Should Christians fly the Confederate flag?

Last week, I talked with John Stonestreet of the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview about the shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. Stonestreet called it “yet another incident that, in the most horrific way yet, illustrates this deep divide that continues to exist in the American experience between the races.”

Out of deep pain, the families of the shooting victims offered an equally deep example of Christian faith. They stood in a courtroom and offered forgiveness and love to accused shooter Dylann Roof.

“For these families to believe that even this guy, who caused such great pain could find forgiveness in Jesus Christ … it’s the gospel in real life,” Stonestreet said.

In the aftermath of the Charleston shooting, Stonestreet encouraged Christians to listen to African-Americans who say the Confederate flag gives painful offense.

“I don’t think we take down the Confederate flag just because it offends someone,” Stonestreet said. “I think we take down the Confederate flag because of why it offends someone. There’s actually a history there of great evil, of great dehumanizing treatment of other image-bearers. I think Christians can make that distinction, and I think we should make that distinction.” He echoed the sentiments of Christians such as Russell Moore who say the Confederate flag belongs in a museum because of its historical significance, but not flying over a government building.

“There are some symbols that we Christians need to know about, but for us to fly them is to fly in the face of reconciliation and peace,” Stonestreet said.

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