Washington, Jefferson, Lee and Paul

Famous, Favored and Flawed

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson owned slaves. Abraham Lincoln approved the hanging of 38 Dakota Indian men in Minnesota after a conflict with white settlers. Theodore Roosevelt is reported to have said “I don’t go so far as to think that the only good Indians are dead Indians, but I believe nine out of every ten are.”

Yes, Mount Rushmore is a sacred national symbol. The four faces represent fame and favor . . . but also flaw. So, with increased awareness of the offense, what should be done, if anything?

Monumental Masters

And then there is the South and the Confederacy.

The rest of America has had an uneasy relationship with the South’s desire to keep a kind of revered view of the past. On Monument Avenue in Richmond, there were statues honoring Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, Jeb Stuart, and of course, Robert E Lee. Every one of these men was a slave master and a major player in the movement to preserve enslavement as the White man’s right and the Black man’s plight. As egregious as this Remembrance Way is to many Americans, it is what one historian called, “the sacred road” of “Southern civil religion.”

A New Dawning?

Like in many cities, the landscape of Richmond changed in the wake of George Floyd’s death. By July 2, four of the five Confederate memorials were in storage behind the fence at Richmond’s wastewater treatment plant.

The Monument Avenue Preservation Society actually supported the statues’ eviction: “For too long, we have overlooked the inherent racism of these monuments, and for too long we have allowed the grandeur of the architecture to blind us to the insult of glorifying men for their roles in fighting to perpetuate the inhumanity of slavery.”

Lee’s monument still stands awaiting court action.

Again, what should we do with historical figures who are famous, favored, yet flawed?

Enter Paul

Many would put the Apostle Paul in the same category as the above-mentioned historical figures. Paul was a 1st Century Jew considered by some as the founder of the Jesus Party, later called Christians.

Paul wrote letters to churches he founded. These letters were filled with encouraging, uplifting words, as well as Paul’s thoughts about a host of topics related to Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and second coming.

Paul also wrote some stuff that turned out to be devastating to certain populations. His letters contained statements that supported slavery, as well as the submission, and subsequent abuse, of women. Paul famously called the homosexual behavior of his day “an abomination.” The unintended consequence of that charge has led to untold suffering and death for millions of LGBTQ people over centuries and through the present day.

The Greatest Monument

And then there is the Bible itself. This book is full of stories and sayings that are truly remarkable for their insight and wisdom. And yet many of these stories are simply awful. The Bible is used to justify every horrible act committed by humankind, from child abuse to genocide. For example, in too many corners of the evangelical Christian world, as well as in much of Orthodox Judaism, the Bible is used to baptize the brutal occupation of the Palestinian people.

What do we do with this book, this monument to religious tradition?

What about Jesus?

Jesus implored his followers to care for those who were naked, hungry and homeless. But it is likely Jesus was talking about caring for the needy in his tribe, Jewish people. Jews of Jesus’ day were expected to care for fellow Jews. In theory, non-Jews were the ”stranger within your gates” and deserving of care. But in practice, that simply did not happen.

Consider Jesus’ encounter with the non-Jewish woman with the sick daughter. Jesus’ reluctance to help her, and his reference to her daughter as a “little dog,” is telling. Our attempts to spin this story don’t really work any more. Maybe they never did.

Tear It All Down?

Washington, Jefferson, Lee, Paul and even Jesus lived in a certain era and therefore held beliefs consistent with their times. Does that mean that the views they held are timeless truths?

Back to America’s question at hand; should we tear down the monuments of founding fathers and Confederate leaders? Black people have been most profoundly hurt by the beliefs and actions of historical folks who perpetuated the systematic enslavement, slaughter, rape and suppression of Black lives. At long last, Black voices must matter, and White ears must listen.

At the very least, the statues of Confederate leaders should be removed. Inscriptions near the monuments to Washington, Jefferson, and those like them, should tell the whole story.

In the case of Mt Rushmore, the Dakota Sioux should be able to do what they want with their sacred space.

The Big Question

The Bible is the elephant in the middle of this puny, little blog, and in the middle of your powerful, big church service as well.

We can start by putting the Bible in its proper place. The Bible is a book. A book is not a living organism. The Bible is not God, and God did not write it. Muslims believe that God (Allah) wrote the Quran. We do not believe God wrote the Bible. The Bible is a tool, a resource helping us live our best lives.

Most of all, the Bible cannot bear the weight of being the final authority on anything; only a living God can carry that load. God speaks through a wide variety of voices—experience, science, history, archeology, story, and a host of others. The Holy Spirit breathes in and through everything good -nature, human beings, all creatures great and small.

So, What shall we do with the Bible?

Please don’t put the Bible on a shelf. The Bible might be the best book ever written, certainly it is the best seller ever, and that means something.

And also, please don’t cut out the parts of the Bible you don’t like. Rather, engage with these challenging sections of the Bible. Ask your questions. Voice your doubts.

It’s okay.

Really?

Yes, really.