After reading my recent reflections concerning the Battle of Franklin and the Civil War, an African-American brother in Georgia responded with some pertinent observations of his own. I found his comments insightful and provocative, so I share them with you today. My original remarks are quoted first, followed by his responses in italics. I have added two further comments in brackets.
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“No visible signs remain that this yard . . . once witnessed a carnage so terrible that battle-hardened soldiers were sickened by the slaughter. . . . The only remaining evidence of war lies beneath this ground.”
Racial animosity is yet visible evidence daily of this war. The segregated worship hour each Sunday is still a ready reminder of this war and numerous other ungodly attitudes and acts of
hatred.
“Americans born and reared outside the Deep South cannot possibly understand the collective psyche which cherishes such memories even yet.”
A Caucasian born outside of the Negro race cannot possibly understand the collective psyche which detests such grim reminder of such ungodly acts committed often in the name or at least under the disguise of Christianity.
Therefore, give some credibility to the psychological reluctance of Negroes to embrace current indicators of such past and present bitterness.
“We are not responsible for our ancestors, but rather for our children.”
We are not responsible for our ancestors’ behavior. However, we are responsible for how we honor the reminders of their ungodly behavior. The present generation’s current behavior may indicate approval of a past generation’s behavior (Luke 11:47-48). To that extent we must disapprove of the ungodly behavior of our ancestors (Romans 1:32). Otherwise, we are not totally guiltless.
[Please note that I spoke of “our absolute renunciation of human slavery — that unspeakable evil from which this land seemingly could be cleansed only by the blood of its perpetrators’ sons.” — EF]“The death that atones for sin did not occur on this battlefield in 1864, but on a rugged Roman cross almost 2,000 years ago outside Jerusalem. That story and no other defines our lives as Christians, whether Black or White . . . .”
Amen and Amen.
{May God, who is making of all nations one new humanity in Christ, break down all our walls which divide Black and White believers, and may the Church of Jesus Christ demonstrate by true racial reconcilation and peace the present reality of the coming Kingdom of God! — EF}