Although tomorrow, Nov 11, is officially Veteran’s Day, we’re honoring our veterans who have or are serving in our Armed Forces, today. Nov 11 was originally celebrated as Armistice Day, marking the day the temporary cessation of hostilities of WWI, between the Allied nations and Germany, went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
Armistice Day continued to be observed on November 11, until 1954, when President Eisenhower expanded it to honor and all who served in our Armed Forces during times of war and peace, renaming it Veteran’s Day. Unlike Memorial Day when we especially honor those who died while serving, Veterans Day celebrates the service of all US military veterans. Continuing to celebrate Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
While these veterans have fought human wars against enemies of our freedoms, we are also engaged in a spiritual battle against Satan’s forces of evil Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12, that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” The grim reality is that as soldiers in the Lord’s Army we face a continual battle. There is no peace time, only daily combat. And there is no honorable discharge from active duty during this lifetime, so we’re all veterans. For those who complete their tour of duty on earth honorably, there are eternal benefits. Complete eternal life insurance, with no need of medical benefits because there will be no more sickness, no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain in heaven. In fact, the only scars in heaven will be Jesus’ nail prints we’ll see when He welcomes His veterans home.
At my sides there are two flags. The American Flag, representing our country, and the Christian Flag representing our Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, with His Cross imprinted on it. The Flag of His Church Triumphant. Both have certain requirements to serve under these flags, and the kingdoms they represent, faithfully and effectively. One has a spiritual focus, the other has physical requirements.
Recruitment into either army at present is voluntary. There is no forced draft in America anymore. In God’s Kingdom, no one has ever been forced to serve. Both send recruiters to encourage people to volunteer to serve.
American recruiters target specific audiences, but Jesus invites each of us individually, “Come, follow Me”. Each army does have requirements though. The American army requires passing physical, mental, and character tests. Jesus tests our commitment to Him, like He did for the rich young ruler who came to Him wanting to join the Kingdom Army. Jesus tested his commitment, telling him to sell all he had and give it to the poor, but the man failed that test. Worldly wealth possessed the young man. Effective soldiers in Christ’s command must be loyal and obedient to Him, and have faith in Him alone.
As veterans in Christ’s army, we have additional duties as recruiters as well. Jesus sends us out as His recruiters to encourage others to serve in His Army. Paul, as one of the top recruiters in Jesus’ army, writes in 2 Cor. 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us”. As His recruiters, we are His ambassadors, speaking His words to others through His Holy Spirit.
Once new recruits commit to serve in the American military, they are sent to a boot camp, where they are given a new look, begin to learn about their new life, what’s expected of them, and begin training to become effective combatants. The recruit’s new external look starts with a hair cut and new clothes before undergoing physical training. But Jesus’ new look focuses on the spirit. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, that “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Jesus harshly criticized the religious leaders for cleansing the outside of a cup but neglecting to clean the inside. Jesus cleans us from the inside that affects our outer appearance. Change from the inside affects our attitudes and decisions. For example, we may choose to live and dress in ways that represent our Lord more appropriately. Such internal changes may result in external changes - loving others more, becoming more understanding and forgiving. James tells us we should control our tongues, so we change the language that comes from within us, even blessing, rather than cursing others. And we may be more careful about what we put into our body, which is now a Temple of the Holy Spirit.
I saw many such radical transformations in the Kairos Prison Ministry. While serving in one close security prison for violent and sexual offenders, our 40 man volunteer team would meet with an equal number of selected inmates for the weekend on a Thursday evening. Inmates were selected from a list of troubled candidates, not on their merits. Few introduced themselves as wanting to become Christians and, in fact Moslems were often selected. During the weekend of team testimonies and open discussions in groups that functioned as families throughout the weekend, there began a very noticeable change in attitudes. During the closing ceremony on Sunday, almost 98% of the men at an open mike time, confessed to accepting Christ as their Savior, usually with a big smile and a flood of tears, and accepted a special cross and a Bible.
One inmate, a gang leader, one of the tough guys on Thursday night, faced the other inmates on Sunday with tears streaming down his face, saying that no one had ever seen him cry since he was a baby, but now he wasn’t ashamed of his tears of joy as he told of his new love for Jesus.
Eddie, was doing life for two murders, and had a natural, charismatic gang leadership. He was always neat and very well groomed, commanding respect without a word. With just a look, he could have other inmates willing to do whatever he wanted. But after he accepted Christ as His Savior, he used his charismatic leadership to bring inmates to Bible studies, and talk to them about changing their lives for Christ. His outer appearance hadn’t changed, nor his leadership style, but he was a new creation on the inside, now using his talents for Christ.
Just as American military training requires a lot of classroom training and studying training manuals, Jesus’ boot camp requires church training, and studying the Bible as His basic training manual. Neither army affords its soldiers an end to their training, because the enemy is always lurking on search and destroy missions. Jesus Himself went through basic training immediately after His baptism in the wilderness temptations, preparing Him for His ministry. Satan tested Him, distorting Scripture to tempt Him. Jesus had studied Scripture from His youth, and had trained under the Holy Spirit. Satan was no match for Jesus, proving Himself ready to lead His soldiers into battle.
Our American military has produced high quality leaders, such as General Colin Powell, whose books on leadership show his exemplary abilities, providing valuable training for soldiers. But Jesus’ lessons on leadership and wisdom, recorded in the Bible, are far beyond even those. While Jesus’ ministry is recorded in the Gospels, God’s teachings are woven throughout the entire Bible.
American military recruits don’t stay in boot camps for long. They’re needed in the field to fight against the enemy. But just as soldiers are given combat gear before being sent into battle, Christian soldiers are given combat gear for spiritual battle, as our Epistle lesson from Ephesians 6 describes. Christ’s soldiers are outfitted with a belt of truth surrounding their waist. A breastplate of righteousness protecting their heart is fastened to the belt of truth. A helmet of salvation protects their head with their mind that knows salvation and the fear of the Lord. A Roman soldier’s shoes were made with a hook on the bottom enabling the soldier to stand fast or readily move forward, but not retreat, appropriate for the gospel of peace. Christians’ feet should lead us to the Gospel peace that knows no retreat. Our shield of faith wards off the fiery darts of evil.
So far the weapons are defensive, to protect the combatant soldier. But the ultimate weapon, the sword of the Spirit, is the Word of God that provides a strong offense. Combat swords were sharp and double edged that cut effectively on the forward swing and again on the backswing. A secondary implication was that God’s Truth shows no favoritism. Truth is truth.
So, once trained and armed, soldiers of either army are sent to the field to perform their missions. God’s soldiers are meant to go to various churches as pastors, teachers, lay speakers, administrators. It takes a variety of skills and continuing training for a church team to become an effective combat unit. And continuing training increases the effectiveness of Jesus’ army of churches. Church members, once new recruits, become seasoned veterans. Veterans who recruit others. Veterans who continue to train less experienced veterans.
We see a good example of this in our Epistle lesson from Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. Paul had met Timothy as a young man, who may have already been recruited as a disciple, and may have already undergone his “boot camp“ training. Calling him his “beloved and faithful child in the Lord”, Paul takes Timothy to his heart. He takes Timothy on mission trips, continuing to train him, before appointing him as his messenger to the unruly Corinthian church, and later as a pastor to the Ephesians. Paul’s two letters to Timothy offer many encouraging words and wisdom for his young protégé’s faith. Paul, later writing in prison chains, encourages Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, inviting him to join with him in suffering for
Christ, like a good soldier. Paul is saying that if Timothy is to follow in his mentor’s footsteps, he must look upon himself as a leader in Christ’s army, as a tried veteran, a good soldier of Jesus Christ, prepared for the dangers and trials which in those days awaited such a calling. Paul advises Timothy that no one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his Commanding Officer.
Paul’s advice could have well been written to any of us, especially after this election. When we get tangled up in the messes of the world - false teachings, political commitments, hateful dialog - our Commanding Officer is under the American flag instead of the Christian flag. That’s not to say we shouldn’t be involved in American responsibilities, like voting, or opposing the wrongs of society and supporting the good things, but our first allegiance is as a veteran in Christ’s army. Wanting to please our Commander-in-Chief. No matter who we voted for, or against, as a veteran of God’s army, we are now to pray for our elected leaders that their leadership will meet God’s will for America, and not entangle us, keeping us from our Christian duty and faith.
In the military, the longer a soldier serves, the more experience and wisdom that veteran soldier possesses, and the more responsibilities can be given. And the more others, coming up through the ranks, can look to them as examples, for guidance, and for training. Like Paul was for Timothy.
We’ve been recruited into Christ’s Church, His army. We need to train daily to learn more about what pleases our Lord, preparing to fight against Satan’s army. To be true veterans, continually striving to be better, stronger soldiers, not just bystanders. Proud veterans that follow our Commanding Officer out of love for Him, our faith in Him, and our unswerving loyalty to Him.
But there is one universal lesson to be learned, whether veterans of churches, soldiers, even sports teams. You have to keep your focus on the leader, and trust and obey that leader. Once the enemy takes the army’s focus away from its leader, and separates its veterans by choosing their own path, the army loses its cohesiveness and effectiveness. When churches don’t focus on Jesus, don’t study His word, and don’t work together as His church, Satan gains control. But when soldiers of Christ’s army, veterans of His church, march together, under His flag bearing the symbol of His Cross, it’s an awesome sight. No other army can stand against it. So, onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war. With the Cross of Jesus, going on before us. Amen
