Black Women Have It Going On

A Recap of Wednesday’s Post
Yesterday, we looked at the “bitter inheritance” of Lee’s choices. We saw how the South’s spiritual blindness toward the humanity of the enslaved actually became their military undoing. It’s a lesson in never underestimating what God can do with those the world takes for granted.

Today, I want to look at a nickname Lee earned way back in his college days that followed him to the grave: The Marble Man. Eventually, people started calling him the “Marble Christian.” 

When you think of marble, you think of something cold, rigid, and supposedly “perfect.” At West Point, he was the “Marble Model” because he never broke a single rule. But as he grew older, that marble became a mask. Cultural religion loves a marble saint—someone who looks great on a pedestal but doesn’t have to feel the heat of conviction. 

The Strategy of a “Marble” Heart
Lee was a brilliant strategist, but even the best strategy can’t save a house built on sand. He prayed for his enemies and read his Bible daily, yet he remained the “Marble Man” when it came to the cries of the families he helped tear apart. He had the “propriety” of a Christian, but did he have the principle? 

When we turn our faith into marble, we make it immovable, but we also make it heartless. We create a “sanctuary” that is beautiful to look at but cold to the touch. Is it any wonder that a nation finally waking up to the truth is pulling those marble statues down? They were monuments to a man who chose the “marble” of tradition over the “flesh” of God’s mercy.

The Scripture

Ezekiel 36:26 (KJV)
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

The Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You that You are not looking for marble statues, but for living hearts. Lord, forgive us when we try to look “perfect” on the outside while remaining cold to the suffering around us. Take away our hearts of stone—our “marble” justifications and our rigid traditions—and give us hearts of flesh that beat with Your compassion. Holy Spirit, keep us from being “models” of religion while failing to be vessels of Your love. Amen.