The Confederate Flag & the Gospel

Up until now, I have managed to stay largely silent in the online discussion of race and culture in America, specifically regarding the many events of the past year or so. I believe these conversations are far more beneficial to all parties when they happen face-to-face. However, I’m going to dip my toe in the water and throw my two cents in, starting with the Confederate flag issue.

I will be the first to admit, I don’t have any sort of attachment or association with the Confederate flag. It means nothing to me one way or another. I have not studied the history of it; I have heard claims from both sides of the argument that it is absolutely racist and absolutely not racist. I have heard adherents to the flag claim “Southern heritage”. Maybe there is some sort of attachment there; I’m not going to pretend that I understand it.

But what I do understand is what that flag means to so many people in America today, many of them my own dear friends. People who have been marginalized for so long see that flag as just another hateful device. People are being murdered in 2015 under the name of that flag. When the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at OU came under fire this spring for their racist and insensitive chants and remarks, the confederate flag was seen flying at the Sig Ep house at OSU, seemingly in a distasteful act of defiance.

To proponents of this flag, I ask - Is your heritage really that dependent on flying this flag? Will your Southern identity crumble if it is taken down? If so, your heritage and identity were never very solid in the first place.

This seems like a “pick your battles” kind of scenario. There seems to be so much to gain and very little to lose by letting go of this flag. But continuing to fly it, whether through pride, ignorance, or defiance, sends a powerful (even if unintentional) statement to the African-American community – that you do not care about their struggles, and that your own past and heritage is more important than their present-day realities.

This is one reason why I was so disappointed to see the protests and lack of respect surrounding President Obama’s visit to Oklahoma. Yes, it’s a free country, and you can protest as you please. But what did these Confederate displays really accomplish? Oklahoma is now being portrayed as backward, ignorant, and even racist, among a host of other things – how does that do any good for our state? Why would anyone want to move or do business here when that’s the unwelcoming impression we give? I am fiercely proud to be an Oklahoman, and I know there are so many great things in this state. However, there are still many things we need to work on; this brings some of those to light. (Side note – whether you love or despise Obama, he is still the President; that position alone deserves a certain amount of respect.)

And Christians, I am talking to you now. Oklahoma likes to pride itself on being “God’s Country”, on taking a stand for Jesus when the rest of the country is “going to pot” (as I have heard it put so eloquently), and on being conservative Christians in the Bible belt. But if we practice an exclusive, prideful, or hateful Christianity, that is not representative of the gospel of Jesus Christ in any way, shape, or form.

Christians, our BROTHERS AND SISTERS were murdered in cold blood because of their race as they prayed in their place of worship. Like it or not, the Confederate flag plays a role in this. I know one man’s use of the Confederate flag doesn’t represent all, but it’s the dominant statement, and it’s hurtful. If we can’t even love our own brothers and sisters in their sorrow, then how can we hope to love anyone else?

I simply ask this – do you think Jesus would be rallying behind the confederate flag? I highly doubt it. (More than that, I don’t think he’d be rallying behind the American flag, but that’s a conversation for another day.)

We have all been created in the image of God, regardless of our skin color. Christ lived and died for ALL. If we are not modeling our lives after Him, if we are not seeking both grace and justice, then what are we even doing with the wonderful gift of the gospel that we have been given? If we cannot sacrifice part of our “heritage” for the sake of the gospel, then what will we sacrifice? Matthew 22 tells us the greatest commands Jesus has given us: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandement in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

The race and culture issues in America are incredibly complex. I don't pretend to even fully comprehend or understand a fragment of it.This topic is just a very small piece of a larger narrative. 

But though the issues are complex, the gospel command is simple - love the Lord and love your neighbor. If you can make a case for truly loving and caring for your neighbor from behind a confederate flag, great; but if not, maybe it's time to stop clinging to our rights in order to seek the good of others and put the glory of the Holy One on display. They will know us by our love. (John 13:35)

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8