(Image obtained from 'www.sewaneemuseum.org')
Some leaders of the Christian faith, including Rev. Franklin Graham (son of Rev. Billy Graham) and Dr. Russell Moore (President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention) have called on Christians to give up the Confederate Battle Flag out of love for our brothers & sisters that are offended by it.
I do not believe that Christ has called us at any point to compromise truth for lies, or love for hate. To do so for any reason would dishonor God. Hate & lies do nothing to further His cause, which is the cause I am chiefly devoted to, and are in direct opposition to the Gospel.
I'm outside of the south, born & raised minutes from Detroit, MI, and it was not until I was almost graduated from high-school that I heard anything about this being a racist flag. Of course I knew that it has been used at times by the Klan and other racial hate groups, but so were/are the Cross and the U.S. Flag, and I know that they aren't really racist symbols either.
The movement now underway to remove that flag, dishonor the brave soldiers that served under it (many of them being our Christian brothers), and disrespect the 70-million descendants of Confederate veterans (many of which hold that flag dear) is rooted in the same demonic cesspool as the movements in this nation to slander historical figures & traditional symbols of America, and also those of Christianity.
There is no stopping anyone that wants to hijack a symbol for hateful use, but it is another problem when we give in to the hate & lies, either by becoming hateful or letting them set the narrative. I refuse to let the hate & lies win on either front.
I believe that the well intentioned Christians standing with those calling for this destruction of Southern heritage are only helping those currently involved in creating even more racial, social, and political division in a nation that is currently on the path to prove that "divided we fall."
So in the interest of honoring Christ, I will keep flying the Confederate Battle Flag and encourage others to do so.
- Jonathan McCleese
Sergeant-at-Arms, SCV Camp #1321
