Biblical Reasons for Removing Statues
image by Laredo Morning Times
Across the south are hundreds of statues and monuments dedicated to the men who led the South during the Civil War. Boldly they stand high above city streets, often in front of government buildings watching over the city. Schools, government buildings and streets often carry their names.
While many say these statues point to “southern heritage” as a good thing, others are reminded of a heritage of abuse, murder, and degradation. They are reminded with every statue, monument and building name of the centuries of oppression for black people in America. For many they are painful reminders of not only a racist past but the ongoing presence of racism.
Protesters are crying out for their removal, even taking it upon themselves to tear them down.
Counter protesters stand guard over many statues and monuments and new laws of protection have been written.
What does the Bible say about these statues? Where should a follower of Jesus stand on this issue?
While the Bible says nothing directly about tearing down statues or renaming schools, streets and buildings, it does have much to say indirectly! Here are three biblical reasons why as Christians we should be okay with all of it:
1) We are sojourners here. This is not our home.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. (I Peter 2)
Peter reminds the church that Christians are God’s people! As such, this world is not our home. We are sojourners, here only for a little while. God called us out of this world and to Himself. In making us His possession, He made us to be a chosen race, and moved us into a royal priesthood. Considering our new identity, what place should statues and memorials hold?
When we travel to visit our oldest son at the University of Memphis, we sojourn there for a little while, usually a few days. We don’t enter into the politics of Memphis. We don’t get wrapped up all things Memphis. After our few days in Memphis we leave and drive back to Georgia, home. I don’t know about Memphis statues. I know little of life in Memphis. To be quite honest, the only real care I have for Memphis is that my son is there.
Why? Because it isn’t my home; I’m just passing through.
2) Earthly heritage is of little value.
2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law,[c] blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3)
Heritage and history meant a great deal to the Jewish people, especially to be a Hebrew of Hebrews and Pharisee! Paul had an earthly heritage to be proud of, to be envied. Yet Paul found that his identity as one who deeply knows Jesus worth far more than his heritage. He would rather be found in Christ than in the Hall of Fame for Hebrews and Pharisees! In fact he says that all of his heritage and accomplishments in life amounted to a pile of rubbish compared to knowing Jesus.
3) Loving our neighbor is more important than any statue.
This past Sunday my sermon came from the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. Jesus used the story to show the sacrificial nature of loving your neighbor as yourself. The love we are called to have for the people around us is one of sacrifice. It is also a love that expects nothing in return. The beneficiary of such love has not earned it; it is not merited. Yet we are to freely and graciously give that love away. The good Samaritan went out of his way to love the man beaten and robbed. He put his journey on hold, used his resources to care for the man, paid for a place to stay for two months and spent the night caring for him. All this he did for a man who was a Jew, an oppressor of the Samaritan people. Go and do this, Jesus told the Lawyer.
All the Law and prophets hang on these two commands, love God with all that you are and all that you have and love your neighbor like the good Samaritan loved. What do you think that Jesus would say about fighting for statues and memorials over loving our neighbor? Maybe fighting to save statues and memorials reveals something about us, something about our true loves.
John wrote of something Jesus said shortly before his crucifixion: 31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13.
By this, people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another… if you have love for one another.
The Bible says plenty about statues and memorials.
Church, it is time we live the faith we profess to believe. It is time to live as the sojourners we truly are, time to find, like Paul, the truth that our heritage and earthly accomplishments mean nothing compared to being found in Christ and it is past time for us to take the lead in loving our neighbor. If a statue offends our brother, in the name of Christ and for the sake of love, tear it down. If the name of a school, street or building hurts our sister, in the name of Christ and for the sake of love, rename it.
If we are going to fight, let’s fight together for the sake of the gospel, the good of God’s people and His great glory! Let’s be His people, His church above all other identities.
**For the sake of clarity, neither I, Pastor Keith, nor the New City Church elders condone the breaking of laws regarding the removal or destruction of statues and memorials. We support removal and changes according to the related laws.
