Give Me Liberty or…Actually, Just Give Me Liberty

Chief Adkins speaks at Historic St John's Church

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”

 – Revelation 7:9-10 (NKJV)

“But we’ll never be truly free until those in bondage have the same rights as you and me.” – "My Shot," Lin-Manuel Miranda, from the Broadway Musical Hamilton

The irony was almost breathtaking. Chickahominy Indian Chief Stephen Adkins was invited to speak at Historic St. John’s Church. A little more than 250 years ago, on these same hallowed grounds, Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech. Chief Adkins noted that the liberty Henry passionately petitioned for did not include American Indians, women, African American slaves or even non-landowners. He stressed, however, that the Declaration of Independence written a few months later, would carry a message “everyone” can embrace and fight for today. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” [emphasis mine].

Chief Adkins addressed the long and complex journey of Virginia's native tribes.  He noted the systematic racism that had oppressed Indians and people of color, and how religious leaders, throughout history, had condoned the colonization and subjugation of America’s indigenous peoples in the name of Christianity. I felt comfortably uncomfortable as I listened and learned what the history books I read in grade school had failed to disclose. Adkins, now 80, has spent much of his life advocating for equality and achieving Federal recognition for Virginia Tribes as sovereign nations. Many in those tribes are part of our Dover Baptist Association.  

As we celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation, some would say that bringing up the dark days of our past detracts from our country’s celebration, and how far we’ve come. No matter how hard we try, we can’t erase history.  As Christians, we need to learn from our mistakes, and repent of our sins–past, present and future. As Spanish-American writer George Santayana noted, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  We can be better: better in our attitude, better in our actions, better in our acceptance of others, despite our differences. This doesn’t mean we are to condone sin, bad doctrine, or boorish behavior, but as Jesus admonished, we need to first take the plank out of our own eye in order to see clearly how to remove the speck of sawdust from our brother’s eye (Matthew 7:5).  

We will never hate anyone into the Kingdom of Heaven. Our Baptist denomination has taken a few hits lately as a few folks have been, as my grandmother used to say, “just acting ugly.” As Christians, our primary role is to make disciples and example the love of Christ.  During this historic celebration, and our love of country, may we share the love of Jesus, by loving our neighbors as ourselves. May we fight for the freedom of others: freedom from inequality, freedom from racism, freedom from financial and food insecurity, and freedom from fear. Through our actions, may others be blessed by what many of us have experienced all our lives: to know the benefits and blessings of liberty and being One Nation under God. 

God Bless,

Arnold ‘Win’ Davis, Executive Director of Missions