What I remember
29 May 2011 Leave a Comment
For the past few years, Memorial day has been a time when I get quiet and polite trying to be respectful to those who remember their dead. While I have been an absolute pacifist when it comes to taking a life or fighting a war, I have not wanted to use this day to hurt people’s feelings. Interestingly, this memorial day has especially found me surrounded with the challenge to love my enemy (Bin Laden) and pray for the fool (Camping). Now, as we turn to remember those who died trying to kill the enemies of America, I want to express something to their credit that is new in my heart. As I wrote about in a different post, my pacifism been cracked open a bit by some reflection on the Genesis account. Since then, as I’ve wrestled through some tough attempts at trying to apply this newfound principle in today’s world, I have come to a new appreciation of the blurriness of the issue. That blurriness is no more blurry than in the situations Americans have faced in the Revolutionary War and WWII. The end result is that I am able today (in a way I have not been in years) to attribute honor to those who lost their lives by rushing the fires of evil out of a noble heart that was set on loving and serving God (according to how they understood his commands regarding taking a human life). It is no small thing they have done, and I am moved by their strength.
However (you knew this was coming), this is a far cry from glorifying the motive of patriotism in these bloody and awful endeavors. The whole notion of killing and dying “to protect the Constitution” is hogwash from a Christian perspective (the Constitution being a completely Godless framework for a country). Killing to protect one’s family is also not what I am praising. Nor am I praising killing for “freedom” in general. None of these are adequate motives in the taking of a human life (though certainly they are good for the giving of one’s life). The only honor to be found in such disgusting mires of human evil is in the fact that one is serving God faithfully, despite the messiness of the affair. It all comes down to how and why and where and when and in what way God condones/commands the just taking of life. And, like I said, since I now appreciate better that it is not perfectly obvious what to do in every context and circumstance, I am revisiting the amazing and inspiring stories of sacrifice and valour in a new light (i.e. a positive one).
In doing so, I am also feeling like it’s worth holding these brave women and men up as examples today of bravery itself! I think we live in a time of scared, self-indulgent, sissies. Who will stand for what they believe in, regardless of the inevitable and eventual cost? Who will give up their luxuries to help in a desperate cause (of which there are many today in our nation)? Who will say what needs to be said in a world of deception and darkness? Who will call sin sin and God God? Who will do what it takes to build a holy life, a happy marriage, a healthy family? Who will break the social ice and address the ills of America head on (sure it’s a great country as long as you’re not one of the quarter of births that are aborted!). Who will surrender their pride and return to serving the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords? Let’s enjoy a day off tomorrow and celebrate the good things in life. Let’s also remember that a good thing is worth fighting for. I’m not talking about killing and warring (unless God says to), but rather the simple virtue of courage. Rise up Americans! Rise up Christians! (maybe after sleeping in first, but you know…when you rise, Rise!)
