This week I have had the privilege of sharing God’s Word with the faith family at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Marshville, NC. The photo above is my morning view as I sit on the front porch of our lodging for the week. What a blessing for me and Teresa to be here once again with Pastor Tim Moore and his wife, Libby.

A most blessed part of this week has been seeing some dear friends who were members of churches I have served in the past. Jimmy and Jean Flake, Chuck and Bobbie Payne, Travis and Kathy Evans, along with fellow pastor Johnnie Williams and his wife, Judy. Seeing these precious people from our past has caused me to think back over those forty years of ministry, and remember just how blessed I have been to serve churches in both Carolinas and Texas. Many, many individuals and families crowd my mind as I take a mental stroll through those years gone by.

Sadly, however, to my shame, I have lost contact with most of the members of those churches. With the exception of a very small number of individuals and families, I have little to no contact with the vast majority of those church members. As Teresa and I made our way from our home in Tennessee to be in Marshville, NC, this week, we began to think about some individuals who were so dear to us in those bygone years, and are still precious memories as we allow our minds to wander. But, they are just that: memories. Cherished memories, of course, but just memories none-the-less.

That grieves my heart. Let me share a few stories that will illustrate my point. Travis and Kathy Evans were members of Sutton Park Baptist Church in Monroe, NC. I only served as pastor of that particular church for about four years, but in that span of time Teresa and I grew extremely close to the Evans. Travis and I spent a good bit of time fishing together. We didn’t catch many fish, but what wonderful conversations we shared. Chuck and Bobbie Payne were members of two churches I had the privilege to serve: Crestview Baptist (seven years), and New Horizon Community Church (thirteen years). For twenty years I had the privilege of not only being their pastor, but of being friends. Jimmy and Jean Flake were (and still are) members of Deep Creek Baptist Church. Jimmy was always ready to go with me as we went fishing for men in the community.

There are countless others I could mention, and I only mention these because they have blessed me with their presence as I have preached at Mt. Olive this week. And it causes me to have deep regrets for not maintaining some sort of correspondence with people who have impacted my life in enormous ways.

Just a couple more examples as my mind continues to review the past. Donnie and Judy Gamble were (and are) great friends. Teresa and I had so many enjoyable times with this precious couple. Donnie and I served as pastors of churches in Monroe, NC, and we developed a most unique bond of friendship. Teresa and I spent quite a bit of time having such fun with Donnie and Judy. However, what I remember most about Donnie is that he was willing to confront me when he saw an area of my life that needed attention. I won’t go into detail here, but it was this great friend whom God used to save my marriage. Yes, dear and precious memories indeed.

Just one more couple I will mention out of the host of others I could choose to talk about. Mike and Marilyn Grenfell were friends of ours in Texas. When Teresa and I moved to Dallas for me to further my education, I met Mike as fellow students at Criswell College. Knowing that we were far from home, with no family or friends to spend time with, they invited us to celebrate Thanksgiving with them on our first holiday away from family. This started a friendship that has now spanned over thirty years. Teresa and I have so many memories of our time spent with the Grenfells. But again, my greatest memory of Mike is that he was a friend who would “get in my face” when I needed to hear a stern word. And he was also there for me when the dark clouds of life hovered above. For instance, when I learned that my grandfather had passed away, Mike drove me back to South Carolina to be with my family. And, yes, he drove all the way because I was too sick to drive myself.

I cherish the memories, and I am deeply ashamed that I did not do a better job of putting forth the effort to carry on with those friendships that I now hold so dear. If I started listing other friends from my past the list would be quite long. If you are reading this and you happen to be one of those that I have crossed paths with in the past, but we, for some reason, have lost contact, please know that any and all memories I have of you bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart. And, as I bring this blog to a close, I am saying a prayer for you. I may not call you by name, but I pray for all those from my past who have touched my, encouraged me, stood by me in difficult and dark days, mentored me, and showed a million ways of being true friends. Thank you!

And, I’ll close by asking a favor of you: if you are one of those with whom Teresa and I have crossed paths in the past, it would make my heart sing if you would just say hello in response to this blog. Just seeing your name would once again flood my heart with sweet memories of the past. Thanks in advance for taking a moment to do that.

Does something seem a little off to you? Does it appear that there is an extreme form of hypocrisy evident in some of the decisions being made by politicians? Does it seem strange that some activities are curtailed while others are given free reign? Why is it that churches are singled out while protestors are allowed freedom to roam the streets of our cities without any form of restriction? Why is it that NFL players are being banned from attending worship services, but are free to go to other public places without any restriction?

I don’t mean to come across as a conspiracy theorist, but it seems to me that there is something extremely sinister going on behind the scenes. Something that is aimed at doing great harm to those who would faithfully worship God through the local church. What are Christians to do? How are we to respond? What action are we to take in light of these government restrictions being imposed on us?

Before I share my views on these extremely important questions, let me state as strongly as possible that I do believe the Covid-19 virus is real. My daughter and I have both tested positive for the virus, and have shown symptoms which would validate that test result. Thankfully, we are both over the virus at this time. I also know that many have suffered, and a large number have died, as a result of this disease. So what I am about to write is with that understanding in mind.

It seems to me that there are those who are striving diligently to use the virus as a means of forcing their personal agendas on the general public. A current example of this hypocrisy is the debate going on right now in congress concerning a stimulus package to give more assistance to struggling Americans. This debate seems to center around certain politicians attempt to force their desire to have mail-in ballots for the upcoming presidential election. Mail-in ballots, in my opinion, would create a logistical nightmare. The potential for voter fraud would be inestimable.

And please understand: Americans stand in line every day at department stores, restaurants, banks, businesses, etc. Crowds gather for protests and demonstrations. If we can safely stand in line in day-to-day situations, why would it be so difficult to stand in line to cast a ballot on election day?

So again, what are Christians to do in light of this shift in the political process? What are we to do in light of the changes being forced upon us? There is an incident recorded in Acts 5:17-32, that would set a precedent for Christians striving to follow the directives of Scripture. This is a lengthy passage, but for the sake of clarity I will quote it here:

“Then the high priest rose up. He and all who were with him, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. So they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said, ‘Go and stand in the temple, and tell the people all about this life.’ Hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin – the full council of the Israelites – and sent orders to the jail to have them brought. But when the servants got there, they did not find them in the jail; so they returned and reported, ‘We found the jail securely locked, with guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.’ As the captain of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, wondering what would come of this. Someone came and reported to them, ‘Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people.’ Then the commander went with the servants and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them. After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, ‘Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.’ Peter and the apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than people. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted this Man to His right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Acts 5:17-32

“We must obey God rather than people.” When we are told we can stand in line at Walmart, but can’t worship together while maintaining safe social distancing, then we must stand for God and against man. When NFL players are told they cannot attend church but can continue to frequent other places where people are gathered together, those who are Christian should obey God rather than man. When we are told we can stand in line at other venues, but cannot stand in line to cast a ballot, we must stand against this blatant hypocrisy. When we are told we can’t go to church due to social distancing restrictions, but throngs of people can protest and demonstrate in the streets, we must, again, stand against the hypocrisy.

Let’s not allow ourselves to be duped by the sinister undercurrent of social activism being forced upon us. Let us, who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, obey God rather than man.

And please allow me to close with an extremely important word. I am not suggesting that Christians demonstrate with violence as we are seeing others do in the streets of major cities across our land. I am simply suggesting that we stand for what is right: that we don’t allow ourselves to be duped by those who would force us to back down from our Christian convictions. And, that as we stand, we stand first and foremost as representatives of Jesus Christ, as did the apostles in the passage quoted above. This would be a powerful witness of His love and grace in the midst of our present state of national turmoil.

I was just quarantined fourteen days due to testing positive for Covid-19. According to reports I have heard and read, my symptoms were extremely mild in comparison to most who have tested positive. Many have spent time in ICU units in hospitals, while many have lost their lives to the disease. We have been told to remain at a safe distance from others, to wear protective equipment when in close proximity to others, and stay away from others completely when possible.

Businesses were closed, church’s doors were locked, restaurant tables sat empty. Many were overwhelmed with fear, thinking that this must be the end, or at least the beginning of the end. Government mandated changes that have affected everyone to some degree. Many of those businesses that were forced to close will never recover due to financial loss due to the shut-down. Many churches are struggling due to the enforcement of guidelines limiting the number of people who could gather in one place.

Now, as if a world-wide pandemic was not enough, we are witnessing the incredible destruction being carried out in major cities across our country. We are seeing violence and devastation as what may have started as peaceful protests quickly turned to violence, rioting, physical attacks and property destruction.. The outcry is now calling for the defunding or even the demolition of police departments in cities across the land.

This has now exploded into the destruction of monuments and statues that have stood for decades. The outcry is against anything that ties our present to our past. We are hearing demands to change the names of certain brands, products, or entities that bear any resemblance to past historical events.

So, back to the question posed in the title of this blog: How, now, should we be living? To answer that question, we first of all need to be reminded that present local, national, and international events should not take anyone who believes the Bible’s teachings by surprise. Jesus spoke of how perilous life would become as we approached the time of His return. Paul gave specific details about what could be expected as we approach the end of this historical era.

And in the midst of it all, we are implored to remain faithful to the end. One of the clearest admonitions is found in the book of Revelation, where believers are told to be faithful until death. That statement could be understood in two ways: be faithful until you die; or, be faithful until your faith costs your life.

Jesus said that we are the salt and light in a world that desperately needs both. He also said that we are to be fishers of men. In the chaos and confusion of today’s world, we should be living our lives in such a way that would guide individuals from spiritual darkness to spiritual light; from degradation and decay to preserving and protecting; from drowning in a sea of spiritual, emotional, mental and physical chaos to breathing freely in the love and grace of God.

The world will try to choke the life out of us with fear, discouragement, stress, and despair. The Word of God will set us free to live life to the full – as Jesus Himself said, to live life abundantly. And, we are to do this until we die. So, let’s let our light shine before me so that they might see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

In the midst of all the uncertainties of life, where do you turn for hope, comfort and assurance? Life has always been filled with uncertainty, but it seems this has become more of a reality in recent days. We could make the assertion that the only certainty in life is that nothing is certain.

Living in such a state of uncertainty can cause all kinds of problems – emotional, mental, physical and spiritual. For example, in our present Covid-19 crisis, many in self-imposed isolation are experiencing serious health issues which are caused by being isolated, but not caused directly by the virus. Just read statements on social media and you will quickly see the despair and discouragement so many are experiencing because of their isolation. Some have had no physical contact with another human being in weeks. For many, the only means of communication available is the use of social media, or telephone, or Skype, or some other form of ‘touchless’ means.

Might I suggest a possible solution to some of our fears and concerns? Admittedly, the following remarks and insights will only apply to those who have a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. But, for those of us who are sincere followers of Jesus, the following should bring a great deal of hope, comfort and assurance.

Let’s consider a conversation between Jesus and His disciples on the night of Jesus’ betrayal, the night that would cause the disciples to question everything they had believed about Jesus:

“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.”

John 14:1-4

This conversation took place only hours before Judas betrayed Jesus; just hours before Jesus was falsely accused, viciously attacked, and violently killed. It would usher in the most devastating experience of the disciples’ lives. They would be left reeling in the aftermath of Jesus’ death. They would desperately need to constantly remind themselves of these words of our Lord spoken in the midst of their despair.

What has rocked your world? What is it that has literally turned your world upside down? Try, for a moment, to put yourself in the garden with Jesus and His disciples as He made this statement. Try to envision yourself there, as Judas comes into the garden leading those who would arrest Jesus. Try to place yourself in the locked room with those disciples over the next days in the aftermath of Jesus’ death. Can you imagine the overwhelming crush of despair and hopelessness they must have been experiencing?

Now, bring your mind back to that event, that experience which has recently rocked your world. It may seem to you to be the absolute worst thing that could have happened. I am confident that is exactly how the disciples felt. Their Lord has been killed; their hopes have been destroyed; their lives have been ruined. How would they ever recover?

And you may be asking the same questions in the wake of your recent experience. How will you ever recover from the devastation of your recent hurt? I would suggest we remember the words of Jesus to His disciples on what would prove to be the worst day of their lives: “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.”

Jesus promises comfort to anyone and everyone who will place their hope and trust in Him. Yes, life is filled with uncertainties, and many times when we experience one of those uncertainties we are left dazed, perplexed, wondering if we will ever be able to pull through. Remember, the disciples experienced the most devastating loss anyone could ever possibly imagine. And what was the ultimate result? After they experienced the power of Jesus’ resurrection, they turned the world upside down for the cause of their risen Lord.

So, don’t let your heart be troubled. Let the presence of the living Lord give you comfort, hope, and assurance in the midst of your present state of loss, and let the promise of the Lord give you confidence that the best is yet to come. Look above and beyond the present state of uncertainty, and look by faith to the One who sovereignly guides everything to that day when Jesus will come and call us to Himself in that beautiful place He has personally prepared for His disciples.

• 

• 

• 

• 

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”

Matthew 16:24

Churches dot the landscape across our nation. From the largest of cities, to the mid-size towns, to the small villages, to the rural communities, you can’t go far without seeing another church. These buildings come in all shapes, sizes, and designs. And many of these buildings have a cross displayed prominently on the steeple.

In some ways we could say that the sight of buildings with crosses are so common-place that we see them without seeing them. They are so numerous across the countryside that we see them without giving any thought to the meaning of the cross.

• 

• 

• 

You can also see crosses being worn around the necks of individuals as a piece of jewelry. The intent of the individual wearing the cross is personal, with some being motivated to use it as a display of their faith while for others just view it as an attractive piece of jewelry.

So, let’s give consideration to the statement of Jesus quoted above. Did Jesus have an ornamental cross mounted prominently on the steeple of a building, or an ornate piece of jewelry worn around the neck of certain individuals? What exactly did Jesus have in mind when He made this unusual statement?

Well, we can know for sure that it was neither a cross displayed on a building, nor a piece of jewelry worn around the neck, as neither were known in His day. As a matter of fact, there was only one thing He could have had in mind when He made that statement: death.

When He made the remark that we are that anyone who would follow Him “must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me,” He was calling for the absolute and total commitment to Him. Let’s think about the three parts of His demand of discipleship.

First, He demands that the disciple would deny himself. Self-denial does not mean denying yourself things. It doesn’t mean that I deny myself a possession, or a person, or a position, but it means that I totally and completely submit myself to Jesus as my Lord and Master. The Apostle Paul gives a concise statement on this matter in his letter to the Romans:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.”

Romans 12:1-2

Denying self means presenting our body as a living sacrifice which God can use for His glory. He becomes the Master of life, giving guidance and direction to the disciple who would completely deny self and make Jesus Lord.

Second, Jesus says that the disciple must take up his cross. He follows the demand to deny oneself with the demand to die to oneself. That is what the cross represents: death. As we give ourselves to God as living sacrifices, we are consumed on the altar of complete denial of self and death to self.

I have heard many well-meaning individuals make the statement, “Well, that is just the cross I have to bear.” Sometimes that statement might be made in reference to an illness, a financial disaster, a family loss, betrayal by a friend or family member, or any number of things. Granted, these may be overwhelming and insurmountable, but these are not the cross we are called to bear.

The cross we are called to bear is the cross of death: death to self. The ultimate sacrifice of Jesus was His death on the cross. The cross was His total commitment to the will of the Father which had been preordained from the foundation of the world.

And the third and final demand is to follow Jesus. Follow in the ways of God; follow as best we can the will of God. Live our lives for the glory of God.

Bottom line: there is only one cross we are called to bear. If we would be disciples, these are the demands of discipleship as spelled out by the Master Himself: deny self, die to self, and follow Jesus. I will close with another quote from the pen of Paul:

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

Are you a true follower? A sincere disciple? If so, it will be visible by the scars of the cross as you deny self, carry the cross, and follow Jesus.

Admittedly I am a very simple minded individual. However, I like to think of myself as one who tries to understand, as best I can, issues that confront us in our contemporary setting. With that in mind, I would like to think out loud for a few minutes, wrestling with some of those pertinent issues of our day.

I am a bit confused as to why some things have all of a sudden become reprehensible to a large segment of our society. What has prompted the outcry of so many against monuments depicting past historical events and individuals. The individuals and events are reminders of our past, our heritage, our progress as a nation, our track record from the days of our founding fathers to the present day. It is our history. It is a progressive record of who we have become.

Please reread that last sentence: it is a progressive record of who we have become. We could create an elaborate timeline, recording on that line every major event in the life of our nation. At any given point on that timeline, it would only represent who the people of this nation were at that precise moment. For example, if we chose the random date, July 21, 1834, then it would only represent the people alive at that time. Everything prior to July 21, 1834 would be history. And, everything prior to that time would have been part of the process of making the nation what it was on that date.

Now, let’s come forward to July 21, 2020. We have monuments, statues, historical markers, buildings, hospitals, schools, universities, and so many other things named after individuals and groups who have made an indelible impression on the progressive development of this nation. Again, let’s think about that timeline. We are now at a very specific moment in our history. That timeline represents who we are right now, but it also takes into account everything on that timeline that has brought us to this point. Any prior point on the timeline represents a specific point in our history, but it does not represent today’s point.

Those moments, each of them, are part of us, and we are part of them. So, my question is, what has made them all of a sudden become so deplorable, so reprehensible, so disgusting, so distasteful, that we must rid ourselves of every vestige of our past. It is, after all, our PAST, not our present. It helps me greatly as an individual living in the year 2020 to have an understanding of the progressive development of our nation. I need to know about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, George Bush, Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. I need to know the beliefs of Republicans, and Democrats, and Independents, and Libertarians, so that I might make an educated choice in the ballot box on election day. I need to know what the individual politicians believe, and what they plan to do if elected, before I can in good conscience cast a vote.

Knowing our past helps us plan for our future. Learning from our past helps us make plans for a better future. Instead of destroying reminders of our past, let’s allow them to help us see how far we have come, and teach us how far we must go, to continue making the vision of our founding fathers a reality. And, to live true to our pledge: One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice FOR ALL.

Our daughter, Charity, has tested positive for Covid-19. As a result, Teresa and I were required by our employer, Dollywood, to be tested. So, this morning we went to the health department in Sevierville, TN, for the test. Upon arrival, we followed the signs to the area at which the tests were being done and found several health workers standing in the hot morning sun, taking information, registering those in line to be tested, and doing so with patience and understanding. They took time to answer our many questions, showing no signs of frustration or aggravation with us. They provided their service with a high level of professionalism, coupled with a sincere display of compassion.

As we conversed with those involved in the registration process, and then with those who were actually performing the tests, we shared with them our gratitude for their service, their patience, and their willingness to stand in the hot sun clothed with all the safety PPE necessary to protect them from being infected.

All this caused us to converse about how blessed we are to have dedicated healthcare professionals who place themselves in harm’s way in order to provide their services to those in need. Through the years of my adult life, and especially in the years in which I have needed the attention of healthcare providers, I have become more and more thankful for their selflessness in serving others. I have been blessed to be personally acquainted with many such providers, and, sadly, to my shame, I have not shown my gratitude for them as I should.

So, today, I would like to say a simple ‘thank you’ to all those who are tirelessly, selflessly, and even sacrificially providing their services to our communities. Let’s not take them for granted, but rather, let’s take every opportunity made available to us to share a simple word of thanks. Perhaps you have not needed the services of a healthcare provider in the recent or even distant past, and because of that you have not put forth the effort to thank some of them personally; but might I suggest that we take time, and put forth the effort to do so.

There are many ways in which we can do this. A telephone call; an email; a text message via the portal on your healthcare providers website; an old fashioned, hand-written letter; or by any means available to you.

So, here it is: thank you to all those healthcare providers with whom I have been personally acquainted, as well as those whom I have never met. Your dedication, service, selflessness, and sacrifice are noticed and appreciated.

Who is your role model? Who do you look at as a model worthy of imitation? Who do you admire, respect, look to for guidance, follow as an example?

Teresa and I were driving back to Tennessee from North Carolina, and as we often do, we were going through a list of discussion starters for couples. We had already answered several thought provoking questions when we came to this one: Who do you look at as a role model? My mind immediately went to two persons: my mother, and my sister. Allow me to share with you why I chose these two individuals.

I will begin by talking about my mother. Without a question or doubt, she was an example to be imitated. She was a rather quiet woman, so it was not so much in what she said that led me to choose her as my role model. Rather, it was her quiet strength, her undaunting commitment, her deep desire to provide for her children, unflinching commitment to my father.

My mother lived to the age of 86, and in all those years I never heard her raise her voice, speak a word of profanity, demean my father or my sister, brother, or me. Her willingness to work a physically demanding job in Springs Cotton Mill was a testimony to her total devotion to her family, as she worked this demanding job to provide for the family.

My mother was loved deeply by everyone who had the privilege to know her. I have never heard anyone share a single negative word about her. In the years after my father’s death she maintained a life of commitment to her family and her Lord. Anyone who walked in her back door would be greeted by an open Bible, a Sunday School book, and devotional materials lying on the table. This was her quiet place – her place of talking with her Father in heaven. I was indeed blessed beyond measure to have been reared by this precious saint of God.

My second choice of a role model is my sister, Ada. I must begin by stating that this was not always the case. For many years we were not very close. There were even a few times when we were distanced by differing lifestyles, differing preferences, differing everything. We had very little in common, and only saw each other at family get-togethers.

Ada has experienced many highs and lows through her lifetime. She has been hurt deeply by quite a few individuals, and carries the emotional scars of those hurts. She has faced many battles in life, the latest of which was the death of her daughter, Lisa. This, along with so many other challenges, would be enough to bring even the most valiant and strong to their knees. But Ada has faced them with dignity and strength.

I look at my sister now as a seasoned veteran of war. The battles she has fought have only made her stronger. By the grace of God, and through her commitment to Him, she has been able to face some of life’s most formidable foes victoriously.

Was my mother perfect? Is my sister above making mistakes? No. My mother was, and my sister is, human. Humans are fallen. We all fall woefully short of God’s standard of perfection. But my mother was, and my sister is, a spiritual warrior. Life took its toll on my mother. She suffered many losses during her lifetime. The same is true of Ada. But they were willing to learn from those mistakes, those battles, those difficulties.

I loved my mother, and I love my sister. Ada, each time I have the privilege to see you, I see more and more of Mama in you. I am a blessed man indeed!

Definition of History (taken from Miriam Webster Dictionary, online)

a: a chronological record of significant events (such as those affecting a nation or institution) often including an explanation of their causes

b: a treatise presenting systematically related natural phenomena (as of geography, animals, or plants)

c: an account of a patient’s medical background

d: an established record

Does rewriting historical accounts have the potential to actually change the past? Can an event that occurred fifty years ago be eradicated by the removal of that event from all recorded sources? Is it really possible to change history by rewriting history?

Let’s suppose as a young adult, a certain individual decides to marry that person he/she really believes is the person with whom they would like to live the rest of their lives. They are happily married for ten years, and then decide they no longer are right for one another. So, they decide to end the marriage and go their separate ways.

The separation and divorce is rather ugly. When the papers are finalized and the relationship is legally dissolved, they begin removing everything – pictures, videos, sentimental reminders, etc. – of their years together. They are sincerely trying to forget, to wipe any remembrance of that relationship out of their minds. They never call the other person’s name, and will not tolerate anyone mentioning that name to them.

Will this rather extreme behavior actually change the past? Will the attempt to forget past events eradicate the reality of those events from history? Certainly not! The historical events of the past cannot be eradicated, and cannot be changed. What happened yesterday, or last week, or last year, or fifty years ago, is now part of history: personal history, family history, national history, world history.

History should be very important to each of us. A study of historical events helps us understand much about who we are. My personal history would include, but not be limited to, things such as: ethnicity, philosophical tendencies, religious beliefs, political leanings, theological persuasions, etc. A genealogical study would reveal my heritage: where my ancestors originated; how they came to America; why they settled in the Carolinas; what motivated them to choose their livelihood; etc.

National history is also crucially important. Our nation has a history that extends more than 240 years into the past. Two hundred forty years of a rich heritage that has progressively transformed us into what we are now. History should be a tool that helps us better ourselves as we learn from the past. We are, to a large degree, what we are now as a result of the long, rich, progression of the historical events which have transpired.

Personal history, national history, world history, are all important realities that should help us better understand who we are, why we are who we are, and how we can better ourselves as we learn from past mistakes and decisions. The systematic removal of all historical vestiges of the past – statues, flags, documents, etc. – will not change the past. It will, rather, enflame more bitterness and hatred between those who seek their removal and those who stand for their prominent place in the historical development of this nation.

History is just that: history. We can loath our history, lament our history, or embrace it and learn from it. I’m sure there are historical events recorded in the annals of our nation that we all wish were not part of our heritage, but they are there, and they are real, and they did play a part in the ongoing development of the United States.

So, for what its worth, allow me to close with my personal observation. Let’s leave the statues of those heroes, or villains, of our historical past where they are. Let’s allow the flags of our rich heritage to be prominently displayed as a reminder of our national development. Let’s recognize that those statues represent individuals who made an indelible impression on the progressive development of our nation. Let’s learn from them, but not be enslaved by them.

A statue of Robert E. Lee? Jefferson Davis? A confederate flag? Documents associated with the government of the Confederate States of America? The Ordinance of Secession of the Confederacy? These are all tied insolubly with the history of our beloved nation. They are history. They deserve a prominent place in the historical records of our past.

If we are to maintain an understanding of who we are now, we must remember from whom we came. Let’s not rewrite history, but let’s embrace it, learn from it, and allow it to help us better ourselves to continually and consistently improve our ongoing desire to better understand each other. We are not white America; we are not black America; we are America. We are not the Confederate States of America; we are the United States of America. The Declaration of Independence states definitively, “All men are created equal.” It’s time we live by that statement of truth. It’s time we put aside those things that divide and cause dissention and divisiveness, and embrace those things that bring us together.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could all be colorblind? Why do we place so much emphasis on the color of one’s skin? Why should we judge people of one skin color as being in some way inferior to another whose skin color is a different shade of brown? What if we could all develop the ability to see people simply as human beings, and celebrate our differences rather than viewing some as being superior to others because of the color of their skin?

Racial prejudice is a learned behavior. Children are not born with a natural bent toward racial prejudices. Children accept other children as equals, regardless of skin color. They only show prejudices if they are taught to be prejudiced. If they are reared in an environment of racism, they will most likely grow up to be racists. Conversely, if they are reared to view all people as equal, they will most likely grow up to embrace the view that all are truly of equal value.

As a young boy, one of my best friends was Freddie. We played together. We went camping together. We went skinny dipping together. We frequented each other’s home, ate at each other’s table, slept in each other’s bed. My skin was a light shade of brown, while Freddie’s was a dark shade of the same color. But we saw each other as equal.

As an adult, living in Garland, Texas, my family lived next door to a couple, Clarence and Stephanie. We became very close friends, spending time in each other’s home, eating at each other’s table, sharing life’s experiences with one another. Clarence and Stephanie were delightful and we enjoyed their company immensely. Clarence’s skin was a dark shade of brown, while Stephanie’s was the same as mine. They shared with us that they had been ostracized by both families. Their love for one another was strong enough to weather that storm, but it was so painful to hear their stories of feeling abandoned.

I remember the following event as if were yesterday. The words of Clarence still reverberate in my mind. We were taking an early evening walk, when Clarence took me by the arm, turned me to look into his eyes, and said, “You are the first totally non-prejudicial person I have ever met.” Admittedly, I was shocked to hear those words. I stood in silence for a few moments before speaking. Finally, I said to Clarence, “I wish that were true. I, like everyone else, have prejudices. However, one of my prejudices is not racial. I simply strive to view every person as equal. Color of skin does not determine the importance of one person above another.”

A little later, as parents of teen-age sons, Teresa and I talked about dating rules we would establish for Bryan and Josh. The one, all-important criteria we agreed on was that we would encourage our children to only date believers in Jesus Christ. Color of skin would never be a determining factor in the choice of friends, or of those our children would choose to date and possibly marry.

Now allow me to skip ahead in my life time-line. As a senior adult, in semi-retirement, I worked part-time at Carowinds Amusement Park. I had the privilege of working with several truly wonderful individuals, one of whom was a 77 year old man named Bobby. It is not an exaggeration to say that everybody who met Bobby really loved Bobby. I remember going home on many occasions with stories of Bobby to share with my wife, Teresa. It was quite a while before Teresa had the opportunity to meet Bobby, and I can still remember the look on her face when she saw him for the first time. It was a look of surprise as she shook hands with this man whose skin was a dark shade of brown. Her hand looked rather pale as it was cradled in Bobby’s dark hand.

We all shared a delightful conversation as Teresa and Bobby got to know one another. Later, when we were alone, Teresa said to me, “You never mentioned that Bobby is black.” My response? “It never entered my mind to say that.” Bobby was my friend. I didn’t see a black man: I just saw Bobby.

I do not share these personal stories with the intent of placing myself on a pedestal of non-prejudice that should be viewed as an example. I am simply sharing them to say that I believe this is the way we should all be: truly color-blind when it comes to skin color. We are, after all, created in the image of God. As I shared in my last blog, we are all equal in the eyes of God, so why can’t we be equal in each other’s eyes.

It would change the world radically if we could simply see each other as an equal, walking through the journey of life as fellow sojourners, rejoicing when another rejoices, mourning when another mourns. Whether your skin is a light shade of brown, a dark shade of brown, or somewhere in between, we are still all human beings. Let’s treat each other with the mutual respect we all deserve and need.