Beams In Our Eyes

I just started to read the 2015 book “The War That Forged a Nation: Why the Civil War Still Matters” by James McPherson.  I’ve never been a Civil Way buff but all the talk about removing the statute of Robert E. Lee got me thinking about who Lee was and why the furor over his image.

It also got me to focus more on slavery, and not just the slaves held by Northerners and Southerners in the 1880s, but today’s cruel slavery that boggles the imagination in terms of its magnitude and impact around the world.   Otherwise known as “human trafficking,” it’s slavery in no uncertain terms.   Google “modern slavery” for startling and horrifying stories, especially about sex slaves with children as victims. 

Lee was a Virginian who fought for the south because he was a Virginian first and would not heed President Lincoln’s request that he command the northern forces against the south starting in Virginia.  Lee had a distinguished career as a West Point graduate serving in the Mexican War.  He later decided to defend the south – not to preserve slavery, but because his beloved Virginia was to be invaded by the North.   He had to choose and so he did by serving as general-in-chief of the Confederate forces. 

His views on slavery are not easy to appreciate because there are different versions of his stance.  However, the prevailing opinion was that he thought slavery was evil, and he opposed secession.  After the war ended in 1865 he worked to bring reconciliation between the north and south.  He was a man of principle and a great leader.

Therefore, tearing down his statues and maligning his name are extreme judgments especially by those who know nothing of the man and simply heed the clamor to tear him down.  Perhaps they should heed Matthew (7:1-5).

“Judging Others.  Stop judging, that you may not be judged.  For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.  Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

Let’s be careful before judging Robert E. Lee.  Tearing down statutes is foolish especially when those tearing them down have wooden beams in their eyes.  Jesus takes notice.

Deacon David Pierce