Today I visited the Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works in downtown Richmond. I went there with my family and learned a few interesting things about the war and the people from that era.
At the museum, there were people dressed up in Civil War garb. They told about the life style of a solider. While look at the various things a solider would carry, I noticed a deck of cards and inquired about them. The civil war re-enactor said that cards were a popular way to pass the time for soldiers. But playing cards was considered a sin. The chaplains and officers did not always look kindly upon the practice.
Evidently, soldiers would toss their cards out along the road when it seemed likely that they might get in a serious conflict with the enemy. It was considered bad luck if you died with cards on your person. Whereas, it was a good thing to die with a Bible in your possession. Many of the soldiers were religious men. Of course, the last thing you want to do is anger God if you're about to die.
Some soldiers may also have tossed their cards because they wouldn't want their family back home to know what they had been doing. And if they died, their personal belongings may have been sent back to their family. Just like today, grown children don't want their momma to know what they are really up to.
I wonder if the soldiers believed that getting rid of the evidence really made much of a difference. Were they religious or just superstitious? If God is God, He would know what they did regardless of what might be found on their carcass.
When you consider what people do today, cards seems like a fairly innocent activity. Most Christians would not consider playing cards a sin. I certainly don't. But I do find that hypocrisy is something that God detests. Jesus frequently criticized the Pharisees for saying one thing and doing another. And that is pretty much what some of the soldier did when they played cards and tossed them along the trail. Sure, some may have thrown away their cards due to true remorse. But I am sure that many of them did so because they were merely being religious.
I can't say that I blame them. The thought of imminent death can sure make a man afraid of dying. It also can make a man think about the need to get things straight with God. More importantly this reflects what the people thought of God. They probably saw God as a taskmaster instead of a loving father. They were hoping not to get caught versus desiring to be consumed by passion to pleased God. Why is it that we primarily think of sin as what we can't do? I believe that sin is just as much than refusing to do what is right.
Carrying cards around and using them is no big deal. Carrying around the Bible and not letting it change you is the bigger problem. Carrying the Bible around with you is OK. But the Bible is just another book if you don't let it impact your life.
It's nice to see that the people of the Civil War era are not much different than people today. Hypocrisy and dead religion never seems to go out of style.
Father, forgive me when I sin and then try to hide it. May I be someone who never hides behind hypocrisy. Let me have a better understanding of Your nature. Show me Your love. Make it come alive in my heart. May I always feel free to be completely honest with You. Thank You for Your unending, awesome love. Amen!
