“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

This passage from the Bible has played a key role in our American experience. This idea of a city upon a hill was used in Governor John Winthrop's famous sermon, "A Model of Christian Charity" which he delivered on board the Arabella in 1630 on his way to Massachusetts. It has been used as the basis for the idea of American Exceptionalism, a recurring theme in American politics.

Because of God's blessing, the theory goes, the United States is exceptional. It is exempt from historical forces that would destroy other nations. It is an appealing theory, we all wish to be exceptional, to be blessed in some special way. Yet the way the theory is presented in American politics today seems very far from the message of Governor Winthrop nearly four centuries ago.

The sermon was about Christian Charity. It starts off talking about how there are always rich people and poor people and that a reason for this is "that every man might have need of others, and from hence they might be all knit more nearly together in the bonds of brotherly affection". Yes, the key idea here is that we SHOULD be dependent on one another, even though many of those arguing for American Exceptionalism are the same people that argue against social welfare programs that promote 'dependency'. These people seem to have missed the key point of the sermon. This is a sermon about charity, about giving to others.

Then, there is the final part of the sermon where Winthrop speaks about the city upon a hill.

For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world.

In the passage from scripture, the city on the hill is linked with the light to the world. Yet have we replaced that light with the light of golden arches? Have we replaced the golden calf of yore with golden arches? Has our consumerism and neglect of the poor dealt falsely with our God causing God to withdraw God's help from us and making American Exceptionalism a by-word through the world?

Yes, we should embrace American Exceptionalism, the pure American Exceptionalism that is based on love of our fellow man, rich and poor, and not on love of profits.