Losing Our Heads

Statues across our land are losing their heads. There is talk that Mount Rushmore may possibly lose its four. It may keep its heads, but, living, breathing Americans across our land are losing theirs. Of the former, only Rushmore has mainly just heads. Statues and Americans have chests too. Chests represent hearts. Yes, Americans have hearts as well as heads. They always have. But, it’s not the chests, the hearts, of the statues that are being removed. It’s the heads. The heart represents our emotions, our feelings our passions. The head, reason, rationale, thinking. I don’t believe many Americans have lost their hearts, but many have lost their heads. Rioters rope and topple a statue; it hits the ground, and at the impact, its head breaks loose and rolls a few feet. Statues of past Americans are losing their heads because contemporary Americans have lost theirs: Rioters claim they’re razing statues as a statement against racism--then, they topple the statue of an abolitionist who spent his life fighting slavery. Even if they claim a whoops moment, they have only admitted they’ve lost their heads. Two things: First, I justify no man for his support or participation in slavery or its accompanying racism. Racism is a horrible sin. Second, there are some whose hearts are filled with agony of loss of a loved one and the pain of being a victim of discrimination. Their anger is justifiable and their hatred understandable. One must not dismiss or demean such heart. However, many who have lost their heads claim they are acting from their heart, a heart of solidarity with those who have lost a loved one, a heart of empathy against racism, a heart of repulsion at injustice. In fact, they do not have hearts like that at all. Such claims are only ostensible. They, without heart, beat store owners, terrorize those passing through their rampages, burn small businesses, and spit on innocent bystanders. They are not showing solidarity with the victimized. They are showing their own selfish, out-of-control lusts and passions. They are not grieving over racism; they are reveling in their lawlessness. They actually smile, laugh, taunt, in their looting, pillaging, and terrorizing. They have not only lost their heads, but they also have no heart; only base, animalistic impulses, and lasciviousness. But, for those who do have hearts, something apologist Josh MacDowell said of the Christian experience is so fittingly applicable to our contemporary crises. Referring to Jesus’ admonish that each should “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart…and with all thy mind” (head), MacDowell commented (I paraphrase from memory), “Both head and heart are required to love God. However, the head must control the heart and not the heart, the head.” I am not arguing for the eradication of the heart. I am arguing that we must keep our heads. Just contemplate where we are in America: The Minneapolis City Council this past week voted overwhelmingly to dismantle that city’s police force. One can understand the denizens of that town’s animus against police brutality given what happened there. But it is incomprehensive how a city can exist without police. Not even considering things like burglary and murder, just think of traffic accidents, etc. You can point out all the heart in such protests. But, there is no head in it at all. What is most shameful is many of those that incite and inflame passions with falsities and contrived narratives and inflammatory remarks are often those who should be the “heads” of our society—leaders of cities, states, and the Federal government. Where are the statesmen? Where are the leaders who would calm and lead? We have lost our heads. Yes, the sad thing about statues losing their heads (if they represent reprehensible individuals, there is a legal way to have them removed other than by mob vandalism), is that the manner in which they have lost them is indicative that many American have lost theirs. The frightening thing is that it is not inconceivable that if Americans lose their heads figuratively, one day they could lose them literally. History shows that, when citizens lose their heads, ruled only by “heart,” it will not be only heads of statues that will roll in the streets; it will be those of its compatriots. Whatever is happening in our country, we who are not only Americans but also followers of Christ must remember that above all we must lose neither heart nor head in loving our God.

Losing Our Heads

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