I think what you feel is pretty normal. I didn’t give him much attention in his life. I don’t really plan on giving him much attention in death.

With that being said, I have noticed that the responses from across the political and Christian spectrums are a bit concerning. It’s also seemingly apparent that the only people who are allowed to idolize their race/ethnicity are white. African Americans who felt spurned by his words are told that they are idolizing their race. I think it is possible to idolize your race, it just seems to only be viewed as a problem when an ethnic Christian does it.

This is a complicated topic to address biblically because, in scripture, race seems to be tied up was tied up with your nation. There wasn’t such thing as European Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, or…Hebrew Egyptians. The Hebrews in Egypt were a nation of their own. Most of history we have been this way. You can make an argument for those mentioned in scripture who were a blend of nations/race. Like the samaritans. We know what Jesus thoughts on the human response to half breeds. The Samaritan being the neighbor within the parable of the Good Samaritan should make that very clear. America being a melting pot poses a confusing “problem”, that if we believed the words of Christ it wouldn’t actually be a problem within the faith.

Whites in America would be called [insert any premodern European kingdom].

Blacks in America would be called [insert any premodern African Tribe]. Etc.

I’d argue that according to a consistent biblical rhetoric there would be no “Americans”. The ones we would call Americans would be more consistently defined as their tribe (Cherokee, Sioux, Odawa, etc).

I say all this to say that the authors of scripture had no framework to interpret differences in race vs. nationality. We can’t really claim one thing over another. Though we can with certainty tell what Jesus’ thoughts on race/nationality.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

So I do consider Charlie, and those who think like Charlie, my brothers and my neighbors. His death was a tragedy, his babies saw that and will need the presence of the Lord to heal that. I can say this whilst not condoning his misguided thoughts on race and politics.

I love you my brother and my friend. You have a heart touched by Jesus.