Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Christian thoughts on Hamilton (The Musical)








I recently watched the popular Broadway musical Hamilton. Honestly, I was surprised by how deeply I was stirred by it. Especially in the last third of the play, on several occasions, I found myself moved to tears. I can now understand why it has been such a sensation. On an artistic level, major themes are woven masterfully throughout the play. I watched it a second time and noticed this even more. The play manages to combine the story of a remarkable man in the middle of historical events of great importance with themes and passion expressed through the powerful medium of music.

I was glad that I chose to read the Wikipedia article on Alexander Hamilton before I watched the musical based on his life. The musical is packed with allusions to historical events and familiarizing myself with some of that history helped me appreciate the play more fully. However, many people (probably most) enjoy it without having much previous knowledge about the real Hamilton and the events he was part of.

Anyone who enjoyed Hamilton might have written the two introductory paragraphs above. In the rest of this blog post I will share some thoughts about Hamilton from a specifically Christian viewpoint. I will mention two problems with the play and then discuss four ways in which the play reflects biblical truths.

Two problems

1. The Bible exhorts us: “No foul language should come from your mouth” (Eph. 4:29 CSB17). Unfortunately, there is a fair bit of foul language mixed into the lyrics of Hamilton. In the Disney Plus version that I watched, this has been toned down to a PG-13 level. In addition to the foul language, there is some suggestive and somewhat crude dancing. Most of the dancing was not like that, but there is some. I will say that at least the foul language tends to fit the context where it is used. Still, the play would have been better off without these elements. I would recommend that parents watch it first before deciding if you want any middle school and younger children to watch it with you.

2. The more serious flaw is that Hamilton’s Christian faith in only mentioned late in the play. One of the most important things about every person is what they believe about God and specifically about Jesus, and how they relate to Him. There is strong evidence that as a young man, Hamilton had a deep and strong Christian faith. One article I read on this gave this evidence:

One of Hamilton’s college friends, Robert Troup, testified to his piety. He “was attentive to public worship, and in the habit of praying on his knees night and morning…. I have often been powerfully affected by the fervor and eloquence of his prayers… He had read many of the polemical writers on religious subjects and he was a zealous believer in the fundamental doctrines of Christianity.

“I confess that the arguments, with which he was accustomed to justify his belief, have tended in no small degree to confirm my own faith in revealed religion,” Troup noted later.


Thankfully, the play does at least briefly(very briefly) mention the cross, prayer, and the church playing a role in helping Hamilton deal with heartbreaking tragedy later in his life.

Knowing that Hamilton had a strong faith as a young man will help viewers understand the source of some of his strength and courage as he faced many obstacles and dangers. This is knowledge you have to bring with you, as the play almost entirely leaves this out and might lead viewers to think that his accomplishments were a result of his own merely human strength and zeal.

The two flaws I have mentioned are not trivial. Still, I want to state clearly, that I think the play is very much worth watching and I do recommend it. Next, I will share four biblical lessons which, while not framed explicitly as biblical lessons in the play, are still present. I recommend that Christians who watch the play discuss these types of lessons (you may notice others) with your family and friends.

Four Biblical Truths that are Reflected in Hamilton

1. God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes

Praise God, you don’t have to come from a wealthy family, or be born into privilege and high status, to be used for glorious purposes in God’s plan:

Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. (1 Cor. 1:26 CSB17)

Both the real life story of Alexander Hamilton and the musical reflect this truth. The first lines of the opening song capture this theme which is then developed throughout the play:

How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore
And a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot
In the Caribbean by providence impoverished
In squalor, grow up to be a hero and a scholar?

The Bible is full of stories that reflect this same truth. A man sold into slavery by his own brothers rises up to become the second most powerful person in Egypt at the height of its ancient power. A shepherd boy grows up and is chosen over his older brothers to become a king, and not just a king, but also a prophet and poet whose words still stir hearts and strengthen souls three thousand years later. A group of fishermen and a tax collector are called by Jesus to become His apostles and lead a world changing and humanity saving mission. And today, God is still doing extraordinary things through ordinary people from humble backgrounds.

2. It is good to be zealous and bold for God’s mission

“I’m not throwing away my shot.” This is perhaps the most memorable line of the whole musical. It encapsulates Hamilton’s “all in” way of living. Hamilton is contrasted throughout the play with his friend and nemesis, Aaron Burr. Burr’s advice to Hamilton early on is, “Talk less, smile more, don’t let them know what your against or what your for.” But Hamilton can’t live like that. He doesn’t hold back. He lived wide open. He is passionate about the causes he believes in. And because of his gift for writing and speaking, he had a large influence on the nation he helped to found.

Many Christians could use some more boldness in their witness. A Greek word often used for this type of bold, clear speaking that is not cowered by threats and dangers in parresia. The related verb is parresiazomai, and that’s the name I chose for my blog over four years ago. Here are a few verses where these words are used:

CSB17 Acts 4:13 When they observed the boldness (parresia) of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.

CSB17 Acts 19:8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly (parresiazomai) over a period of three months, arguing and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

Hamilton boldly argued for independence and later for the adoption of the US Constitution. We are called to argue boldly for the truth of the gospel and God’s word. This holy boldness is not obnoxious or harsh. But it is clear and courageous. Where can we get such boldness, such parresia? One biblical answer is that it comes through prayer:

CSB17 Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness (parresia)

CSB17 Ephesians 6:19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness (parresia) the mystery of the gospel.

May God grant us His boldness. And may He give us a heart like the Apostle Paul’s, who was fully dedicated to God’s mission:

CSB17 Acts 20:24 But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God's grace.

Don’t throw away your shot!

#3 Be on guard against temptation and traps of the devil

Alexander Hamilton falls into sin. He engages in an adulterous affair and that leads to him paying extortion. He is then backed into a corner and publicly admits his sin, creating the first major American political sex scandal.

One of the strengths of the musical is that it makes Hamilton’s adultery appear to be both tempting and very wrong. We can understand why he is vulnerable and the attraction of this sin. But at no point does the sin look anything other than sinful and wrong. And the play shows something that Hollywood rarely does: the devastating effects of Hamilton’s sin in his own life and for his wife.

This part of Hamilton works as a reminder that we should all head this biblical warning:

CSB17 2 Peter 3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position.

There are many ways to apply the broad command to “be on your guard.” I want to highlight one way Hamilton could have and should have used to keep his guard up. When a young, attractive lady shows up at Hamilton’s door and she is in distress (or claims to be), it’s not wrong for him to help her. But he should not have tried to help her by himself. His wife was out of town, but Hamilton should have called on any responsible, godly neighbor or friend to go with him to help the young lady. He went by himself and fell into sin that caused great damage. Not ministering to people of the opposite sex alone is a principle myself and many Christians wisely follow (Billy Graham set a good example in this area). This is a principle I have followed in my own ministry. As a minister of the gospel and a representative of Christ, I want to be available to help whoever I can however I can with the love and truth of Christ. I don’t want to exclude young women from those I am willing to minister to. But, I never minister to or with young women alone, and certainly not in a private setting. For example, when a high school girl showed up at my door seeking help one evening while my wife was at work, I IMMEDIATELY called a godly, somewhat older lady in our church family and asked her to come over. She came right away and we did what we could to help our neighbor.

Your area of temptation may be different. Whatever the nature of the temptation, I pray you will “be on your guard.”

#4 The difficulty, beauty, and power of forgiveness

The musical portrays how deeply Hamilton’s wife, Eliza, is hurt by his adulterous affair. Forgiveness of deep hurts and betrayal is not easy, and the play does not make it look easy. But, in one of the most moving moments of a drama full of moving moments, Eliza does forgive him. And Hamilton appears to be truly and deeply repentant. Forgiveness is not easy, but it is Christlike. Eliza’s love and forgiveness is a portrait of this verse put into action:

CSB17 Colossians 3:12-13 Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.

By the end of this moving musical, it is Eliza’s love, devotion and goodness that is shining most brightly.

A Lot More

This short blog post has really just scratched the surface of the rich material in Hamilton. I pray that God will use it for good. I pray that God’s Spirit will remind many who watch it that all of Hamilton’s greatest themes are rooted in God’s Word. And I pray that God will stir those who watch it to trust that God can use anyone who trusts Him, no matter how humble their background. May the Lord empower us all by His Spirit to live out a holy boldness that speaks up for God’s truth, to be on guard against sin, and to be ready to forgive as Christ has forgiven us.

If you would like to read more, here are some related blog posts:

A two minute video of my own mediocre attempt to put some of God’s truth into rap-form:

A blog post about resisting temptation:

A related blog post about “the Billy Graham Rule”:

Some other blog posts where I share thoughts related to popular media:










Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others . . .