Don’t Remove the Bust Acts 17:16-34

There is an outcry that the statues of important former Confederate persons be removed from public display. At the same time, there is an outcry for buildings, ships, bridges, etc. that bear the name of former Confederate leaders be removed; names changed to honor someone more honorable among all Americans.

I am a Tennessean, and I live in the capital city of Nashville. There is currently a strong debate about General Nathan Bedford Forrest. He was a General in the confederate army. After the war he becomes a member of the Klu Klux Klan (KKK), an organization dedicated to the ideals of white supremacy, and the elimination of any person that appear to be a threat to their ideals and goals. Located in the state capital building is a bust of General Forrest. Also, there is a law in Tennessee that the governor of Tennessee must make special recognition of General Forrest on a certain day. The display of the bust is offensive to a lot of the citizens of Tennessee; especially Black people that are the sons and daughters of former slaves. Those that oppose the display of the bust offer the suggestion that the bust should be removed from the capital building and placed in a museum where proper education can take place.

Personally, as the son of former slaves, I am not offended by the bust. I agree that these statues and bust are about the history of our state. As for me, I ask myself, what do these statues and bust mean to me? Do these displays affect my life, and if the answer is “yes,” I must ask, “in what ways?” For sure, there are those that honor people like General Forrest. They honor him because of what he means to them. Yes, General Forrest represents white supremacy and slavery, yet, this truth does not offend me. You see, I have my own reasons for wanting to know about General Forrest and what he represents. I do not want to erase from my memory that there still exist in these United States people like General Forrest. I do not want to forget to teach my children about people like General Forrest. I want my children to see these statues and ask me, “Daddy, who is this, and why is he important." The remainder of this article is taken from Acts 17:16-34. In this passage of scripture we find the Apostle Paul using an inscription as a tool for teaching lost and unsaved people about Jesus and His offer of salvation.

Paul makes at least three missionary journeys. All three are recorded in the Book of Acts. Acts 15:36 begins an account of Paul’s second missionary journey. Paul and his companions travel to several cities preaching the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. They are welcomed by some, and they are rejected by others. In our passage, Paul is in Athens waiting for his companions. While he is waiting, he begins to have conversations with the people. Again, some welcome him and some reject him. Their issue with Paul is based on the message that he brings. The city is full of idols and idol worshipers. Athens is known for its philosophers and their philosophies (Acts 17:16-21). Paul is brought to Areopagus/Mars Hill a place where the philosophers met to discuss their beliefs (vv. 19-20). They want Paul to tell them about his teachings because he is teaching them about something that they have not heard of before. “For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean” (v. 20, NASB).

As Paul stands in the Areopagus he tells them that he notices an inscription that says, “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD” (V.23). Now, Paul is a Jew. The Jews know who God is. The Jews worship God only. The Jews know God as a living God that is personally involved in their lives. God is their creator; both as creator of the world and creator of their nation. Paul observes that the philosophers are religious, but they worship in ignorance. “So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, ‘Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you” (22-23, NASB). There are lessons that we Black folk and so called progressive white folk can learn from Paul’s response to the Areopagus and the inscription. Let me begin by telling you about my first observation of a statue of General Nathan Bedford Forrest.

I move from Cleveland, Ohio to Nashville Tennessee in May 1982. One day I am driving down Interstate I-24. Off to my right I see a statue of a man on a horse. On another drive I pay closer attention and I see that the man on the horse is a military person. I don’t know who this person is and although I am curious, I am not overly concerned. Some years go by before I learn that this is a statue of General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Honestly, I do not recall ever knowing anything about the general. Do I get upset? Does thinking about slavery upset me? The answer to both questions is a resounding “No.” Am I strange? Maybe I am. I believe, however, that I look at this statue in ways similar to the way that Paul looks at the inscription to an unknown God. So, here we go.

First, Paul is not threatened by the inscription and I am not threatened by the statue. You see Paul knows who he is. Paul is sure that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul. Paul knows his purpose. He is to preach the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. Unlike most of the Jews of his day, Paul has a different understanding of Israel’s God. Paul once believed as most Jews do. The Jews believe that God is the God of Jews only. Paul hears about Jesus but he rejects the teaching that Jesus is the Messiah. He persecutes people that believe in Jesus until he has an encounter with Jesus as he travels to Damascus to bring believers to Jerusalem as prisoners. His encounter with Jesus gives him a new understanding of God. His relationship with God and God’s people is forever changed.

Maybe, Black folk are offended by statues of these former Confederate heroes because a lot of Black folk do not know who they are. They do not know their own history. They do not about Black folk that live in slavery that are successful. They do not know about slaves and the sons and daughters of former slaves that make important contributions to the American story. They know only about the negative side of the history of Black people. Too many Black people know of the victimization of their ancestors. They do not know about white folk that stick out their necks to stand for the rights and advancement of Black folk. For example I was talking with a high school black lady. She was expressing hopelessness; especially as it relates to white people always holding Black people back. I suggest that this is not always true. She should read the life of Booker T. Washington that he writes about in his autobiography, “Up from Slavery.” This young lady has never heard of Booker T. Washington. This surprises me.

Maybe, too many Black folk today do not know about the God that their ancestors worshiped. They no longer hear the testimonies of their ancestors. “He made a way out of no way.” “He walks with me and talks with me, and He tells me I am His own.” “He’s a lawyer in a court room.” “He’s a doctor in a sick room.” “He’s bread in a starving land.” “He’s water in a thirsty land.” He’s my shelter in a storm.” “He’s a father for the fatherless.” “He’s a mother for the motherless.” “He’s a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” The writer of Psalm 46 sums it up this way. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (v. 1-2, NASB). Maybe, we need to make our relationship with God our priority. Who am I? Who is my God? What is the status of my relationship with my God? We need to know who we are.

Secondly Paul understands the reasons that the Areopagus has the attitude that they have. He understands the limitations of their knowledge. When I learn about General Nathan Bedford Forrest I am not upset. I know the history of slavery. I know a little about the theological debates about slavery. I know that slavery is about more than skin color. Slavery includes economics. It includes the idea that God determined that certain people are to rule over other people. You see, Paul first knows himself. He admits that He has been wrong in his beliefs about God and his beliefs about other people. Paul knows that these people will change when they are told about Jesus. Then they can either believe or not believe the message of the Gospel. Black folk will never appreciate the attitudes of white folk; especially those of the confederacy until they first know about themselves. When we can admit to our own failures and know about our success stories, we will be able to change the attitudes and beliefs of people that hold to white supremacy. We will no longer speak as victims to be pitied. We will speak as victorious warriors in the army of our God who gives us the victory.

Thirdly, Paul is able to give them truth that they can consider. He tells the Areopagus about Jesus. He tells them that Jesus is not mad at them. He tells them about the saving work of Jesus on the cross. Paul knows that there is power in the Gospel. He writes to the Romans saying, “I am under obligation both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:14-16, NASB). There is no change agent that can match the power of the gospel.

So, for me, don’t remove the bust. It is not necessary that the statues be torn down. It is not necessary to change the names on buildings and bridges and parks. These remind me to study their historical importance. They remind me of the attitudes and beliefs that remain in our country today. Don’t let me go to sleep on the realities that exist because of politically correct language and removal of symbols. Don’t hide the truth from me. I need to know that people are who they are, and they believe what they believe. Let me see their inscriptions. Let me stand in the midst of them, hearing their interrogating ideas and questions. I know who I am. I know my history. I know my God. I know that there is no other name under heaven among men whereby men can be saved from their attitudes, beliefs, and practices other than the name of Jesus. Let me see the darkness. Then I can shine the light of Jesus Christ into the darkness and men will see the truth. Don’t remove the bust.