The first Civil War Reenactment that I attended was on a
Sunday morning. My husband , son and my
son's friend were talking to some soldiers from the 77th
Pennsylvania when some of the soldiers looked
at their watch and realized that church was about to start. They grabbed their folding stools and took
off at a run to get there before the service started. We followed, albeit at a slower pace. What I observed when I arrived touched me.
The service was led by a Confederate officer. In attendance were soldiers and civilians
from both sides, as well as some spectators.
Chairs were being brought out to accommodate everyone. Then the worship began, Civil War style. The songs, the preaching, and the testimony
were all consistent with the time period, but no one was reenacting. This was real. There we sat and worshiped together...North
and South, 19th century and modern. It
reminded me of the song, "In Christ there is no East or West. In Him no North or South." This song was written in 1908, well after the
"Late Unpleasantness," but sums up the emotions that I feel during
these open air services.
During the
Civil War revival broke out. It has been
said that there are no atheists in fox holes.
Men who faced hardships and death on a daily basis leaned on God for
comfort and support. Both sides prayed and worshiped the same
God. Both sides asked for God's blessing
and for victory. Someone once asked
Abraham Lincoln if he thought that God was on their side. Lincoln responded, "Sir, my concern is
not whether God is on our side; my
greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right."
God is not a
God of North or South, God is a God for all.
There is no better illustration than to see representatives of both
sides in corporate worship.
In Christ now meet both East and West,
In Him meet North and south;
All Christly souls are one in him
Throughout the whole wide earth.1
1"
In Christ There Is No East or West" by William Dunkerley.
