Biblical Opposition to Manifest Destiny

The Christian understanding of Manifest Destiny profoundly influenced missions to Native Americans, shaping both missionary actions and attitudes toward indigenous peoples. This impact had deeply complex and often contradictory implications, combining evangelization efforts with cultural suppression, displacement, and assimilation policies.

Here’s how Christian interpretations of Manifest Destiny applied to missions and Native Americans:

1. Justification of Evangelization and Cultural Conversion

Christian supporters of Manifest Destiny believed it was America’s divine mission to spread Christianity and Western civilization. This mission included converting Native Americans, often viewing indigenous spirituality as inferior or misguided.

Key Example:

• Missionaries frequently cited Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great Commission):

  “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”

  They saw evangelization as central to fulfilling America’s divine destiny, often linking conversion with cultural assimilation into Western, Christian ways of life.

2. Cultural Superiority and “Civilizing Missions”

Missionaries under Manifest Destiny commonly associated Christianity with Western cultural norms, believing it necessary to “civilize” Native peoples through education, farming, and adopting Euro-American cultural practices.

Practical Implications:

• Establishing mission schools to replace Native languages, traditions, and spiritual practices with Christianity and European-American customs.

• Promoting Western agriculture and domestic life as morally superior alternatives to traditional Native ways of life.

Example:

• The motto “Kill the Indian, save the man,” coined by Captain Richard H. Pratt, founder of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, encapsulated this mindset.

3. Theological Justifications for Displacement and Land Seizure

Biblical passages were selectively interpreted to justify land acquisition and the displacement of Native peoples as part of God’s will.

Frequently Cited Scripture:

• Joshua 1:3-6 (Divine Land Grant):

  “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you.”

Missionaries often viewed territorial conquest and displacement as necessary and justified parts of fulfilling America’s divine purpose, despite ethical challenges.

4. Mixed Responses from Christian Missionaries

Not all missionaries agreed with the Manifest Destiny interpretation; many saw inherent contradictions between biblical teachings and the suffering caused by forced removals or aggressive assimilation policies.

Examples of Missionary Criticism:

• Some missionaries challenged violent treatment and forced relocations, advocating instead for respectful evangelization, coexistence, and indigenous autonomy.

• Christian reformers and missionaries such as John Eliot (17th century) and Henry Benjamin Whipple (19th century) argued for humane treatment and justice for Native peoples, asserting true Christianity required love and compassion, not exploitation.

5. Impact on Native American Communities

Christian missions shaped Native communities profoundly, often with devastating cultural, spiritual, and demographic impacts:

• Loss of cultural identity: Many Native traditions, languages, and spiritual practices were suppressed or lost.

• Family separation: Mission schools separated Native children from their families, breaking cultural and familial bonds.

• Resistance and Syncretism: Indigenous groups sometimes resisted through movements blending Christianity and traditional spiritualities, creating new expressions of faith (e.g., Native American Church).

6. Critique and Reassessment in Modern Christianity

Modern Christian reflections widely acknowledge and critique the harm caused by Manifest Destiny-based missions, emphasizing reconciliation, restitution, and respect for Native spirituality.

Contemporary Critiques from Christians:

• Re-examining and apologizing for the church’s role in forced assimilation and cultural destruction.

• Promoting healing and justice-oriented reconciliation with indigenous peoples, aligning more closely with biblical principles of dignity and respect.

Biblical basis for modern critique:

• Micah 6:8 (Justice and mercy):

  “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

• Galatians 3:28 (Equality in Christ):

  “There is neither Jew nor Greek…for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Summary:

Christian interpretations of Manifest Destiny significantly shaped missionary approaches toward Native Americans, justifying evangelization, assimilation, and displacement. While some missionaries supported and promoted these ideas, others actively critiqued them, highlighting profound tensions between aggressive expansionism and authentic biblical ethics. Today, many Christians critically reassess these historical actions, advocating for reconciliation, justice, and deeper respect for Native American cultures and spirituality.