The Narrative of Covenants

“A covenant always has a narrative. In the case of the Bible, it is the story of the Exodus. In the case of the United States, it is about a journey from oppression to freedom in the new world, the almost promised land. The narrative is retold at significant and symbolic moments – in the United States in presidential inaugural addresses – and they are accompanied by an explicit or implicit renewal of the covenant, a commitment to keep faith with the founders and their vision. The politics of covenant is about faith and hope, the faith that together we can build a gracious future and the hope that history can be redeemed from tragedy. A nation predicated on covenant can always renew itself. It is highly doubtful whether other political formations can do so.”

The Great Partnership, Chapter 7, p. 117