Digging Up Bones

A look at our modern approach to judging those of yesteryear

The Country Star Randy Travis sang a song titled "Diggin' Up Bones". The chorus goes as follows.

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I'm diggin' up bones, I'm diggin' up bones,

Exhuming things that's better left alone.

And I'm resurrecting mem'ries of a love that's dead and gone.

Yeah, tonight I'm sittin' alone, diggin' up bones.

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I'm afraid that is exactly what many in our culture are doing today. Rather than remembering people for their redeeming qualities, we look for flaws, and then set about to crucify their decayed corpses. Men like Robert E. Lee are no longer remembered as Christians, great military leaders, or statesmen. No, their one sin of fighting on the wrong side of a war condemn them nonredeemable.

Do not get me wrong, while I am a born and raised southern boy, I have no misguided desires that 'The South will rise again". I do not agree with slavery, prejudice, racism, or discrimination. I know and teach that "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). We are all one in Christ. When we are not one in Christ, it is because we have allowed personal differences to break down in our lives what Christ accomplished on the cross.

Back to the topic at hand, what do we accomplish by exhuming people of the past to crucify them for their sins? Who made us judge to resurrect and judge? Is that not the work of Christ in the end times? So, who do we think we are?

I used Lee before because I love studying that era of U.S. history. It was a topic that I really got into long before our modern Social Justice Warrior culture. It doesn't just affect civil war era people either. The scope of this inquisition and witch hunt ranges from ancient history to the present. Also, the crimes for which we judge have been deemed unpardonable. This isn't right.

Just to be clear, I am less concerned with Civil War Generals and monuments than I am with a trend of attacking pastors of yesteryear. We want to completely disavow ourselves of great men who had a stain in their character. Yes, Jonathan Edwards had slaves. George Whitfield advocated for slave labor. It was acceptable in their culture. We can also include in this other denominational and associational pastors and leaders. That does not make it right, but then again, the Jewish law allowed for slavery (Exodus 22:3; Leviticus 25:43). Lest we forget, Paul told Onesimus to return to his master (Philemon). I don't think we really want to start debating whether American slavery or Roman slavery was worse.

We hold people to a standard that not even God himself holds people to. Look at Hebrews 11. That chapter is replete with wretched characters. Noah (drunk), Abraham (liar, doubter, polygamist), Jacob (liar, cheat, polygamist, thief), Moses (murderer), Rahab (prostitute), etc. You get the point. Yet, when we read God's account of them, after the cross, none of that is mentioned. God, who knows our hearts, did not bring up our past; our history. Why? Well, another murderer said, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief" (I Timothy 1:15). That murderer was the Apostle Paul if you didn't recognize the reference as one of his letters.

It amazes me that so many Christians have jumped on this bandwagon. We esteem ourselves worthy to resurrect the deceased saints and judge them for their sins. We weigh the totality of their life by one action that we disagree with. Yes, we may be justified in our disagreement with that action, but who made us judge? Is this not exactly what Jesus was talking about when he said "Judge not, that ye be not judged.2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" (Matthew 7:1-2). We condemn saints of the past by a measure that we ourselves do not want to be measured with. What happens when the next generation finds a different pet sin to crucify? Are your sins of the past what you want the totality of your ministry judged by?

Yes, as Christians we are called to condemn sin. However, we condemn sin not for the purpose of destroying, but for reconciling. The Law condemns sinners for the purpose of reconciling them to God through Christ. The church condemns the sins of Christians for the purpose of reconciling them to fellowship. We are not in the demolition business, unless it is demolishing strongholds in our own lives with the Word of God (II Corinthians 10:4).

It is not fair to judge the saints of the past based on our current context. Where do we stop? Do we condemn the entire life of Abraham because he had slaves? If so, we can throw out the sacrifice of Isaac as a picture of the Gospel. Do we condemn David? If so, we throw out most of the Psalms that encourage and bring comfort. Also, we throw out II Samuel 12:23 that has been a comfort to many parents who have lost children prematurely (But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me). Do we condemn Solomon? If so we throw out the three wisdom books. I could go on.

Injustice is just that, unjust. However, if God does not hold us to such a standard, that one sin would define us for all eternity, then who are we to hold others to such a standard? Praise God that he does not. Because he very clearly stated "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Which one would define us for all eternity? Also, if he held us to such a standard, we would all go to hell. We are not defined by our sins but by our faith in Jesus Christ which redeemed us from our sins.

Perhaps it is time for us to reconsider the standards we are holding our forefathers to, lest we be judged the same way.