John Adams, in his inaugural address, exemplified how the founders understood divine providence as foundational to good governance, declaring: “And may that Being who is supreme overall, the Patron of Order, the Fountain of Justice, and the Protector in all ages of the world of virtuous liberty, continue His blessing upon this nation.” This profound theological affirmation revealed how the founders viewed divine blessing as essential to constitutional order.

Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address stands as perhaps the most profound theological reflection ever offered in American political oratory. Speaking amid the Civil War’s devastation, Lincoln wrestled with questions of divine providence and justice that would challenge the finest theological minds. He pondered how North and South “read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other.” Moreover, rather than claiming divine sanction for the Union cause, Lincoln offered a more nuanced meditation on God’s purposes in allowing the war’s terrible toll: “The Almighty has His own purposes… If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him?”

Franklin D. Roosevelt, facing the Great Depression in 1933, drew explicitly on biblical imagery: “The money changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization. We may now restore that temple to the ancient truths.” This religious metaphor conveyed both moral judgment and hope for renewal, demonstrating how faith-informed rhetoric could illuminate public challenges.

Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1953 inaugural began with a prayer he had written, expressing deep humility before divine authority while maintaining respect for pluralism: “Give us, we pray, the power to discern clearly right from wrong, and allow all our words and actions to be governed thereby.”

These examples are only a few of the many available that demonstrate how religious expression in inaugural addresses has historically served not to establish religion but to ground public service in transcendent moral truth. This reflects a sophisticated understanding that while church and state must remain institutionally separate, the religious or philosophical commitments that shape leaders’ worldviews inevitably—and appropriately—influence their public service.

This historical perspective offers valuable insight for contemporary debates about religion’s role in public life. Rather than demanding that leaders artificially separate their faith from their public duties—an impossible and ultimately undesirable goal—we should welcome authentic religious expression that respects constitutional boundaries while acknowledging transcendent moral truth.

As we approach this year’s inauguration, we would do well to remember that the American tradition has never required leaders to check their faith at the door of public service. Rather, it has demonstrated how religious conviction can inform and elevate public leadership while respecting religious liberty and pluralism.

This understanding calls us to a particular response as citizens. Regardless of our political affiliations, we are called to pray for those in authority (1 Tim 2:1-2). This biblical mandate transcends partisan division, reminding us that our ultimate allegiance lies not with any political leader but with Christ himself.

Therefore, as we approach the inauguration, let us pray for our incoming president—for wisdom in leadership, clarity in decision-making, and humility in service. Let us pray that the profound tradition of faith-informed yet constitutionally appropriate religious expression in American presidential leadership will continue to guide and elevate our national life.

In doing so, we participate in a tradition as old as our republic: one that recognizes that while church and state must remain institutionally separate, authentic religious conviction has an appropriate and vital role in informing and elevating public service. This tradition, exemplified in our inaugural ceremonies, continues to offer wisdom for navigating the complex relationship between faith and public life in our diverse democracy.