When Davis puts on his Confederate colonel’s costume, he believes he’s a real Confederate officer in a real Confederate army.  No, the year is not 1861.  The year is 2005.  Davis is at a Civil War re-enactment.  And when he wears his colonel’s costume, he swaggers about the Confederate camp giving commands and demanding the respect due a real commanding officer.  Davis has never had any real military training; but he truly believes that he’s a real colonel, in a real army, planning a real second civil war. 

Davis is not alone.  He and thousands of other professing Christians are filled with anger and hostility because the South lost the Civil War.  They argue that the Civil War is not over, and the South must rise again. They believe their mission from God is to liberate the Confederate States of America.  More important, they boldly threaten they will use force, if necessary.

Michael Hill, president of the Neo-Confederate organization the League of the South, declares on their web site www.dixienet.org : "Once The League of the South has made 'The Community of the Southern People' a reality, then we can pursue our political objectives: a return to constitutional republicanism and true federalism, or if that should prove unattainable, secession." The process for secession is further explained at  www.newconfederacy.com. In sum, it declares that if the existing United States government does not recognize the votes of the Neo-Confederates to join the Confederate States, then "there may very well be a situation which may have to be settled by force."  In other words, first political action; if that fails then military action. Furthermore, Article IV of the "The Confederate Legion Handbook" at www.csanews.net proclaims:

 

We are engaged in an extension of that war, equally as devastating, but on a different battlefield. The loss of this phase of the ongoing War for Southern Independence would mean the extinction of all that we know as Confederate and Southern. Passing on to our descendents yet unborn, the necessity of fighting the bloodiest revolution in human history, in order to regaining lost liberties. Therefore it would behoove us to make careful use of every lawful, peaceful and honourable means at our disposal, toward our ultimate victory and the vindication of our just cause.

 

Notice the bold declaration: "Passing on to our descendents yet unborn, the necessity of fighting the bloodiest revolution in human history, in order to regaining lost liberties." (Emphasis added.)  I repeat - in their words - "the necessity of fighting the bloodiest revolution in human history"!

However, don't let the words "passing on to our descendents yet unborn" fool you.  Hill declares in "The Issue of Race in the Southern Independence Debate" at www.dixienet.org/positions/race.htm: "Recently, I heard someone (not a League member, by the way) propose that after independence we must negotiate with responsible black leaders to see who gets what piece of real estate.  I don't know about this fellow, but Alabama is my home and I plan on staying here, God willing."  Now, this tells us that Hill plans on the new confederacy being established in his lifetime.  Unfortunately, he has thousands of rebel comrades. 

Surprisingly, many Neo-Confederates are highly intelligent, professing Christians. They’re ordinary people living in ordinary neighborhoods. They’re public schoolteachers, doctors, lawyers, professors, politicians, ministers, and so forth.  Consequently, they cleverly and cunningly use their influence to advance their agenda in education, law, politics, religion and all other areas of society. In the opening statement of “The Rebirth of Confederate Society” at www.csanews.net, the Neo-Confederates boast: “While we grow as a movement, you may not see our name splashed across the headlines, nor our leadership addressing the masses, but we will be there, behind the scenes, every mile of the way, planning, coordinating and instituting plans and programs aimed at the eventual vindication of our just and honourable cause.   History is not happen chance, but cause and effect, it is made to happen!” 

The Neo-Confederates are not an isolated religious cult.  They attend our local churches.  They're Baptists, Methodists, Assemblies of God, and other mainline denominations; and they quote Scripture to defend their liberation theology. For instance, they quote Psalm 33:12:  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” Are Davis and thousands of other professing Christians acting under Divine inspiration or a grand delusion? 

To begin with, it’s important to understand the history behind this movement.  First of all, what is a confederate?  Generally, a confederate is a person or state joined with another for a special purpose.  In United States history, the southern States which seceded from the Union in 1860-1861 to form a separate government was called the Confederate States of America (CSA). Therefore, a Confederate is a supporter of the Confederate States of America.  The supporters of the CSA in the 1860’s were Confederates; the supporters of the CSA today are New Confederates, or Neo-Confederates.

However, Neo-Confederates disagree about whether the South must secede again or whether the Confederate States of America established under the 1861 Confederate Constitution is still a nation.  Some contend that the Confederacy was never surrendered because General Robert E. Lee didn’t have rightful authority to surrender to the Union. Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, had the actual authority to surrender, and he didn’t.  In other words, they declare the CSA is legally still a separate nation, but is currently occupied by a foreign power - the U.S. federal government.  Others contend the South must secede again.  Basically, some shout secession while others shout liberation. Again, they use Scripture to advance their cause:  “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4).

The Bible repeatedly warns us to beware of deception.  “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).  Christ warns us in Matthew 10:16: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”  Even if someone uses Scripture to incite us to action, we must remember Satan quoted Scripture to Christ to tempt Him in the wilderness (Matthew 4). We must discern those who are divinely inspired and those who are inspired by a delusion. 

What is a delusion?  A delusion is a false belief or opinion caused by self-deception. What causes a delusion?  Blindness to the truth or willfully believing lies.    When we allow dark lies to shut out the light of the truth, we walk in spiritual darkness.  Only the light of God’s Word can deliver us from the bondage of delusion.  “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31, 32). 

So, are the Neo-Confederate doctrines Biblical?  Randall Hamilton, founding member of the Confederate Society of America and publisher of Confederate States of America News, declares in the Confederate treatise at www.csanews.net:

The intent of this ‘treatise’~ is to make known to the subsequent generations, born into this subjugation, that they have the inherited and moral right to rise up and throw off from their necks the yoke of this conqueror, as has been the right of all subjugated peoples throughout the ages; and that God, in His own time and infinite wisdom, will provide the capacity and means to do so, when we as Southerners, as His people called by His name, humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, then will He hear from heaven and will forgive our sin and will heal our land. (paraphrasing II Chronicles 7:14). To which l will add, •’And He will give us our independence and rightful place among the nations of the earth, The Confederate States of America.’

 

Now, what does Hamilton mean when he boasts “we as Southerners, as His people called by His name”? (Emphasis added.)  Is Hamilton claiming that Southerners are God’s chosen people?

 

We know that in the Old Testament, the Jews are God's chosen people and He covenants with their race alone. However, God divorces Israel because she is unfaithful to the covenant.  In other words, when Israel separates or divorces herself from God by committing idolatry or adultery, she breaks the covenant; therefore, God is under no obligation to keep His promises. Yet, God has compassion on His “wife” Israel, and calls “her” back to be faithful (Isaiah 54) as a bridegroom delights in his bride (Isaiah 62:4, 5).  Nevertheless, the Jews repeatedly break the covenant, and eventually break the covenant permanently when they reject God’s son, Jesus Christ.  Because they rejected the truth and crucified Christ, they are no longer God’s chosen people.

 

Consequently, because the Jews willfully broke their covenant, God offers His covenant to all true Christians.  In other words, those who believe God’s Law and obey God’s Law covenant with Him. The New Testament covenant declares that all true Christians are now God’s chosen people, regardless of race.  Simply put, all Christians of all races are now “my people” (II Chronicles 7:14).  God’s chosen people are not restricted to a nation; they are international.

 

So, why do the Neo-Confederates believe they are God’s chosen people?  They contend America has turned its back on God, forsaking Christian principles and practices.  They protest judicial sanctioning of gay marriages, abortion, forbidding God in schools, and other ungodly decisions.  Admittedly, these are legitimate concerns. Christians should denounce the demise of morality in America.  Furthermore, they believe a well-ordered society can only be maintained by Christian values and ethics. Again, I agree. Christianity must be the foundation of our nation.  Christian principles and practices must remain in our hearts, our minds, and our laws. 

 

The Neo-Confederates avow that the new confederacy will be known for honor, honesty, integrity, duty, chivalry, personal responsibility and faith as in the days of the Old South. “Somewhere buried deep within the collective memory of the Southern People, lies a storybook land of Cavalier Knights and Ladies Fair.  Where Chivalrous Christian Gentlemen Warriors, born within them gallantry, honor, integrity, family loyalty and duty” (“The Confederate Manifesto” www.csanews.net). They contend these Southern Christian ideals are being driven into extinction in the South because of non-Confederates.

 

Although I was born in the North, I have lived in the South for about forty years. I love the South!  Frankly, I consider myself a Southerner.  And, contrary to what the Neo-Confederates say, curiously, it’s not outsiders who are destroying Christian principles. The Neo-Confederates are destroying them.

 

For example, let’s talk about honor, honesty, integrity, duty, chivalry, personal responsibility, and faith. Neo-Confederate “General” Jackson prides himself on being a southern gentleman.  As you know, a gentleman is a polite and gracious man with high standards of conduct.  Despite the fact that Jackson calls himself a gentleman, he is controlling, stubborn, arrogant, and rude at home and at work.  Simply put, he's not a gentleman; he's a bully.  Moreover, he is not honorable. Jackson tells lies in both his personal and professional life.  He has been married several times because he commits adultery. When he’s dating, he cheats on his girlfriend.  When he’s married, he cheats on his wife.  He’s an adulterer. Also, his obsession with the confederacy contributes to the destruction of his relationships with women. Unfortunately, he devotes his passion and energy to the confederacy and neglects his family and those who love him.  Honor? Integrity? Chivalry?

 

It’s really pitiful. Jackson leads a miserable life because every day he’s filled with anger and hostility because the South lost the Civil War.  This bitterness poisons his mind and poisons his heart.  It poisons his relationships at work, and poisons his relationships at home.  Nonetheless, Jackson is a zealous Neo-Confederate and ruins his life for the Neo-Confederate cause.

 

Indeed the Neo-Confederates are very devoted to their cause.  Every day countless Neo-Confederates march off to work to secretly carry out the strategy of the new confederacy.  One of their subtle strategies is slanting the school curriculum.  They believe that the current history taught in public schools is a lie. Their mission is to educate young Americans about the “true” history of the South and the “true” history of America.  Michael Hill declares in the "League of the South Grand Strategy" at www.dixienet.org :  "As a means of making real our vision of a Southern Republic, we must first revitalise our largely Anglo-Celtic culture.  Without a strong cultural base, political independence will be difficult to attain.  But to strengthen Southern culture, we must overcome the mis-education of our people by undertaking a campaign to properly educate them about the history of the South in particular and America in general."  (Emphasis added.)  "Historical interpretations" and "living history" are part of their campaign to misrepresent history. 

 

For instance, “Major" Lee is a history teacher in a public school.  In his classes, Lee indirectly talks pro-slavery and anti-federal government.  Remember, they are cunning and clever.  They never come right out and boldly proclaim, “I’m recruiting young Americans for the Neo-Confederate cause!” They promote their demonic ideology in small doses hoping it will go undetected.  When questioned about subtle racial or subversive comments, Lee lies his way out of it.  Honor?  Integrity?  Honesty?

 

Sadly, Lee’s entire life is wasted furthering the Confederate cause. If he’s not preaching liberation theology in the classroom, he’s dressing up in a Confederate major’s costume and re-enacting Civil War battles.  Because Lee is a re-enactor and a history teacher, he represents himself as a historian.  He tells students that the history they have been taught in other schools is a lie, and he's going to teach them the truth.  In fact, he's told students he's going to teach them the truth about the Confederate States of America!  Additionally, Lee's teaching always revolves around the Civil War.  Clearly, he is subtly raising an army of hate against the “oppressive” North and “oppressive” federal government for a second civil war.  In other words, he is recruiting young rebels!  Lee and countless other pseudo-historians are telling lies every day in our classrooms.  So, who’s destroying Christian values and ethics? 

 

Granted, not all Confederate re-enactors agree with the Neo-Confederate agenda for liberation; some re-enactors aren't even aware of this subversive plot.  Yet, re-enacting is a covert cover presented as a family hobby to lure us into the Neo-Confederate snare.  They lure us by glorifying the romanticism of the Old South with antebellum balls, ladies' teas, belonging to the Confederate "family," sitting around campfires, cooking out, and other enticing allurements. Plus, we can participate in historical spectacles such as re-enacting battles and marching in parades. It's fun!   Men also have the opportunity to wear historic costumes and get promoted in the Confederate army.  Consequently, if they have blind faith and total devotion to the cause they can rise through the ranks. Unfortunately, once we become a part of their “family” they begin poisoning our minds with small doses of liberation theology via re-enactments, subscribing to Southern “heritage” publications, joining organizations, and so forth.  It is an ingenious political conspiracy disguised as a fun family hobby.  Sadly, many men and women are so bedazzled by these enticing allurements, they are blind to the demonic ideology behind it. The Neo-Confederates disguise their real motive - to literally re-enact the Civil War.  Yes, their ultimate goal is national war.

 

Meanwhile, every day Neo-Confederate re-enactors brainwash our children with subtle subversive propaganda disguised as "historical interpretation."  Every day, they give their "historical interpretations" to thousands of innocent schoolchildren and organizations such as the Boys Scouts of America.  We know what they're doing - programming youth to be Neo-Confederate war heroes.  Sadly, their fascination with war heroes leads to a morbid worship of dead Confederates.  For example, under the guise of community service, schoolchildren are duped into restoring and maintaining Confederate tombstones and cemeteries.  Sometimes Neo-Confederates also restore and maintain early Black cemeteries to cover their true motive - Confederate hero worship - and to underhandedly try to prove their patriarchal attitude toward Blacks.  Don't forget - the Neo-Confederates are sneaky! They keep their true motive undercover! 

 

Remember "Major" Lee is a public schoolteacher who is daily recruiting young comrades for their evil cause. Under the guise of "living history" and "community service" his students restored a small city cemetery with about fifty Confederate veterans’ gravesites.   The "Major" then had his students research each grave and discover the history of the person's life.  Lee belongs to the Neo-Confederate organization the Confederate States of America (CSA).  According to the CSA, the South is occupied by foreign forces and vows to create forces to establish the Confederacy. By the way, one of their goals is to withdraw the citizenship of Blacks; in other words, they want to return Blacks to the status of slaves.  Well, guess who Lee invited to participate in the dedication service of the cemetery - his unit of the Confederate States of America! 

 

In addition, CSA iron crosses with the words DEO VINDICE mark the Confederate veterans' graves. Deo Vindice means "God Will Vindicate" or "God Vindicates."  For the Neo-Confederates, the Confederate iron cross is a symbol of hatred.  Like the Nazis, the Neo-Confederates take the cross, a symbol of love and peace, and use it as a symbol of hate and warfare.  They replace the cross of Calvary with the cross of hell.  Sadly, looking across this cemetery, the Confederate iron crosses conjure up images of Nazi Germany.  

 

Don't get me wrong!  I don't have a problem with this cemetery being maintained by the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) or the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) or adult volunteers from the community.  However, I protest unsuspecting schoolchildren being subjected to subtle Neo-Confederate propaganda under the guise of community service.  Unfortunately, today Lee's students still maintain this cemetery where the CSA holds Confederate memorial services. 

 

Simply put, the Neo-Confederate youth campaign is an undercover movement; it's a covert conspiracy to recruit our children for their evil cause.  Neo-Confederate historians and re-enactors use various devious tactics to lure our children into their trap.  In fact, the Neo-Confederate youth recruitment campaign has many similarities to the Nazi Hitlerjugend, or Hitler Youth.  The Hitler Youth offered organized sports, war games, parades, rallies, and outdoor training exercises.  The children went camping and hiking.  It was fun!  The youth were also fed stories of heroes so they would willingly sacrifice themselves for the Nazi cause.  As you know, the real strategy behind the organized activities for the young boys was to prepare them for the military.  Girls were pressured to bear many children for the "master race."  Of course, the real agenda was kept secret from parents and children. Also, the youth wore uniforms that made them feel proud to belong to a strong and powerful organization.  In sum, the Hitler Youth appealed to several important human needs - fun, pride, and camaraderie. 

 

Similarly, today the Neo-Confederates use the same strategy as the Nazis.  Namely, they also seduce youth with fun activities such as camping, parades, and other exciting events.  Instead of Nazi war games, Neo-Confederate youth wear historic costumes and re-enact wars on real battlefields.  More important, the Neo-Confederates feed their young minds with "historical interpretations" - stories of Confederate heroes - to seduce them to willingly sacrifice themselves for the Neo-Confederate cause.  Moreover, youth are enticed into becoming a member of the Confederate "family."  Likewise, all these tactics appeal to our important human needs - fun, pride, and camaraderie. 

 

Do you see the clever strategy used by Neo-Confederates to disguise their subversive movement?  Namely, subtle propaganda is presented to students as "historical interpretation" and "living history." Neo-Confederates host "living history" events and invite thousands of schoolchildren and teachers.  By calling themselves "living historians," re-enactors not only feel important, it also allows them to covertly recruit unsuspecting schoolchildren and Boy Scouts.  Above all, re-enactors are recruiters!  "Major" Lee is not a passive re-enactor; he's an active recruiter in a covert conspiracy to recruit our children to their evil cause!

 

Still another example of Lee’s extremist notion of Confederate supremacy is his contempt for all non-Southern states.  Naturally, a historian is interested in traveling the U.S. to see historical sites and geographical landmarks.  Right?  Wrong!  When asked about travel, Lee vehemently replies, “There’s no reason to leave the Southern states.”  He also expresses contempt for visiting our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.  Should this man be teaching history in our public schools?

 

Unquestionably, Lee's actions are dangerous because he is slowly, steadily advancing Neo-Confederate propaganda in the classroom daily promoting hatred of other races, hatred of the North, and hatred of the federal government. Specifically, Neo-Confederates are not just members in a subversive organization.  They go beyond mere passive membership to overt actions such as teaching doctrines intended to indoctrinate students to push for a second civil war.  In other words, Neo-Confederates have a specific intent to further the unlawful aims of the Neo-Confederacy.  Clearly, they are planting the seeds of sedition. 

Now let me make it clear that I do not advocate a return to McCarthyism.  I agree that membership alone in a subversive organization is insufficient evidence of subversive activity.  However, in instances like "Major" Lee, it goes beyond membership alone.  He actively plants and cultivates the seeds of sedition in the hearts and minds of young Americans daily.  Think of the hundreds of students he has indoctrinated with Neo-Confederate liberation theology!  Think of the thousands of students indoctrinated with liberation theology by the countless other Neo-Confederate teachers in our public schools because they believe they are God’s chosen people!

In the past, other groups like the Neo-Confederates believed that they were God’s chosen people.  For example, the Crusaders in the Middle Ages were called Crusaders because they wore the Cross on their garments as a sign of their faith and of the vow they had taken to recover the Holy Land from the infidel Turks.  Briefly, Palestine was torn from the Byzantine Empire by the Moslems in the 7^th century.  However, the practice of Christianity was permitted, and pilgrims from Europe were allowed to visit the Holy Places.  But during the 11^th century Western Asia was overrun by Turks, who became the fervent champions of Islam.  When the Turks got the government of Palestine into their own hands, they began to treat the Christians who went to the holy places with great cruelty.  This led the East to appeal to the West for aid against them.  Pope Gregory VII tried to persuade the peoples of Christendom to unite in trying to restore a Christian dominion in the Holy Land. 

 

Pope Gregory failed.  But after him Pope Urban II and the preacher Peter the Hermit joined together to persuade the West to help them take back the Holy Land.  Peter the Hermit went to the great cities and preached about the cruelties the Turks inflicted on the Christians that he had seen with his own eyes. Peter preached to the crowds that if they would rescue the Holy Land from the infidels, they would win pardon for all their sins, and everlasting salvation. At the Council of Clermont in 1095, Pope Urban preached to the immense crowd, urging them to take up the Cross and join the Holy War.  The appeal was successful.  The people cried Deus vult (It is the will of God), and pledged their help.  In all, there were nine crusades.  Unfortunately, many cruelties and abominations were committed by the Crusaders in the Holy War. 

 

Alas, a holy war usually turns into an unholy war. When you read Neo-Confederate theology, although they quote Scripture to denounce the United States federal government, their confederacy will be far more oppressive.  For instance, part of their doctrine of the rebirth of Confederate society is a cleansing of the land.  Anyone living within the jurisdiction of the Confederate States of America or its territories who elects to become a citizen of the CSA must “swear (or affirm) their belief in, and the advocacy of, the history, heritage, culture, traditions and symbols of the South, as related to the Old South and the Confederacy.”  Those who are not active believers of the Christian or Jewish faiths will be refused citizenship.  By the way, what is their definition of “active"?   In addition, Article II of "The Rebirth of Confederate Society" warns “those clinging to hyphenated identities as African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American, European-American or some other, may not find our society suitable to their needs, since we will be one people.” Racial cleansing? Racism is contrary to the spirit of Christ. 

 

As I said earlier, I live in the South - the Bible belt.  And I’m surprised by the large number of persons who profess to be Christians and are racists. No one who is a racist is a Christian, no matter how saintly he appears.   “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26, 28, 29).  Heaven is home for Christians of all races.

 

Racism is a sin.  Racism is oppressing someone because he or she is a different race.  The Bible clearly teaches that God is for the oppressed and against the oppressor. (See “Liberty Chart”) A sin against a brother is a sin against God, who made him a brother.  The blood of one human father, Adam, is in the veins of men everywhere. We don’t expect members of our immediate family to be exactly alike, so why expect members of our extended family – brothers and sisters of different races – to be exactly like us?  Instead of pointing out our differences, why not stress our similarities?  We are more alike than we are different. 

 

Moreover, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” is a command.  It’s not a suggestion.  As you know, a command is an order from someone having authority to make the demand. The commandments are Divine Law that must be obeyed.   Just as earthly parents have authority over their children, our heavenly Father has authority to command us to love our brothers and sisters.  We must honor all men and women; we must respect their feelings and their rights. We must love our brothers and sisters of all races. "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.  He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes" ( I John 2: 9 – 11). In spite of the truth that the Bible teaches racism is a sin, Neo-Confederates plan to drive out unwanted races from their confederacy. 

 

A further example of their plan for cleansing the land is removing the unwanted dead.  Article IV of "The Rebirth of Confederate Society" declares that the Southern property which was seized under occupation will be restored to the individual sovereign states, communities, or private estates and it may be necessary to remove the dead to cleanse the land.   Of course, we know that any buried bodies of non-Confederate heritage will be exhumed.  Earlier I mentioned that students restore and maintain city cemeteries; and "Major" Lee had his students research each grave and discover the history of the person's life.  If you recall, in the opening statement of “The Rebirth of Confederate Society” at www.csanews.net, the Neo-Confederates boast: “While we grow as a movement, you may not see our name splashed across the headlines, nor our leadership addressing the masses, but we will be there, behind the scenes, every mile of the way, planning, coordinating and instituting plans and programs aimed at the eventual vindication of our just and honourable cause."  (Emphasis added.)  Clearly, they're bragging about their covert activities. Now, isn't it possible that the Neo-Confederates are using this cemetery "community service" because they are compiling data of the dead who will be exhumed and sent out of the confederacy?  Of course, it's possible - very possible.  Again, a cleansing of the land is part of their plan for the Christian rebirth of Confederate society.

 

As you know, other groups in the past talked about the rebirth of their country.  Adolf Hitler talked of a “rebirth” for Germany, and of its “destiny” to dominate Europe – even the whole world.  Hitler claimed that the Germans were a superior race destined to rule the world.  Inferior races, such as Jews and Slavs, had to be enslaved or eliminated because they were the cause of Germany’s problems.  At first, Hitler’s followers were few and he was not taken seriously.  Unfortunately, over time, he gathered a large following.  Then by the mid-1930s his party became powerful enough to take over the government. Next, the Nazis began their cleansing of the land of “impure” people. There’s no need to discuss the unspeakable horrors dictated by Hitler. 

 

As pointed out earlier, the Neo-Confederates sound a lot like the Nazis.  Article II of "The Confederate Manifesto" states:  “The County/Parish Militia shall be the nucleus of the military and shall consist of volunteer citizens which shall be aided by local civic organizations, private scholarships and businesses, with incentives to encourage their participation.  Local cultural and entertainment functions should be organized around the militia, making it a normal and expected part of community activity."  Now, does this sound like the Old South or Nazi Germany?

 

Clearly, the Neo-Confederates plan to set up a dictatorship of the extreme right with an ideology of belligerent white male Southern nationalism. The Neo-Confederates resent any knowledge but their own knowledge, resent any race but their own race, and distrust any thoughts they can not correct and control.  Any cultures other than their own are considered inferior and insolent.  Their dictatorship will crush all freedom of thought and demand blind obedience to the confederacy.  This is diametrically opposed to the message of the Gospel. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (II Corinthians 3:17). 

 

Today the Neo-Confederates have united to overthrow the federal government and establish a confederacy to glorify Southern culture and worship the Civil War Confederate heroes.  They threaten to use force.  They are angry about losing the War and are determined the South will rise again because they believe they are on a mission from God.  They are not acting under Divine inspiration; they are acting under a grand delusion.  In other words, they are suffering from delusions of grandeur. 

 

So, what has caused this strong delusion of grandeur?  These men and women, in their self-will and pride, have set up idols based on the desires of their own hearts. Their hearts and minds are filled with idols.  They glorify Southern culture and worship Confederate symbols, monuments, and Confederate heroes.   The Confederate creed proclaims, “I also hereby declare that the Confederate States Constitution, all Confederate flags, symbols and monuments do reign supreme above those of any other nation within the boundaries of The Confederate States of America” (www.csanews.net).  More important, they envision themselves as heroes to be worshipped by future generations of Neo-Confederates.  In other words, they worship themselves. They believe they are God’s chosen people.  Neo-Confederates are idolaters; the Neo-Confederacy is a religious cult of self-worship. 

 

As a result, their idolatry has caused them to willfully reject the truth and accept lies. They reject the truth about God; they reject the truth about history.  For example, “Colonel” Davis argues that the Civil War was not about slavery, but about states’ rights.  He argues that if you read the letters of secession you will see that slavery was not the primary cause.  Well, the letters of secession state clearly that slavery is the primary cause.  Arguably, slavery was not the sole cause of secession. But, the truth is slavery was at the heart of secession.  Basically, slavery was the primary cause of the Civil War; the secondary causes were offshoots of the root - slavery. 

 

Besides, Robert E. Lee said in 1860, “There is a terrible war coming, and these young men who have never seen war cannot wait for it to happen, but I tell you, I wish that I owned every slave in the South, for I would free them all to avoid this war.”  Clearly, Lee is saying that slavery will be the cause of the war. 

 

Sadly, the racism that drove the Southern states to secede still lives in the hearts of Neo-Confederates today.  “Colonel” Davis argues that slavery is not wrong; and that the slave owners were kind patriarchs who saw that their slaves were well-treated.  Admittedly, a few slaves, particularly in Kentucky were well-treated.  However, the majority of slaves in the South were abused.  Above all, to deny any man or woman or child their liberty is contrary to the Bible.  “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” (Leviticus 25:10).

 

The early American antislavery leaders believed in the Golden Rule - treat others the way you want to be treated.  The abolitionists declared slaveholders as sinners and condemned slavery as contrary to Christianity even though some Christians argued Mosaic Law condoned slavery.  On the contrary, Exodus 21:16 commands that anyone who steals a man and keeps him or sells him shall be put to death. 

 

Also, the Old Testament forbids sending a foreign runaway slave back to his master.  "Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee:  He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him" (Deuteronomy 23:15, 16).  Notice that the runaway slave is not to be oppressed; and he is free to settle where he pleases.  The spirit of the Law is liberty!

 

Furthermore, the book of Leviticus teaches that if a Hebrew became poor, he could sell himself to another Hebrew as a hired servant, but not as a slave. “For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.  Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God” (Leviticus 25: 42, 43).  Notice God warns the master not to oppress the hired servant. Moreover, at the end of every six years, the year of the jubilee, the servant was given liberty.

 

Now if a Hebrew sold himself to a foreigner, a relative could redeem him.  In other words, a relative could buy the servant’s freedom.  Likewise, Christ the Redeemer, our heavenly Father, paid the price and set us free from the yoke of bondage!  That is why we may not be enslaved to another man.  “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men” (1 Corinthians 7:23).

 

Much later, during the time of the early church, there were a large number of slaves in the Roman Empire. Slave rebellions occurred often.  Many of the Christian converts were servants, and the majority of servants were slaves. Paul instructs slave converts if they cannot be set free, to continue as slaves (1 Corinthians 7:20-23).  In other words, do not run away and do not rebel.  However, Paul says if you can get freedom – take it!  In addition, he urges slaves to remain free.  

 

Also, in a letter to the Colossians, Paul instructs masters to treat servants with justice and equality.  Paul pleads, “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven” (Colossians 4:1).   Why didn’t Paul tell masters to set slaves free?  In God’s wisdom, first, the condition of slaves was to be improved, followed by the decline and defeat of slavery. 

 

Southerner Henry W. Grady said in his speech “The New South” delivered to a northern audience on December 22, 1886: “I am glad that the omniscient God held the balance of battle in His Almighty hand, and that human slavery was swept forever from American soil – the American Union saved from the wreck of war.”  Later in his speech, Grady appeals to New England:  “Now, what answer has New England to this message?  Will she permit the prejudices of war to remain in the hearts of the conquerors, when it has died in the hearts of the conquered? Will she transmit this prejudice to the next generation, that in their hearts, which never felt the generous ardor of conflict, it may perpetuate itself?  Will she withhold, save in strained courtesy, the hand which straight from his soldier’s heart Grant offered to Lee at Appomattox?”

 

Unfortunately, the Neo-Confederates permit the prejudices of the Civil War to remain in their hearts, and transmit this prejudice to the next generation.  The Neo-Confederates withhold the hand of brotherhood of the American people. They willfully refuse to believe in the Biblical principle of the brotherhood of man.

 

Because Neo-Confederates willfully reject the truth and set themselves up as idols, as judicial punishment, God sends them blindness so that they believe their lies.  As a result, they become perverse calling “evil good, and good evil.” The Bible condemns them.  “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)  Simply put, God allows their hearts and minds to be shackled to a strong delusion.  Their own willfulness is the cause of their ruin.  They are walking in spiritual darkness.  However, God is not willing that any should perish. They are suffering from vain self-delusions of grandeur and they must be led out of the darkness and into the light.

 

First, we must confront Neo-Confederates with the truth and pray that God will dispel their delusion.  “And the truth shall make you free.” Their idolatry must be exposed and rebuked; otherwise there is no hope of repentance and reformation.  We must cry out, “Repent!” Instead of praying for the rebirth of the Confederacy, the Neo-Confederates must pray for the rebirth of their hearts.  Instead of concern with cleansing the land, they need to pray and ask God to cleanse their hearts of racism and other self-worship - idolatry.  They must cry out to God, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. . . Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. . . The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51). 

 

That is, if the Neo-Confederates are going to preach chivalry, they must stop cheating on their wives.  If they are going to preach honesty, they must stop telling lies.  If they are going to preach faith, they must live a righteous life daily.  We must pray that they are delivered from vanity and lies before they are turned over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28-32). We must pray that they are led out the darkness of delusion into the light of truth. 

 

Second, we must pray for national peace. The fire that kindled the passion of the first Civil War and is rekindling a second civil war must be extinguished. The hateful passions must be permanently extinguished.  There are just causes for war, but the Neo-Confederate causes of hatred, racism, self-worship and other forms of idolatry are not just.  We must pray that the attempts of these self-willed and idolatrous men united for an evil confederacy are self-defeated by the Neo-Confederates turning their swords against each other.  Let’s pray that instead of conquering us, they quash their cause by conquering each other with internal strife. 

 

Last, we must not only pray for peace, but we must work for peace. We must expose the Neo-Confederate plan to overthrow the federal government.  Remember they threaten to use violence to establish their evil confederacy if non-violence fails. They boldly declare: "The loss of this phase of the ongoing War for Southern Independence would mean the extinction of all that we know as Confederate and Southern. Passing on to our descendents yet unborn, the necessity of fighting the bloodiest revolution in human history, in order to regaining lost liberties." (Emphasis added.)  These are fighting words!  I repeat - in their words - "the necessity of fighting the bloodiest revolution in human history"!  But remember we can't trust evildoers; they're unpredictable. They may attack us at any time.  We must act as if they are planning to attack us today.  Yes, we must act as if they are planning to attack us today.

 

It's also important to remember that the Neo-Confederates are cunning and clever.  They don't want us to take them seriously because then we'll try to thwart their evil plot.  In the Introduction to Hitler's Mein Kampf, Konrad Heiden explains:  "For years Mein Kampf stood as proof of the blindness and complacency of the world.  For in its pages Hitler announced - long before he came to power - a program of blood and terror in a self-revelation of such overwhelming frankness that few among its readers had the courage to believe it . . . That such a man could go so far toward realizing his ambitions, and - above all - could find millions of willing tools and helpers; that is a phenomenon the world will ponder for centuries to come." 

 

Similarly, we were forewarned about the al Qaeda attack of September 11, 2001.  Unfortunately, we didn't take these threats seriously until nearly three thousand people died in the terrorist attacks on that fateful day. 

 

So, when will we take seriously the Neo-Confederate plot to destroy our nation?  When these evildoers begin to terrorize us?  After their first surprise attack killing hundreds or thousands of Americans?  Or, like in Hitler's case, after they already hold political power and are too strong for us to quickly overpower?  Remember, we are dealing with religious fanatics who at any minute may dismiss their plans for peaceful, political secession in favor of violent liberation.  Of course, it's also possible they're lying about first attempting political secession before resorting to violence.  

 

We must act now!  Let me repeat, we must act as if they are planning to attack us today. Why are we waiting?  Listen to what Patrick Henry said in his famous speech to the Virginia Convention in 1775:

 

        Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope.  We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts.  Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty?  Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?  For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst and to provide for it . . . . Gentlemen may cry peace, peace - but there is no peace.  The war is actually begun!  The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!  Our brethren are already in the field!  Why stand we here idle?

 

For us, the second civil war is actually begun!  Today our Neo-Confederate brethren are already in the field!  Why are we idle?   Right now they are infiltrating our public schools, law enforcement agencies, churches, public offices, and other strategic positions; and they invite anti-Americans around the world to join them in their unholy war.  Michael Hill announces in his introductory essay at www.dixienet.org :  "The League of the South extends an offer of cooperation to all peoples and groups in America and around the world who share our general outlook, values, and principles and who wish to defend the remnant of Western civilization."  In other words, Hill welcomes international terrorists to join their evil cause.  The Neo-Confederates are a motley crew of madmen. 

 

For these reasons, we must act.  Will we remain blind and complacent?   Are we going to close our eyes and ears to the truth and let our children suffer?  Are we going to wait until we hear the terrifying words "We are under attack!" until we take action?  We must willingly take the offensive before we are forced to take the defensive.  We must find the courage to denounce the Neo-Confederates and stop them from deceiving thousands of Americans with their impassioned preaching of liberation theology to unite and rescue the Southern holy land from inferiors and infidels. They are not God's chosen people.  They are not harmless religious fanatics.  The Neo-Confederates are an evil religious cult that threatens our homeland security. 

 

Unquestionably, the Neo-Confederates are religious rebels plotting to destroy our nation and plunder our freedom.  They are not merely passively resisting the federal government; they are actively moving toward liberation.  A national war of liberation has already begun.  Granted, for now, it's a quiet war because they are cunningly and cleverly working behind the scenes plotting their liberation and our destruction.  Remember if they can't sneak in - they'll storm in.  Alas, one day the quiet war will erupt into a violent war.  We must safeguard our liberty.  We must safeguard our families.  We must act now!  The war is on!

 

 

2005

Liberty Advocate

http://www.libertyadvocate.com