In the Hebrew Scriptures we see, “Remember, you were slaves in Egypt once…” over and again, followed by a summons to live a just and faithful life. God reminds generation after generation of an accurate and humble remembrance of their past to fund their imagination to the new possibilities of a better future. When they failed to remember, they closed their eyes to a clear view of their present and disabled their future.

People of the Christian faith are supposed to be unafraid to remember and unafraid of the feelings stirred by the past. Because people of the Christian faith are a people of a story, mixed with rebellion and obedience, unfaithfulness and faithfulness. Their dependency on God’s grace, mercy and faithful love is no surprise. People of the Christian faith know that an accurate remembrance of the past can open their eyes to join God in working toward a just and faithful future.

Unless they trade in their Christian faith for American civil religion, then we see a different reaction.