‘The folly of not honoring imperfect men’
One of the most renowned works of Renaissance architecture in the entire world is St. Peter’s basilica in Rome. No less than the great Michelangelo himself, along with many other luminaries, designed it. But it is the name itself that currently commands my attention. If you have read the Bible much at all you know that St. Peter himself was, in many instances, decidedly “un-saint-like.” Matthew 26:74 says, “Then began he (Peter) to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man.”
This was Peter, the man honored by having his name on one of the most famous structures in the world cursing, swearing, and denying Christ. And yet it was Christ himself who later came looking for Peter to restore him, and to set him on the path to great usefulness on the day of Pentecost and beyond.
This scene is much replayed throughout Scripture. David was at one point in his life an adulterer and a murderer. And yet Jesus honored him by repeatedly accepting the title of “the son of David.” Noah at one point was utterly drunk, and yet Hebrews 11:7 lists him as one of the great heroes of the faith.
As I muse over these instances of imperfect men being honored, I cannot help but notice the folly of a current societal trend, namely the removal of honors given to imperfect men.
I read a news story yesterday from Fox News Insider about George Washington. Part of the column read, “Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, will take down a memorial marking the pew where Washington sat with his family, saying it is not acceptable to all worshipers.
“The plaques in our sanctuary make some in our presence feel unsafe or unwelcome,” leaders said, a reference to the fact that Washington was a slaveholder.
Romans 13:1-7 speaks of our duty to human rulers. In that context, verse seven says that we are to render honor to whom it is due. But, since there has never been and never will be an unflawed human ruler, we must either disobey God’s command or honor people who had/have flaws.
Many of the founders of our country did as most everyone else in the entire world was doing and engaged in the great wrong of forced servitude. There is no defense at all for what they did. But the totality of their lives and efforts produced a land in which everyone of every color and every background, even former slaves, were and are able to enjoy a life and a level of freedom second to none. America has been the envy of the world for generations because of the efforts of those founders.
Thomas Jefferson was also a slaveholder. And yet it was Fredrick Douglass, a former slave, who was among the most ardent supporters of Jefferson’s work in authoring the Constitution. He called those writings of Jefferson “saving principles.”
Our society is creating and raising and nurturing a devouring dragon, and directing it to consume anyone and anything it does not like. But the problem with a dragon is that reptiles never stop growing. And as they grow, their appetite increases. A dragon turned on others will eventually run out of “others” and turn on the ones who raised it. Those who enjoy delving into the past to tear down imperfect others will at some point have their own past examined, and their own honors removed.
The good news is, there is a better way. The same grace that allowed people like Peter and David to be honored can also be extended to others who have had great flaws and yet gone on to accomplish overwhelming good for everyone.
With the flaws inherent in each of us, there really is no other way that anyone of any race at any time can ever be honored.
Bo Wagner is pastor of the Cornerstone Baptist Church of Mooresboro, NC, a widely traveled evangelist, and the author of several books. His books are available on Amazon and at www.wordofhismouth.com. Pastor Wagner can be contacted by email at 2knowhim@ cbc-web.org