Confederate monuments and even the Confederate battle flag have their place. Historic battlefields like Gettysburg, museums, places like that. The narration that accompanies them should convey the truth, however – the truth that the armies of the Confederacy were in active, armed rebellion against the United States of America for the express purpose of maintaining and expanding chattel slavery.

Elsewhere, they should be demolished. 

Yes, they do indeed speak of American Heritage. But it is a sinful heritage. It is a heritage from which we collectively need to repent.

Every empire has (or had) foundational sins. A more perfect union can only emerge when those foundational sins are the objects of focused repentance. Our national original sins are obvious – the genocide of native peoples, the theft of their land, chattel slavery, and on-going systemic racism and injustice. 

How does a nation repent?

• Confess the truth; set the historical record straight.
• Take down the flags and monuments that celebrate the sins of genocide, land theft, and slavery.
• Provide affirmative action reparations to Indigenous First Nations and the descendants of slavery. Both groups are imprisoned within systems rigged against them.
• Preach truth from pulpits and platforms in legislative chambers, courtrooms, faith communities, classrooms, and public forums. 

2 Chronicles 7:14: If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (NIV)

Amos 5:24: Do you know what I want?
    I want justice—oceans of it.
I want fairness—rivers of it.
    That’s what I want. That’s all I want. (The Message)