Note from Dr. Denison: While my wife and I are on vacation, our oldest son, Ryan, is writing The Daily Article. Ryan is an MDiv graduate of Truett Seminary currently completing his PhD in Church History. He has written The Daily Article in my absence in the past and was the co-author of our latest publication, How Does God See America? I am honored to share this ministry with him.

A monument donated to the local police department of Tega Cay, South Carolina, is making headlines today after the City Council chose to remove it only a few weeks after it was put in place. 

The monument contained a reference to Matthew 5:9, in which Jesus stated, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God,” as well as a prayer asking the Lord for courage, strength, and compassion, among other qualities. 

After complaints began to come into the City Council, officials decided to scrub the word Lord from the prayer, before recently deciding to simply remove the monument for the time being. 

While officials may have hoped that removing the monument would end the argument, that’s not what has happened in the days since. Rather, complaints have continued to file into the office, this time from those angered that the memorial is no longer present. 

As Tega Cay City Manager Charlie Funderburk described it, “There’s no win here at all,” which is probably the only aspect of this controversy everyone can agree on.

How to know when to speak—and when to wait

In yesterday’s article on the Mueller hearing and nonpartisanship, we discussed some of the reasons why we need to be cognizant of not only the views we take but also about how we express them if we want to be faithful to the gospel calling each of us has received. Stories like the situation emerging in South Carolina highlight why that can be so difficult.