The Confederate Flag

During the memorials for the members of the Bible study class in Charleston, South Carolina who were murdered by a white supremacist, the media's attention suddenly shifted to the flag of the Confederate States of America. The killer was seen in several photos with a Confederate flag and suddenly the national discussion shifted to the removal of that flag from all public places. Why suddenly now? Why not ten years earlier? Why not fifty years earlier? The flag was surely just as offensive then. The effect of the focus on the flag was to shove the Bible study class to the side.

Some say the Confederate flag represents racial hatred. Some say the Confederate flag represents a remembrance of the Southern heritage and history. It probably represents both. The Confederate flag belongs in a museum. We must acknowledge our history, learn from it, and never forget any of it.

Having said that, I believe that the Confederate flag discussion is an intentional distraction from what was and is happening in Charleston. One by one, the family members of the murdered people publicly announced that they forgave the killer. Thousands of Christians gathered daily at the church to pay their respects to the victims and to publicly declare their allegiance to Jesus. The woman who noticed the killer in a town several hundred miles away said that she believed that God placed her there to see the man and to aid in his capture. She publicly praised Jesus and declared her testimony. The public gatherings began to happen in other cities as well.

I believe that this phenomenon made non-believers extremely uncomfortable because they absolutely could not understand it. When someone hurts you, you are supposed to hurt them back! Isn't that what our culture teaches us? How can you forgive someone who has killed one of your family members?
I say, "Good for them! Obey the Lord!" We Christians should make the world uncomfortable.

General Robert E. Lee on the Bible

"There are things in the old Book which I may not be able to explain, but I fully accept it as the infallible Word of God, and receive its teachings as inspired by the Holy Spirit."  Robert Edward Lee (1807-1870), Commanding general of the Confederate Army of Virginia during the American Civil War.

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions.  Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Son Jong Nam: (b. 1958, North Korea – d.? Dec 2008, in a Pyongyang prison) Martyr, Christian missionary in North Korea, ex-North Korean military officer.  Son was arrested for the charge of “spying,” incarcerated, beaten, and tortured.  He is reported to have died in prison after his sentence of public execution was cancelled due to international pressure.

The Thief on the Cross: This repentant thief was crucified to the right of Jesus and recognized Jesus as the Messiah (Luke 23:39-43).  Jesus promised him that he would be in paradise that day.  He is not named in Luke but later traditions name him as The Good Thief, The Penitent Thief, Dismas, Dimas, Titus, Zoatham, and Rach. San Dimas, California is named for him.  The Bad Thief is traditionally called Gestas or Dumachas.

Robert Edward Lee: Military officer United States of America (1829-1861) and Confederate States of America (1861-1865)  Though he personally opposed slavery, he thought that it was ordained by God and would be ended in God’s time.  His US citizenship was posthumously restored in 1975. Anglican/Episcopalian.

Jesse Truesdell Peck: (b. 1811, New York – d. 1883), Methodist Episcopal bishop.  College president. Great uncle of writer Stephen Crane.

Camillo Borghese: (B. Italy – d. 1605, aka: Pope Paul V)  Paul V was known for his building projects such as the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica.