As a Latter-day Saint I used to love to speak about the United States Constitution as “divinely inspired.” Although I didn’t see it on par with the scripures, I still saw God’s hand in the document in a very direct manner.

Today, I still view the Constitution very highly. But I’ve grown uncomfortable with that lanugage as I think it undermines the unique authority of God inspired and God breathed scripture.

To be clear, I still believe God is sovereign over history. He raises up and brings down nations (Daniel 2:21). He uses even imperfect rulers and systems to accomplish His purposes (Proverbs 21:1). And the U.S. Constitution is an extraordinary document that reflects Christian-informed wisdom about human faliability and then need for checks and balances and limited government to protect liberty. I see God’s hand and guidance in the establishment and preservation of this country. I am so grateful to live under the Constitution’s protections and eager to defend them.

But Scripture Alone Is Truly “Inspired”

But I now see a critical difference between what we might call providential guidance and divine inspiration.

The Bible reserves the word inspired for something very specific: God speaking through human authors in a direct, authoritative way. “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). “Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). The words of Scripture are so fully God’s that the apostles and Jesus Himself often said, “It is written,” treating Scripture as the very speech of God.

For example, in Acts 4:25, Peter says, “You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David,” before quoting a Psalm

The Constitution, for all its brilliance, good ideas, and wise systems, isn’t inspired in that way. It was not written by men carried along by the Holy Spirit. It does not bear the authority of divine revelation. It doesn’t speak with God’s voice.

The Danger of Blurring the Line

Using the word inspired too loosely leads to the serious risk of blurring the lines.

When applied to something like the Constitution, it might lead us to give quasi-Biblical authority to human documents and institutions. This can lead us to elevate our political views to moral absolutely, and to confuse political opinions with sacred truth. It can also lead us to view those who see the Constitution differently as enemies to God which increases partisanship and polarization. Another potential consequence–especially in LDS culture–is the form of American exceptionalism that can make it difficult to honestly critique the Constitution’s historical flaws and acknowledge its limitations.

But there’s a flip side, too: calling the Constitution “inspired” can unintentionally lower our view of the Bible. If the “inspired’ Constitution needed dozens of amendments over the years, then why shouldn’t the Bible need updating or change? If inspired founders embedded racism or sexism into their work, why not assume the same of Moses or Paul? And if a document could contain the 3/5 compromise and still be “inspired,” then maybe we could consider discarding parts of the Bible that seem less consistent with modern sensibilities?

It is really easy to inadvertantly allow our discomfort with aspects of the Constitution rub of on our attitude towards the Word of God.

When Everything Becomes “Inspired,” Nothing Really Is

This tendency isn’t limited to the Constitution. I’ve heard LDS people describe Handel’s Messiah, or a C.S. Lewis quote as “inspired” or “like scripture to me.”

I get the impulse. These are deeply powerful works that stir my soul. But they are not inspired in the same way that scripture is. They are not authoritative and god-breathed words.

And when we blur the boundaries, we undermine the unique role of God’s revealed word.

Putting the Constitution in its Proper Place

I haven’t lost my admiration for the Constitution. I appreciate it more now that I can see it clearly for what it is: a remarkable but human and imperfect document that reflects hard-earned wisdom. I don’t need to make it more than it is to honor it.

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are precious becuase they help to preserve our freedom, but only the word of God can point us to Jesus and set us free indeed. (John 8:36).