My sister-in-law and niece had a flight out of Charlottesville on Tuesday so ten of us decided to leave Massanutten and head to Monticello to learn about the man Jefferson. We were led around Jefferson’s little France chalet and heard of his love for science, architecture, horticulture, and history. We saw his museum like collection of portraits, Louis and Clark gifts, automatic doors, and dummy waiter for his love of French wine. We admired the clock over the front door that had strung up cannon balls marking the day of the week along with the hour, minutes, and seconds. We walked his grounds hearing how he wanted an English like garden of plants from around the world. He even travelled to Italy to grab special rice seeds to see if they would grow at his beloved home. Honestly, this man both wondered and inspired each of us to be more curious in life. The guides also made sure that we knew all about the enslaved people there, telling their stories to remind us of their plight. I honestly didn’t mind this, but you will see why this is important in a minute.
At 12:30 Thomas Jefferson came out to talk with whomever was waiting under the shade of a Virginia tree. The actor had read much of this man’s writings as well as writings about this man. As he talked, he instilled a love of democracy and curiosity of land and science. Finally, he opened the time up to questions. One was about who left the most impression on him in France…of course that was Lafayette. Then I raised my hand and asked, “We have learned how much you love architecture, horticulture, science, and history, how does your theology and view of God affect this?” I honestly thought he’d simply say that his theology grounds and informs his wonder of these subjects. I was wrong. He turned my way quickly with a flash in his eyes as he took some steps toward me. “I respectfully will not answer that question.” Then he took the next 5 minutes or so telling us how this country was founded so that we don’t have to talk about what we believe. That no one, especially the government can tell us what to believe so he will not tell me about his belief in God. Another man raised his hand and asked why Jefferson would include, “that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…”? Jefferson said he didn’t write that. You could hear our collective mouths drop. He then said that “Creator” is whatever you decide that will be. Then he pontificated that he put the pursuit of happiness in instead of Knox’s property because happiness is subjective. That each person’s happiness can be defined differently and they should be free to pursue whatever that is. I kept thinking that if we all pursued our happiness without a biblical worldview it would be anarchy. But I kept my mouth shut. In fact, we all were silent. Then Ronnie raised his hand.
“What do you think about slavery?” “Son, I’m so glad you asked that. I am and have always been against it.” WWHHHHAAATTTT???? We had all just heard about the 607 slaves, many by name, that he had at his house and that only a handful were ever set free. He again went on about how he was against it because it was man’s law, not nature’s law. At this point we knew any conversation was pointless. He concluded and we thanked him.
As we walked down the hill to the exit, we remarked how the actor twisted Jefferson’s words and beliefs to fit a narrative the actor himself believed or was told to give. We concluded that it’s always best to be honest with history. Jefferson was a complicated person. Aren’t we all? His view on personal freedom was spot on, except when it wasn’t. His faith in God was solid, except when it wasn’t. Aren’t we all blinded to our sins and weaknesses? There’s only been one perfect man in all of history and it was not Jefferson. It is not me. And it is not you. There should only be one God/Man that we worship and it is not a founding father, president, or populist. What would it be like if we viewed people in history and life as they are? Dirty, rotten, no-good sinners, who need a Savior? Hypocrites in some areas and curious geniuses in others? We all need to grow and learn in life and we will still die not getting everything right. And that’s ok. The goal isn’t perfection here, it’s trusting in the perfect man Jesus. He lived the perfect life we could never live and took on all our sin and nailed it to the cross. Then he rose again showing God accepted this sacrifice and our sin is now forgiven! Praise the Lord! Those that trust in Christ are only perfected through Him.
I pray that we will stop seeking perfection in this life and expecting it from those in history and those around us. Mr. Actor Jefferson, our first step to our God given inalienable rights is actually admitting that you are a sinner, that you don’t get everything right. Believe in Jesus, then, when you confess your sins He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse you thus giving you the rights of heaven that truly are inalienable.