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Bastards & the Removal of Statues & Flags

07/02/2020 | BowDownFoo | Think on These Things

So there I was, back in November of 1986, sitting at a boarding gate in the Saint Louis airport, heading to Okinawa, Japan on USMC orders. Back then, active duty military were required to travel in uniform. I was is my Alphas (dress greens) and directly across from me sat an older man, probably seventy-five. He casually blurted out, “Your shoelaces are wrong.” Puzzled, I looked down at my shoes and I didn’t know what he meant. He went on. “Shoelaces are supposed to go horizontal over your shoes. Yours are vertical.” He went on to teach me that when tying laces, the strings cross twice. What’s supposed to happen is “Left over Right” then “Right over Left.” I went “Left over Right” twice, which made my laces go vertical.

I share this experience from 1986 to contrast it with young men today. In my youth, kids were taught to respect their elders, to be silent and patient. Generally speaking, young men then were open to teaching and correction. Today however, young men literally rebel at correction, instruction, and teaching. I’ve seen older men reach out and try to correct younger men, only to be met with disrespect, attitude, threats, and poisonous words. “F@&% you old man! You ain’t my daddy! What’s it to you?!! Shut the hell up! Respect me! We’re equal! That ain’t love! You’re just frustrated!” This is why, throughout the US right now, mayhem, confusion, and lawlessness abounds. What has happened?

For answers, it’s first vital to recall the difference between the symptoms of a problem and the root of a problem. Some SYMPTOMS:

Shouts and claims of systemic racism

Cries of “White Privilege!” and “Check your privilege!”

Poisonous, hateful rhetoric of BLM

Entitlement mentality

Victim mentality

Flesh-based riots, protests, lootings, vandalism, violence

Disrespect and disregard for authorities

Now, look at the ROOT of the problem – fatherlessness. Bluntly stated, the absence of fathers (biological, earthly, spiritual, Heavenly, even America’s founding fathers) creates bastard children, and bastard children cannot endure chastening. Read that entire passage in Hebrews 12:5-11. In verse 8, the words bastard and chastisement are used. Chastening means to discipline and translates as “stinging correction and tutorage.” Bastards come from many inferior backgrounds – orphaned, disinherited, prodigal, rebellious, etc. – and they come with woeful, glaring, common tendencies.

Bastards DISCONNECT FROM true identity, order, validation, affirmation, heritage, purpose, answers, strength, guidance, boundaries, examples, protection, standards, etc.

Bastards CONNECT TO insecurity, disorder, rebellion, anger, depression, poverty, crime, inappropriate sexual activity, teen pregnancies, substance abuse, health decline (physical and emotional), drop in educational achievement, etc.

Today, and to a large degree, this bastardization is somewhat self-imposed, and it carries ruinous, destructive consequences. There’s an abandoning of hope for a father and an abandonment of the ancient paths (READ Pro 22:28, 23:10; Jer 6:16), your heritage, history, identity, and ultimately your heart.

You are unstable. Bastard.

You feel entitled. Bastard.

You feel like a victim. Bastard.

You are insecure. Bastard.

You have low self-esteem. Bastard.

Your childish outbursts are indicators of something greater wrong with you. Bastard.

You are damaged, precisely because you haven’t been properly fathered (biologically, spiritually, Heavenly, even founding fathers). Bastard.

Your thoughts, words, and deeds reek of abandonment, abuse, and pain. Bastard.

You have to fend for yourself and make it on your own. Bastard.

You’ve been lied to, let down, and ignored. Bastard.

What’s worse is that something in you agreed with these lies. Bastard.

Your life is devoid of God. Bastard.

Isaiah 3:1-5 gives a clear, albeit grave, picture of what fatherlessness produces. “The Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, will take away from Jerusalem and Judah everything they depend on: every bit of bread and every drop of water, (vs.2) all their heroes and soldiers, judges and prophets, fortune-tellers and elders, (vs.3) army officers and high officials, advisers, skilled craftsmen, and astrologers. (vs.4) I will make boys their leaders, and toddlers their rulers. (vs.5) People will oppress each other—man against man, neighbor against neighbor. Young people will insult their elders, and vulgar people will sneer at the honorable.”

Understand that fathers bring order, so in the removal/absence of fathers (leaders/authorities), death is always the result. When fathers are removed, this is always a sign of judgment from God on a society. This is today, right before our very eyes. And because politicians, LEOs, and authorities are afraid to do anything – to father properly – they yield to the capricious, infantile demands of fatherless children – bastards. And inaction only emboldens them.

But, there’s always hope! In Malachi 4:5-6, God closes the Old Testament with an enormous reveal and promise. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. (vs.6) And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” To God be the glory! Here, literally in the last two verses of the Old Testament, God highlights the heart of mankind’s problem – the Father/son disconnect – and He graciously promises to restore this disconnect.

This Father-son disconnect is at the core of what’s missing today. I am fully persuaded that it is impossible to authentically, deeply experience the presence of Father-God and still participate in any of today’s foolishness… or feel insecure and inferior about yourself… or buy into the myth of white privilege… or feel the need to shame and guilt others into your pain… or believe the lies and claims of systemic, pandemic racism… or agree with the ungodly, wicked spirit of BLM… or believe there is an epidemic of LEOs targeting blacks. Again, I contend that it is impossible to know the power, love, and salvation of Jesus Christ and not be humbled, changed, validated, fulfilled, and satisfied!

Recall that the heart of a true father is to give (Jn 3:16)… and the heart of a true son is to receive from his father (Jn 14:31). Again, when fathers – earthly, spiritual, Heavenly, Founding – are present, they bestow identity, heritage, purpose, order, a name, words of life and affirmation, leadership, examples and standards, correct, protect, provide, guide, discipline, instruct, validate, teach, and bestow manhood.

When fathers are absent the result is bastards, orphans, juveniles, delinquents, disorder, protests, tantrums, uncivility, disregard and disrespect for authority, insecurity, fragility, untested character, hollowness, violence, destruction, loss of identity, and great ignorance.

This all may seem like stating the obvious, but Jeremiah 6:16 reads, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” Who, in their right mind, would intentionally reject and disconnect from their father? This is a form of self-imposed bastardization, when God gave us fathers! (Read Eph 4:11-16; Jer 3:15; 1Thes 2:11; 1Cor 4:15)

Having said all that, what does this subject have to do with the removal of our historical statues and Confederate flags? I’m glad you asked. The same bastard consequences apply when we attempt disconnect from our founding fathers – loss of identity and heritage, loss of order and purpose, loss of boundaries and standards, etc.

Proverbs 22:28 Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set

Proverbs 23:10 Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless

Scripture warns us not to move landmarks our fathers have set. Prophetically speaking, we are warned not to abandon our father’s standards, boundaries, and traditions, nor enter into fields of the fatherless.

Why do we put memorials and statues up? Because 1) We forget, and 2) We need to remember! Time and again, the Lord instructed the Israelites to create memorials and altars as reminders, lest they forget God (See Jdg 6:24; 1Sam 7:12; Gen 12:7, 26:24-25, 33:20, 35:3; Ex 12:14; and 1Cor 11:24 tells us to observe communion “in remembrance” of Christ). In Joshua 4:5-7, the people are instructed to use twelve stones to create a memorial, so when their children ask, “What do these stones mean,” you can recall the Lord and His mighty, wonderful deliverance.

While I’m here, I must address something that should be obvious. What these “bastards” are really doing is selectively sifting through notable American history-makers for their sins. Then they flippantly cast judgment and pronounce sentence. “Tear that statue down!” This is the epitome of casting stones! However, Jesus said in John 8:7, “He who is among you without sin, cast the first stone.” And Romans 3:10 says, “None is righteous, no, not one!” And Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned!”

Frequently, I’ll ask these brats, “How would you like someone to scrounge through your past only for your sins, your shame, and your guilt? When we find your dirt – and we will find dirt – what titles, promotions, positions, and accomplishments would you have to forfeit because you’re a bad person and not worthy?!!” I press them, “How would you like to be remembered, not for any possible good you’ve done, but only for your sins and failures? Would you like this legacy? Would that be fair?!!” Every, single person I’ve confronted has said that wouldn’t be fair. Duh! I thank God that His word says “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2Cor 5:17)

Also, if the sight of a statue or flag legit triggers you, something is very wrong with you. You are a cupcake! You have not experienced the love, power, salvation, and validation of God. You have the heart of a bastard.

The numbing reality is that these bastards are in great pain. They have to be to be acting like that. Have you ever seen an abused and abandoned dog? They are scarred, wounded, afraid, and often times mean. Love and care is foreign to them. When approached by well-meaning people, these dogs will yelp in fear, or pee themselves, or even bite. Their hearts can be recovered, but only through love, time, wisdom, and rehab. (I’ve seen these recoveries. It’s so beautiful.) This is the bastard’s position, and this is also the Christian’s mission – to love people enough to tell them about the salvation, power, and truth of Christ. The bastards don’t know Christ and their hearts can only be recovered through Him. The prophet Isaiah’s commission is our commission.

Isaiah 6:8-13 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” (vs.9) And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ (vs.10) Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (vs.11) Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said: “Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is a desolate waste, (vs.12) and the LORD removes people far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. (vs.13) And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled.” The holy seed is its stump.

Did you catch all that? So much of that prophecy describes what we’re witnessing in our inner cities today – Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit, NYC, Houston, Atlanta, etc. Our cities are being wasted, they look war-torn, good folks are leaving these areas, riots and lootings have left these communities desolate which drives more people away, then these places become forsaken as people and businesses won’t come back and rebuild.

However, the prophecy finishes with an alarming, gut-wrenching challenge to sons and daughters of God. Even though a tenth remain, it will be burned again. And, in that continued persecution, what remains is the stump, which is holy seed! So, what’s the stump??! The stumps are God’s proportion, liken to His tithe which is holy to Him, His remnant! I believe the stumps are Christians – missionaries – that are willing to go into dark places, willing to be persecuted and burned, yet still carry the light of the gospel and the power of God. I’ve read multiple recent articles, even secular ones, that suggest (almost implore) that the only thing that can save the USA is missionaries, because they are amenable, eager, and prepared to go.

Christian missionaries are the key to restoring life in America. They did it once before. When America was dark, uncivilized, and in need of the gospel, many Christians risked their very lives and families in service to the Lord, connecting the lost to their heavenly Father. I urge you to read chapter four of “The Light and the Glory” by Peter Marshall and David Manuel. Chapter four is entitled “Blessed Be The Martyrs” and it describes in detail the horrors and challenges the monks and friars endured, all for the hope of introducing dark souls to the light of Christ, bridging the gap to Father-God. Through their love, obedience, and sacrifice, America was stood up and became the greatest nation on this planet.

In closing, I realize that going into these dark communities is risky and dangerous. But recall the voice of the Lord in Isaiah 6:8. “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Who among us will reply, “Here I am! Send me.”

Read: “America, we have a brat infestation!”

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Bastards & the Removal of Statues & Flags

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