God’s Pogs

If you have ever served in the military, you have heard the term POG (pronounced pogue). It means Persons Other than Grunt or noncombatants. Grunts being the ones in the firefight. POGs are often behind the lines a good ways such as medical, financial, personnel, logistics and such personnel. Some logistic folks are just off the front line to process requests to the rear areas. Medics are usually in the middle of the battle though they are medical. Other POGs do occasionally come under fire and that is why all personnel are given basic combat training.

If necessary a POG can be brought into the battle as a replacement. You could be a cook today and an infantryman in a foxhole tomorrow. I had to inform a young recruit that he filled out his mobility form because after his training Uncle Sam could send him to new and exciting countries to meet new and exciting people and to kill them. He replied in shock, “But I only signed up for the college benefits.” I told him that he did not join the Boy Scouts and we had all of those weapons in the armory for a reason. That unit had already been deployed and people were working on getting it deployed again. I never saw him again. Recruiter must have found him a safer outfit.

I, by no means, wish to detract from the honor of those who have borne the battle. Indeed, I accept thanks for my service at times in the names of those who did not make it back or came back injured physically or emotionally. They are indeed heroes and I am proud to call them brother. Yet, without the POGs they would not have food, clothes, pay, weapons and ammo. The team has many players. Not all of them are known like Rickenbacker, York, Murphy and many more. Most are in the background and without them the war could not be effectively fought.

God has His POGs as well.

Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Everyone loves the first thirty-four and a half verses of the Hall of Fame. Few preach on the rest of the chapter. These are God’s POGs if we see the others mentioned as the Grunts or warriors that won. These people did not come home to a parade or a respected position in the community. These never came home or the parade was their funeral procession. Many warriors experience the same thing.

No one wants to talk about these people as they do not fit our American Dream now in a gilded theological frame called the Prosperity Gospel. These people are considered failures. Worse yet, they may be called people who lacked faith because they did not become wealthy and famous. Yet, here they are in the Hall of Faith.

In the military, you may get called a POG in jest or it may be cast in your teeth as a cruel slur. I fully confess I was a POG in three branches of the military being in Logistics, Administration, Legal, Personnel and as an Instructor. I was on the team and the coach put me where he wanted me so I am not ashamed of my service though I have no Bronze Stars, Purple Hearts or a Combat Infantry Badge. I have been in units where many would not even know me or what I did. Many Nam Vets disown me because I served in Thailand, not Nam. Our planes ran sorties into Nam everyday, but I was never boots on the ground there. To some, I am a nobody because of that. Yet, I wore the uniform and in Jungle Fatigues or later BDUs (Battle Dress Uniform) you might not be able to tell me from an Infantryman.

I am afraid that we often forget the POGs in church life. We all look to the pastor and staff as heroes and many are such. We look at the TV preachers and the authors of a myriad of books as God’s Commandos on the front lines in direct combat with the enemy. Some are and some are Garret Troopers or those who talk about just coming back from two weeks fighting in the bush when they are standing there in spit shined boots having never left the garrison or post in the rear area.