In late January, myself and four other Dragoons had the privilege to travel to Oxford for the annual “Robert E. Lee Day,” sponsored by the Alabama SCV.
At that event, we also memorialized the
late Dr. Charles E. Baker, who passed away in late December. Dr. Baker was the
former Chaplain-in-Chief for both the National SCV and the Alabama Division,
amongst other titles.
Those of you at the January meeting heard
a brief speech given by Dr. Baker, played by CD courtesy of Dragoon Tyrone
Crowley.
Dr.
Baker would always show up to SCV events with his faithful friend, Pete, his
French Bulldog, and a box of books for sale, which centered around God and the
Confederacy. I might have even bought one or two myself along the way.
I
recently bought a book that he had always recommended called Christ in the
Camp, by John Williams Jones, who was one of General Lee’s Chaplains in the
Army of Northern Virginia. Dr. Jones was with General Lee and the ANV for all
four years.
Early
in the book we see that as the states are seceding and militias and encampments
are forming that the biggest fear was that going into camp would corrupt young
men to play cards and drink and other vices. Interestingly enough, most men
came from small towns where they worshipped in small churches and had a strong
teaching and adherence to God and His word.
How
do we fare away from the “Holy Huddle” of Church? In Romans 12:2, we are
reminded to not “…conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind…(thanks to) God’s will…His good, pleasing and perfect
will.”
Over
the last thirty years or so, we have seen contemporary churches who have tried
to bend to society’s will so that visitors will feel more comfortable. Instead
the Church must renew it commitment to God’s word through Scripture. And so
must we, as individuals.
Are
we going out in to the world and being the “salt and light?” Do we witness to
those in need? Or do we hide away our faith in the fear of rejection? Remember,
Christ warned us that we would be hated as He was. But, hated or not, we must
replicate our Confederate ancestors, who went in to the camps and towns and
saved thousands of souls by preaching the word of God.
The
world may hate the truth, but with scripture as our sword, “We demolish
arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of
God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians
10:5).”
Deo Vindice!
May God continue to watch over you and
your families and protect you all. And
may God save the South! Remember those on our prayer list.
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