For the Religious Right, it seems to be enough for Bush to have said two things: “Christ changed my heart” and “I prayed over it”, and they throw their allegiance to him down on the altar of nationalism, “powered by faith”. They seem unaware that this is a classic case of what Jeremiah warned against:

4 Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the LORD , the temple of the LORD , the temple of the LORD !” 5 If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6 if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. 8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.

(Jeremiah 7: 4-8)

The 5th verse and on emphasizes the requirements of justice, and the litany continues over into the following refrain:

8 ” ‘How can you say, “We are wise,
for we have the law of the LORD ,”
when actually the lying pen of the scribes
has handled it falsely?
9 The wise will be put to shame;
they will be dismayed and trapped.
Since they have rejected the word of the LORD ,
what kind of wisdom do they have?
10 Therefore I will give their wives to other men
and their fields to new owners.
From the least to the greatest,
all are greedy for gain;
prophets and priests alike,
all practice deceit.
11 They dress the wound of my people
as though it were not serious.
“Peace, peace,” they say,
when there is no peace.
12 Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct?
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when they are punished,
says the LORD .

13 ” ‘I will take away their harvest,
declares the LORD .
There will be no grapes on the vine.
There will be no figs on the tree,
and their leaves will wither.
What I have given them
will be taken from them. [1] ‘ “
Jer. 8: 8-13

this one really jumps out at me as highly applicable to the Bush administration, and Bush himself:

Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct?
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.
8:12

Jeremiah is seethng with indignation against the arrogance of the “chosen people” as expressed in their leadership:

4 Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the LORD , the temple of the LORD , the temple of the LORD !”

When the Bush administration uses religious language, and applies the words of the gospel writer “the light shines in the darkenss, and the darkness cannot extinguish it” to the “American people”, we should be wary of this administration’s motives. Bush seems to be telling us that God is with him in this decision, and that God’s people should not question. But Jeremiah told the people “Do not trust in deceptive words”.