How to Erase History
In our recent time some people are firmly determined to tear down statues for two reasons. One: The belief that statues of individuals who fought “against” the forming of the United States serves to honor or glorify these men who during the civil war killed both white and black soldiers of the United States who fought to abolish the institution of slavery. Secondly: The belief that tearing down the statues will remove the ill-glorified memory of the people immortalized by their statues.
Let me be clear, this article is not to be misunderstood as a position for or against tearing down statues. I used the example of current events only to illustrate a point. We need to remember man’s history to avoid repeating it. Therefore, I call to your remembrance the first statue ever erected and then torn down. If you are a Christian, you most likely will remember. Moses was forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai learning from God and we read, “Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us [a]gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him” (32:1). Aaron took the gold from the earrings of the wives, sons and daughters and fashioned from it, “…a molded calf. 5Then they said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!’” (v.4-5). Moses comes down from the mountain, his anger became hot, he cast the stone tablets breaking them at the foot of the mountain, “20Then he took the calf which they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder; and he scattered it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it” (vs.19-20). Question. Did you remember this event? Did you need a golden image of a god to remind you? Most likely, every Christian will remember this 5,000-year-old history only because they read about it in their Bibles and not because there is an image of this somewhere serving as a reminder. There is an image of a golden bull in the District of Manhattan, NY, actually made of bronze. When I saw it, I was reminded of Mount Sinai, of the golden calf, and how quickly people forget God, and how quickly Moses tore it down and of the 3,000 men who died that day (v23:8).
What then is the point? Tearing down a statue of any person of ill-repute will not, “erase history”, nor will it make people forget history. History cannot be changed! Only the future can be changed. What really “erases history”? Just stop teaching it! This point is proven by the actions of people who, out of their hate and zeal seek to “erase history”, by tearing down statues of the very men who fought and died to protect freedom for all people. Far too many today were never taught history and don’t know the difference between the Civil War and the American Revolution. Many don’t know the difference between Andrew Jackson and Robert E. Lee. They, just like the Jews forgot their past and are doomed to repeate it over and over. People still play follow “any leader”, see an old statue and say this, “must come down”.
The Lord knowing man’s weakness commanded, “6And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deut. 6:6-9). God commanded that all Israel both young and old and even strangers be gathered together every seven years and hear the Law read, “that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, 13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess” (Deut. 31:12-13).
In the New Testament saints are commanded, “14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to [a]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and [b]idle babblings, for they will [c]increase to more ungodliness.” (2 Tim. 2:14-16). To the angel of the church of Ephesus, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…” (Rev. 2:5). And to the angel of the church of Sardis, “Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent…” (3:3). Paul wrote, “Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you” (1 Cor. 11:2).
Most all have heard “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. Did you know this is actually a mis-quote of George Santayana’s “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. My friends, it is impossible to erase history, but to the discredit of man, it is more probable many ignore it never learning from it.
God has given us the Bible, the record of man’s history from the beginning. It recorded the first sin, and records even the mistakes of its heroes, a tribute to the honesty of God, the author who, unlike man, tells the whole truth, good or bad for our learning (Rom. 15:4). The Bible written, “by the breath of God” (2 Tim. 3:16), “…has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Pet. 1:3). For both saved and unsaved, there is great value in remembering history.
Christians, we must remember our personal history as Paul wrote, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were [a]sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11) Remembering all that God has done keeps us from falling, from being led away by the error of the wicked (1 Pet. 3:17). Every Christians on this earth will break bread and partake of the fruit of the vine every Sunday in remembrance of Jesus’ body and blood sacrifice on calvary’s cross (1 Cor. 11:23-26).
For the unsaved who have not yet obeyed the gospel of Christ the clear Bible message of salvation must be learned (John 6:45) and believed (John 8:24). History of the first century church is clear: Whenever Jesus was preached and people believed, repented and were immersed “baptized” for the remission of sin. Regardless of how much love and zeal one has for Jesus, to avoid learning or to ignore the plan historical record of the New Testament concerning salvation will doom the soul to eternal separation from God (Matt. 25:46a). Read and believe for yourself, this will make the Lord your Shepherd, and not man. (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:38, 47, 8:12-13, 34-39, 9:17-18, 10:47-48, Acts 16:11-15, 25-34, 18:8, 19:1-5, 22:12-16; Rom. 6:3-7, 1 Pet. 3:20-22). Be warned, believe the history and the words, not explanations from man as to why they can’t mean what they plainly say. And if your church teaches any other doctrine you need to get out, find the church that teaches only what is written.
Though history cannot be erased, our personal sin history can be forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15). The Hebrew writer wrote, “I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb. 8:12).
In Love
David Scarpino
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)
Our faithful Creator is worthy to be praised in this assembly. All praise to Him who reigns above in majesty supreme! He gave His Son to die, for all mankind, that He might redeem all. Our blessed Redeemer suffered and died for our sins and is now risen and sitting at the right hand of God as Head of the church. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, knowing that He is the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:8-9) “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)