February 3, 2026
Judge Phil Ginn raises concern over cultural reinterpretation of the Constitution and the Bible
Legal scholar cautions against treating foundational texts as ‘living documents’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two of the most foundational texts in American life — the Bible and the U.S. Constitution — are facing strikingly similar attacks, according to former superior court judge and current President of Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES, www.ses.edu). Judge Phil Ginn says that though one is sacred Scripture and the other a civic charter, both are increasingly treated not as fixed authorities, but as flexible documents that should bend with the spirit of the age.
“You’ve likely heard the Constitution described as a ‘living, breathing document,’” Judge Phil Ginn said. “It’s a term meant to suggest that its meaning evolves alongside cultural values. Well, we’ve done that with the Bible, too. We want it interpreted the way we want it to be rather than the way it is.”
Debate among legal scholars over how the Constitution should be interpreted remains robust, with some arguing that judicial interpretation must keep pace with societal change while others insist that the document’s meaning should be fixed to its original public understanding — a conversation that continues to shape public discourse and court decisions.
Many scholars describe the Constitution as a stable, authoritative text whose meaning is rooted in its original public understanding at the time it was ratified. They argue that any changes made to it should come through the amendment process, not judicial reinterpretation.
“The problem isn’t interpretation itself,” Ginn said. “Interpretation is unavoidable. The problem is when interpretation becomes reinvention. When modern preferences replace original meaning, authority quietly shifts from the text to the reader. In that framework, the Constitution no longer restrains power; it simply reflects whoever holds it. Likewise, Scripture no longer challenges the human heart; it merely affirms it.”
“Preserving these documents does not mean rejecting progress or refusing thoughtful debate,” said Ginn. “It means approaching them with humility, recognizing that wisdom is not always found in what is newest, but often in what has endured.”
Ginn says how society answers that question will have lasting consequences for constitutional governance, religious liberty, and the moral framework shaping future generations.
To hear more from Judge Phil Ginn, click here to watch his interview on the “Allen Jackson Show.”
Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES, www.ses.edu) was established in 1992 to cultivate a strong level of discipleship needed to address the problems in a post-Christian culture and to strengthen the church well into the 21st century.
The mission of SES is to train men and women, based on the inerrant and infallible written Word of God, for the evangelization of the world and the defense of the historic Christian faith. SES offers a range of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees (along with several for-credit certificates and micro-credentials) that uniquely integrate theology, philosophy and apologetics to build a complete and systematic Christian worldview.
SES’s newTruth That Matters (TTM) training center is bridging the gaps between the current needs of individual Christian believers, churches, and organizations and the best available resources in apologetics, evangelism, and discipleship. Led by Dr. Stephen Cutchins, Truth That Matters aims to profoundly impact the Kingdom of God as an extension of the rich legacy and exciting vision of SES. The TTM center offers resources, training and networking opportunities to churches, leaders, families and other non-profit organizations committed to standing “Steadfast in the Truth.” To learn more about TTM, go to Truth That Matters.
For more information on SES, visit its website at www.ses.edu or its Facebook page, or follow the SES Twitter feed, @sesapologetics.
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To interview a spokesperson for Southern Evangelical Seminary, contact Hamilton Strategies, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096 ext. 105, or Curt Harding, CHarding@hamiltonstrategies.com.
