Below is my message for Sunday, October 3rd. Please feel free to forward or reply. It may also be used as a chaplain's article for your camp or other newsletter if you wish.
May God continue to bless you all in our Lord's service, and in service to our just and most worthy Southern Cause.
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Chaplain, Central Texas Brigade
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. . . And Proud Of It!
In Romans chapter one, verse sixteen, Paul writes, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ." Paul was not a Jew when he was with the Jews, a Roman when he was with Romans, and a Christian when he was in church. Paul was a Christian at all times and believed everyone else should be a Christian also. And he didn't mind saying so. In speaking to King Agrippa in Acts 26: 29, Paul says, "I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am." The Apostle Paul was a Christian . . . and proud of it.
I can't imagine any member of the SCV not wanting to tell all who will listen, "I am a proud member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I am the proud descendant of a brave Confederate Soldier who deserves to be remembered with honor. I am proud of President Jeff Davis, and Generals Lee, Jackson, Forest, and all those who fought for our Confederate Cause. This is where I stand, this is what I am . . . and proud of it."
Paul also wrote, "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you that are in Rome also." (Rom. 1:15) Those who opposed Paul's message could ridicule him, and they did. They could beat him, and they did. They could imprison him, and they did. They could stone him, and they did. They could cut off his head, and they did. But Paul knew where he stood, and he wasn't going to compromise what he believed in. And, neither should we.
The more we compromise our message as the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the more we compromise the honor due our Confederate forefathers. The more we concede to those who oppose our Cause, the more we concede of our Southern heritage. The more respect we show to the enemies of truth, the more respect we lose. If we are to serve the Charge. If we are to recruit and retain. If we are to preserve our heritage. If we are to be successful in the mission handed down to us by our Confederate forefathers, we must draw a line in the sand, and like the Apostle Paul, proclaim who we are and where we stand.
Every Christian should be a missionary, reaching out to a lost and dying world with the life saving message of Jesus Christ. And every member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans should be a recruiter, reaching out to every son of the South with the truth of our Confederate Cause. Why? Because we are the Sons of Confederate soldiers who so honorably and bravely defended our beloved homeland . . . and proud of it!
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
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