Facing America’s Painful Past

“There is a way for the dividing walls of racial hostility and injustices from the past to be broken down.”

When my wife and I took a personal trip to New Mexico, at one point we found ourselves standing in front of an old building that was half in ruins. It was surrounded by a cemetery with rickety crosses, some leaning to the left and others to the right. As we asked about the building, we were told it used to be a church, and as we learned what happened there, we were left speechless. (Photo by Clint Decker)

We were standing in front of the San Geronimo Church, and in February 1847 it became the eternal monument of the Taos Revolt.

The cause for the horrific tragedy began in 1846, when the American government was expanding westward, and American General Stephen Kearny marched into Mexican territory and claimed it for the United States. Soon tensions rose between the Americans, and the native Mexicans and Pueblo Indians. In retaliation for the Americans unjust oppression, the two groups joined together and carried out a bloody massacre on U.S. officials and their families. In response, weeks later the American military pursued the Mexicans and Indians, which ended at the San Geronimo Church near present day Taos, New Mexico. There American soldiers sought revenge by carrying out their own bloody massacre of over 150 men, women and children seeking refuge in the church.

The United States government should not have seized the lands they did, and neither should have either massacre taken place in retaliation against the other. All of it was preventable, and a dark part of Mexican, Pueblo Indian and American history. And what are the natural consequences of such evil? Divisive hate, anger and unforgiveness for generations.

When we look at the Taos Revolt, and the many others like it that took place between the expanding American government and Native Americans, what is the root of the problem? Is it about racial division - the white man versus the person of color? Is it about government corruption? Is it about a lust for power and control?

Those are all symptoms of the deeper problem, which is spiritual at its core. God describes the central issue, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) Only a heart that is sick could hate another person because of their race, steal from others, or justify revengeful bloodshed.

God says, “You shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15) Whether someone has their car stolen or their homeland, all forms of stealing are unjust and condemned by God. He also gives no justification for retaliatory bloodshed when He states “…never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” (Romans 12:19) Furthermore God declares, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom. 12:21) What happens when one is overcome by the darkness within themselves, and returns evil for evil? Then evil never leaves them, and they live in a perpetual cycle of hate and revenge for generations.

How can hearts like this have peace, and bring an end to this deadly cycle? Only one way. Through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. He came from heaven to earth, died and rose again to change the hearts of men and women. His death provided a way for dark and sinful hearts to be transformed. The Bible says, “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility…” (Ephesians 1:14)

The dividing wall of racial hostility and injustices from the past can be broken down. When people come to the cross of Christ in a spirit of humility, repentance and faith; lives will be transformed. And flowing from those changed hearts will be joy, love and forgiveness for one’s enemies.

A prayer for you – Lord God, you know about the injustices that have happened in our nation’s past. I pray that wherever there is division because of these evils, you would break down those walls through the healing power of forgiveness in the cross of Christ. Through Him, tear down the walls that divide us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.