Military
Did you know?
"Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month in 1999 to ensure the nation was given the opportunity to publicly demonstrate their appreciation for the sacrifices and successes made by our service members - past and present." As a congregation we recognize the sacrifices made by those in our military. In May the church will conclude gathering funds for the "Bible Sticks" for active duty military, this is a project you can personally continue. We have many veterans in our congregation. We are thankful for their service.
It is important that we do not forget that we have active duty military deployed all over the world. They are in active combat situations. We should always pray for their safety and for peace. Early in the gulf war I spoke to an officer in our military. He told me that a war in the middle-east could be won by our military but there would be no lasting change until their culture is changed. The way culture is changed is by education. One of the lasting effects of our involvement in Vietnam was the impact our soldiers had by sharing their faith and their culture. Look at the growth of the Christian church in that area. One of the roles our military plays is in the fact that each soldier is a witness to our culture.
In the World Wars and the following conflicts our chaplains had a strong presence and a strong Christian witness. In our efforts not to offend those in the Mideast there is an effort to censor our Chaplains and our soldiers. There is also a trend in military leadership to eliminate references to Christ and a specific godhead from their corporate gatherings. This speaks poorly of our leadership. Still one Christian soldier can make a powerful impact on the culture of their unit and with those whom they interact. We need to pray for all who serve in our military. Our father God is powerful and strong to save.
A current military leader spoke with me about the high rate of suicide among our combat veterans. He asked me if my son was a believer. I said yes. He said that was a good thing. He said his observation was that those who actively confess Christ as their Lord do not commit suicide. This was a bold statement. He continued by saying that those who believe in Christ have a hope and a confidence that keeps them from falling into despair. He asked me as a Pastor to continue to support and encourage all who have served in our military. In Luther's explanation of The Lord's Prayer the sixth petition, "Lead us not into temptation." Luther lists despair as one of Satan's great lies. As chosen and redeemed children of God there is no such thing as hopeless. We are more than conquerors.
I believe the most powerful thing we can do for our military is pray for them. With our veterans we can listen for opportunities to share the reason for the hope we have in Christ and we can encourage their faith. Christ has risen. He goes to prepare a place for us. We are never alone or abandoned. We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.
I was going to write an article about being the church militant. As a people of God we are in combat with the values of the world. As a people of God, Satan and our sinful flesh challenge us to look for other answers besides the truth we find in God's Word. I do not have to defend God or protect Him. As a combatant for our Lord I simply must proclaim his truth with boldness and confidence because we are victorious in Christ. Support those who have served in our military and encourage those who still serve.
Pastor Andy
