“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” Matthew 5:14

— Gamble, R. M. (2012). In In search of the city on a hill: The making and unmaking of an American myth (pp. 1–7). essay, Continuum.

Christians look to this verse as a reminder that the church as God’s people should live in such a way that the world sees their works in God’s Name. It also reminds us that we unavoidably stand out for the world around us to see. These spiritual truths are important to remember, but American civil religion has attached a separate meaning to this phrase “a city set on a hill”. Richard Gamble begins his book with this verse and spends the remaining page elaborating on how this Biblical phrase came to enamor America.

Gamble went on to say a few pages later. “The city on a hill’s journey from biblical metaphor to nationalist myth, and the rise of the Model of Christian Charity to canonical status with the American Scripture, raises fundamental questions about the American civil religion” (p7). This civil religion refers to the beliefs and values of a nation’s people in regards to their nation’s image. There are certain things expected of those citizens in belonging to that nation.

Ultimately, this phrase carries more weight in influencing our nation’s civil religion and our nation’s behavior than it seems to do for churches. God did not give a promise to America that it would be an inspired nation. Like all nation’s, we have a role to play in bringing about God’s providence, but it is the church that is the true city on a hill. Let us turn back to Biblical application. If we as a nation would do that, we would have our best chance at being a city set on a hill.