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JD Vance is arguably the first vice president in modern history to link the resurrection of Jesus so explicitly to governance and public life — and to do so on a major political stage.

“The fundamental tenet of our faith is that the Son of God became man. He died and He raised Himself from the dead.”

These are the words of US Vice President JD Vance at last week’s CPAC 2025 (Conservative Political Action Conference) — one of the largest conservative gatherings in the world, held annually in Oxon Hill, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, DC.

In an unusual move for a modern American Vice President, Vance articulated the central teaching of Christianity and explained how it shapes his leadership during a 30-minute, sit down interview with former White House official Mercedes Schlapp on Friday.

JD Vance on ‘The Fundamental Tenet of the Christian Faith’

During the interview, Schlapp asked Vance what his Christian faith means to him and how it influences his public service. Rather than offering a generic statement about values or religion, Vance echoed the words of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, declaring the incarnation, death and resurrection of Christ as the foundation of his beliefs, saying:

I believe the fundamental tenet of the Christian faith — it’s not just a set of good moral principles, though it is that — I think the fundamental tenet of our faith is that the Son of God became man. He died and He raised Himself from the dead. That is the fundamental tenet of the Christian faith.

And I think so much flows from that. And I think one lesson that flows from that is that we shouldn’t fear death. Of course, death is a very bad thing, but there are much more. There are much more terrible things than just losing one’s life. And importantly, you could lose one’s soul.

Venturing beyond his own personal beliefs, Vance then explained how the gospel shapes his policy priorities, particularly in defending the unborn and helping parents raise their children in the Christian faith without government overreach:

Whether it’s fighting for the unborn or fighting for peace and security for our citizens, I want us to be the kind of society where my kids can grow up to be virtuous young people, can be good young Christians, of course, because that’s what I’m trying to raise them to be.

Vance also emphasised the eternal perspective that Christianity offers, saying, “We put our faith in God above. We put our faith in the grace of God, and we try the best to do His will. And we don’t worry so much about whether we’re going to have earthly rewards. We worry about whether we’re doing right by God Almighty above.”

Vance’s words stand in contrast to the often-muted expressions of faith in American political discourse. While past leaders like Jimmy Carter and Mike Pence have professed Christianity, Vance is arguably the first vice president in modern history to link the resurrection of Jesus so explicitly to governance and public life — and to do so on a major political stage.

JD Vance on his faith: “It’s not just a set of good moral principles… the Son of God became man, he died, and then he raised himself from the dead. That is the fundamental tenet of the Christian faith.”

“I think one lesson that flows from that is that we shouldn’t fear… pic.twitter.com/aXGUncBZRG

— George (@BehizyTweets) February 20, 2025

JD Vance: A Stand-Out Figure in American Leadership

JD Vance’s spiritual journey began with a skeptical, unchurched upbringing in a poor family in Ohio and Kentucky.

As Vance himself shared in a recent essay, his early beliefs were shaped by his grandmother Mamaw’s informal though sincere Christian faith, which included a distrust of organised religion.

Vance’s perspective was further shaped by pivotal life experiences, like his enlisting in the Marines, serving in Iraq, and pursuing higher education. While at college, Vance briefly adopting atheism and libertarianism — until intellectual encounters with thinkers like Augustine, Girard, and Peter Thiel reawakened his faith.

Despite his lingering unease about the formality of Catholicism and its contrast with Mamaw’s more rugged Jesus, Vance found the blend of virtue, community, and historical continuity within the Catholic tradition compelling. He ultimately joined the Catholic Church in a quiet 2019 ceremony.

JD Vance’s intellectual approach to Christianity, paired with his rapid political ascent, has made him a stand-out figure in American leadership — a man who sees faith not merely as a private sentiment but as a guiding principle for governance.

His speech at CPAC 2025 serves as a reminder to believers that the gospel is not merely a private conviction but a truth that shapes every aspect of life, and remains as powerful and relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago.

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Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.