Matthew 24:6-7, “You will hear of wars
and rumors of wars. Don’t be alarmed! These things must happen, but they don’t
mean that the end has come.” (GW)
I have been hearing a lot lately about
how we are heading to “another” Civil War in this country. As any SCV member knows, there was no “civil
war” the first time, but I digress. Of interest is that Americans of both
political bents are now pondering the idea that it is a good idea to seek
separation rather than conflict. Let’s remember that it was the North that
first wanted to secede in the Hartford Convention of 1814.
I truly don’t see how the people of God
can co-exist with folks who can’t decide their gender and take kids to drag
queen shows. The Lord admonishes us to, to the best extent on our side, to
avoid conflict and disagreement (paraphrase). What better way to do that than
what our ancestors attempted over 160 years ago. Let our adversaries go their
way, and we shall go ours.
But, alas, we know it is not to be so.
The Tribulation shall come and many will suffer before Christ comes again. Let
us continue the good fight and run the race!
I have copied a column below from my
counterpart and fellow Missourian, Chaplain Woolsey, of the Woodside Camp. I
found it to be illuminating on the subject.
The Forgotten Seed
Sadly, I do not know what the solution
is... simply because there is no solution in God's ultimate plan, except for
the return of His Son. That alone will
save us... and nothing else. The current controversy raging around our old flag
is only one small indicator among thousands of others... ALL pointing to the
End of Time (which we are rapidly approaching).
One hundred, sixty years following the
War of Northern Aggression, we reflect on a protracted, bitter conflict that
produced 600,000 ensuing casualties in addition to the destruction of an entire
region. And in retrospect we thoughtfully ask, “Regarding the demise of the
Confederacy, what was the purpose of its sacrifice?”
In concession to the victor's unique
privilege of writing history, some exclusively accept President Lincoln's
words, “Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of
war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the
wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil
shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid
by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still
it must be said 'the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.'
”
But regarding the previous statement, can
we totally summarize the defeat of the Confederacy as an “aborted attempt by
Southerners to prolong the faltering institution of slavery?” No! History is
simply too complex to compartmentalize using one single statement or point of
view!
Surprisingly, at the conclusion of the
war, Confederate General Robert E. Lee said, “So far from engaging in a war to
perpetuate slavery, I am rejoiced that Slavery is abolished. I believe it will
be greatly for the interest of the South. So fully am I satisfied of this that
I would have cheerfully lost all that I have lost by the war, and have suffered
all that I have suffered to have this object attained.”
So, regarding the human crime of slavery,
both Lincoln and Lee were in agreement. Consequently, we must dig deeper to
discover a heretofore unnoticed blessing bequeathed to the entire nation,
resulting from the sacrifice of the Confederacy.
The Scripture that Lincoln used in his
second inaugural address emphasizes the preeminence of Divine will, “the
judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.” Psalms 19:9
Similarly, General Lee also attested to the
omnipotence of God's sovereign plan, “My trust is in the mercy and wisdom of a
kind Providence, who ordereth all things for our good.” Romans 8:28
But despite the death of the Confederacy,
the “common good” both men advocated is uniquely embodied in the mindset of the
South to this day. Like a forgotten seed, hidden deep within Dixie's good
earth, there remains a treasured legacy perpetually waiting to be reborn for
the benefit of our entire nation. And in this single hope, we are reminded of
Jesus' words, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into
the ground and DIE, it abideth alone: but if it DIE, it bringeth forth much
fruit.” John 12:24
But what was that “greater good” Lee
alluded to..., the “seed” begrudgingly surrendered to the ground following the
death of the Confederacy? Was it simply Secession?
Although the doctrine of “states' rights”
was championed by Jefferson and many other Founders, yet the outcome of
Secession might have been frightening indeed had the Confederacy prevailed. One
can only imagine the eventual fragmentation of petty grievances in both North
and South had the dismemberment of “Union” succeeded. No, following the slow
distillation of the passionate sentiment of Secession, there has to be
something more... some other Divine intent orchestrated as a redeeming factor
other than merely dissolution.
Assuming that the “greater good” of God's
perfect plan was meant to lead the South on a different course than
disintegration, General Lee concluded, “We failed, but in the good providence
of God apparent failure often proves a blessing.”
Unquestionably, the “blessing” that
General Lee foresaw was analogous to the sacrificial “seed” Christ also mentioned.
By the death of one, an abundant promise was universally granted to all.
Ironically associated with the uprooting of slavery... the seed, resolutely
committed to the good earth of the Old South, was the steadfast dedication to
LIBERTY! Probably more so than in any other region of our great nation, the
love of individual freedom is fiercely treasured in the shadow of what was once
the Confederacy! Nurtured upon the bastion of its native soil, Southern LIBERTY
remains a perpetual legacy for the entire nation to emulate.
And finally we are reminded of our
original question, “Regarding the demise of the Confederacy, what was the
purpose of its sacrifice?” In reflection, we would do well to consider the
words of the prophet Isaiah, “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath
put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall
see his SEED, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall
prosper in his hand.” (Isaiah 53:10)
Thus the answer to our inquiry is simply
found in the good hope of a forgotten SEED... the South's steadfast commitment
to LIBERTY as a universal heritage for generations yet unborn!
Chaplain Edwin Woolsen
SCV, Col. John R. Woodside, Camp #203
Mountain View, Missouri
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