident in part of Sewell's prayer when he copied MLK Jr.'s famous speech, which seemed to be more speech than prayer.

The danger of Christianity being culturally dominant is that it compromises with the culture and thereby becomes less Christian. In the words of MLK, Jr., "the church must be reminded that it is not the master of the state or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins applied that advice to our current cultural moment in this way: "The Church cannot delegate its responsibility to the government. If we want America to be great again, we must become moral again. Stand on the truth of God's word and proclaim Jesus Christ."

Originally published at The Washington Stand