SOUTHERNERS HONOR LEE AND JACKSON IN JANUARY – Commentary by Dr. Paul E. Bellino

Gen. Robert E. Lee was born Jan. 19th 1807, in Westmoreland County, Virginia to the famed revolutionary war hero Gen. Henry “Light Horse Harry" Lee.

Gen. Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall" Jackson was born Jan. 21st 1824, at Lexington, Virginia. The lives of both of these great men were notably engaged in the cause of Christ and Southern Independence. They are an inspiration to us all as a part of our Southern heritage and Christian heritage.

Lee was opposed to slavery and freed his slaves in the years before "The Second War for Independence." In a letter written to his sister he explained why he resigned from the U.S. Army in April, 1861, having declined the command of the entire Union Army offered him by President Abraham Lincoln:

"With all my devotion to the Union and the feelings of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relatives, my children, my home."

Gen. Jackson's renowned victories against great odds were at both Battles of Bull Run, in the Shenandoah Valley, Cross Keys, and at Port Republic. Gen. Lee referred to Jackson as "my right arm." Chaplain Bennett wrote as a soldier who had viewed Jackson at the battle of Cross Keys: "I saw something today which affected me more than anything I ever saw or read on religion. While the battle was raging and the bullets were flying, Jackson rode by, calm as if he were at home, but his head was raised toward heaven, and his lips were moving evidently in prayer."

Like Jackson, Gen. Lee too was a man of prayer. On April 8th 1864, he gave orders for his men to recognize a "day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer" in these words:

"Soldiers! Let us humble ourselves before the Lord, Our God, asking through Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, beseeching the aid of the God of our forefathers in the defense of our homes and our liberties, thanking him for the past blessings, and imploring their continuance upon our cause and our people."

Both of these great men of our Southern heritage were men of love and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. They were confident in prayer, and through their lives to this day challenge us to pray.

Let us in this new year of 2004 have the same sense of duty and resolve that marked the lives of Lee and Jackson. They were soldiers of the Cross who were not ashamed to seek the Lord for forgiveness of sin and for grace to live the message of salvation in their age. May we take heart to lift up not only the Battle Flag of Freedom, but also the Battle Flag of Faithful Prayer as did these beloved forefathers, Generals Lee and Jackson, so long ago.

The words of Holy Scripture are clear and yet encouraging regarding prayer as cherished by both of the these men:

"I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplication. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon the name of the Lord; for he is good; because his mercy endureth for ever…O’ give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever."
(Psalms 116: 1, 2, 13; 118: 1, 5, 14 and 29)

By His grace,
Dr. Paul E. Bellino

Dr. Bellino is the Chaplain for the Activism Seminars held by the Georgia Heritage Coalition.