Did Hobby Lobby Really Go ‘Full Dominionism’? by Michael L. Brown for Ask Dr Brown
On July 4th, Hobby Lobby took out a full-page ad in multiple newspapers featuring a prominently placed verse from the Bible along with numerous, pro-Christian, pro-Bible quotes from our Founding Fathers and other key leaders in our history. It then closed with an appeal to seekers to find out more about Jesus. The response has been quite shrill, if not downright hysterical. But is the response in any way justified?
According to a headline on the popular gay atheist blogsite, Joe My God, “Hobby Lobby Goes Full Dominionist In July 4th Ad.”
A viral tweet claimed, “Hobby lobby took out a full page ad in the Register-Guard this morning. Talking about how America should only be led by Christians. Absolutely frightening.”
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Another tweet alleged, “Full page of dominionist propaganda in this morning’s @BostonGlobe courtesy of @hobbylobby. #separationofchurchandstate”
Yet another tweet stated, “Hobby Lobby Faces Backlash For July 4th Ad Claiming Only Christians Belong in America.”
And still another tweet (and there are more cited by Joe My God) claimed, “Hobby Lobby’s owners should look at the US Constitution. There’s no litmus test for religion to hold public office. And there’s surely no mandate for a theocracy.
“Also, they might want to review the 10 Commandments since they’re fond of stealing artifacts from other countries.”
Snopes.com actually devoted a page to examining whether it was true that, “On Independence Day in 2021, Hobby Lobby crafts store placed an ad in several newspapers that read: ‘One Nation Under God.’” (The verdict: yes, it’s true!)
But what does the ad actually say? Is Hobby Lobby guilty of preaching dominionism? Of suggesting that only Christians can run for office? That America should only be led (or populated) by Christians?
The Hobby Lobby website provided a link to the ad with options to download a JPEG or PDF version, so anyone can check out the content and read it for themselves.
It features a large picture of an American flag and next to it the words, “One Nation Under God.”
So far, so good. That’s what we still say in the Pledge of Allegiance, and that is certainly the hope of ten of millions of Americans today.
Next is a quotation from Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,” in all caps.
Again, so far, so good.
This is a universal biblical axiom, and one that has been shared by generations of a predominantly Christian-professing America. We believe that to be true, but we are not seeking to enforce that.
Then, in small print, is a series of quotes from Presidents, Founding Fathers, Supreme Court Justices, Congress, Education, Supreme Court Rulings, and Foreign Opinion.
Some of the quotes simply remind us that our founders believed that Christian faith was indispensable to the success and stability of our nation.
For example, John Adams stated that, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
