Celebrating General Lee's 202nd Birthday

[heartstrings]

There is no doubt the cause of Christ is first and foremost but that doesn't mean we have to ignore our heritage nor honor fine Christian men of the past. There are actually a fairly large number of folks who close their doors to Christianity because of preachers denigrating their heritage and trampling upon their heritage in order to try and win favor with others.

One question however, why is it okay to offend one group in order to prevent the possible offense of another? Why anyone would be offended by a Confederate battle flag, which was partly chosen specifically for its Christian symbolism, is beyond me. I worked with a black man who loved that flag. I've met some fine black Sons of Confederate Veterans members as well. Neither they nor their families were offended by the flag. Thousands of brave Christian men died under that flag. Thousands of men were saved while serving under that flag. Scores of solid men of God served under that flag and helped bring about revival throughout the Southern armies. It's interesting that outside America, the Confederate battle flag is recognized and honored as a flag of liberty. When the Berlin Wall came down there were Germans waving the Confederate battle flag. I don't recall which group off hand, but when an African group gained their freedom in Africa they waved a Confederate battle flag.

All men should be equally free to celebrate and display their heritage.

And I sincerely hope we always are. And I trust old brother Lee is up there talking with my Dad today....and I hope Lincoln, Grant and Sherman are too.
Have a nice weekend.

[John81]

And I sincerely hope we always are. And I trust old brother Lee is up there talking with my Dad today....and I hope Lincoln, Grant and Sherman are too.
Have a nice weekend.

Well, from what I know, it's likely your Dad and Lee are in heaven, but the closest sources to Lincoln say he wasn't a Christian and I've never read of Grant or Sherman coming to Christ though it's possible they could have and I simply haven't read about it since back when I read a lot about them I wasn't specifically looking for such things.

I thank God that you have not only the blessed assurance of being with Christ forever, but also of seeing your Dad in heaven as well! Praise God!!!

[okjac80]

Well, from what I know, it's likely your Dad and Lee are in heaven, but the closest sources to Lincoln say he wasn't a Christian and I've never read of Grant or Sherman coming to Christ though it's possible they could have and I simply haven't read about it since back when I read a lot about them I wasn't specifically looking for such things.

I thank God that you have not only the blessed assurance of being with Christ forever, but also of seeing your Dad in heaven as well! Praise God!!!

as a matter of fact, you know that picture of Lincoln holding a book w/ his son? (see link). It wasn't a Bible, but some photographs taken by the then famous photographer by the last name of Brady. When the artist was finished drawing the portrait of Lincoln and his son Tod, Lincoln replied that he was concerned that people might think he was reading a Bible!
http://www.ladiosolibrary.org/home/wp-c ... on_tod.jpg

[okjac80]

pushed "submit" twice...sorry about that!!

[heartstrings]

as a matter of fact, you know that picture of Lincoln holding a book w/ his son? (see link). It wasn't a Bible, but some photographs taken by the then famous photographer by the last name of Brady. When the artist was finished drawing the portrait of Lincoln and his son Tod, Lincoln replied that he was concerned that people might think he was reading a Bible!
http://www.ladiosolibrary.org/home/wp-c ... on_tod.jpg

That source makes it sound like Lincoln was either ashamed or embarassed to be seen with a Bible. But does that statement leave out important information? Why was Lincoln concerned?

This story explains why.

?A well-known picture of Tad and his father...represents the boy standing by his father?s side, looking over the pages of a large book.,? wrote journalist Noah Brooks. ?Lincoln explained to me that he was afraid that this picture was a species of false pretense. Most people, he thought, would suppose the book a large clasped Bible, whereas it was a big photograph album which the photographer, posing the father and son, had hit upon as a good device to use in this way to ring the two sitters together. Lincoln?s anxiety lest somebody should think he was ?making believe to read the Bible to Tad,? was illustrative of his scrupulous honesty.?3

http://www.abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org ... 1&CRLI=159

So which is the TRUTH?

[okjac80]

from the sources I have read said he didn't want people to think he was reading the Bible bc he didn't want to be seen reading one.
Here are a few quotes of his.......
"My earlier views of the unsoundness of the Christian scheme of salvation and the human origin of the scriptures, have become clearer and stronger with advancing years and I see no reason for thinking I shall ever change them."

"It will not do to investigate the subject of religion too closely, as it is apt to lead to Infidelity."

"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession."

[JerryNumbers]

And just think how highly many people hold President Lincoln and what children in our schools are taught about him.

No wonder this world is in such a sad state.