The Enlisted

It was 5th grade, and we were at 3rd period. As we were walking upstairs to class I asked Matt Duecher what we were doing in Social Studies today. We had it 5th period but he just finished. Nonchalantly he said “you’re going to watch the space shuttle blow up.” This statement didn’t really compute as it didn’t have anything to do with the Oregon Trail that we were studying. But sure enough when 5th period arrived, the video cassette recorder was wheeled out and Ms. Zimmerman played a very shocking tape for us--of the Challenger explosion. I actually don’t remember the actual class, just the viewing. Maybe we all had a discussion about it; perhaps we just rewinded it and watched it again.

I only had one other time that I remember that I was pre-warned about something disturbing during a class. I don’t remember who warned me, but I remember it in the same matter of fact delivery. “Mr. Miller today is going to strut around like Bruce Springsteen.” Again, like the space shuttle, the thought of my Socialist, Borat-looking Economics/American history teacher doing a little “Dancing in the Dark” was something that I thought someone would simply make up. I knew what was about to happen when he pulled out the video machine… But it still didn’t stop my jaw from dropping as this 40 year old mirrored the moves and passion of the boss. Our faces were all were painted with confusion as he continued to sing at the top of his lungs… “War! Huh! Good God, y'all! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, huh! Say it again! War! Huh! Good God, y'all! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, huh! Say it again!”

He utilized his pointer (which he normally dropped on the ground to make a point) for his “microphone”. I’d have to say he managed to etch his point on the back of my retinas. I still desire to poke out my mind’s eye. But regardless, as a young mind, it was a nail in the side of George Bush Sr.’s Gulf War.

…

I was watching CNN in the airport as I was coming home this week from vacation, and I witnessed a promo they are doing for The Fisher House™. CNN’s Hummer that was doing war coverage over seas is going to be sold and the proceeds are to be given to The Fisher House™. This is a program that supports America's military by meeting a humanitarian need beyond that normally provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. As I watched the promo, I found my heart go out to them. And I also found a difficulty within myself on why this happened to these soldiers. The terrible image of Mr. Miller came back screaming:

War! Huh! Good God, y'all! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, huh! Say it again!

Now, I can’t claim political knowledge or political bent in any way. Nor can I claim any sort of desire to want to --the media drives my boat like everyone else. When CNN wants me to feel remorse, Dang it, I feel remorse! At the same time, when Ty Pennington gives feetless children a house, I cry with joy. My opinion doesn’t mean much, but it does mean something to the world. The world needs me for something that only I can give. Ratings. And strong emotion does that.

There seems to be a war that we are fighting. But there also seems to be a media that wants a particular opinion on it. We ask around and seem to deem the correct stance to word of mouth and popular or underground culture. But are we right?

On the battlefield, the morale is low as well. War takes it’s tedious toll beginning with those who are enlisted. Your idealism as a new recruit is slowly worn away. Your initial zeal of patriotism begins to be tested as another recruit says something that leads you to question those in leadership. Then when you get your first taste of battle, the necessity of following orders becomes very real. The shock of bullets actually using you as a target makes you question your need for being there in the first place. Maturity sets in and you know that your orders will move your company forward, but within a year you see three of your very good friends take a hit from the enemy that they are either recovering back at home, or gone. You consistently hear through letters and TV of more and more friends being taken down. “Is this the right war to be in?” you ask yourself. “Am I on the right side?”

John, in the first century was revealing two opposing sides of a battle. But, before he is to reveal these sides, he felt it necessary to address his company, for morale had been low. When you are on the front lines and you see your friends go down it is easy to let cynicism and bitterness take their hold. John brings his company together and says:1 John 2:12-14
I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

What happened? What hardships have they had in this battle? Are they thinking, “Is this the right war to be in?” Are they considering taking leave? Taking a break?

Cynicism and depression attached to war is nothing new. Eric Bogle in the 1970’s wrote “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda” after witnessing a march that was held on ANZAC DAY in Australia to commemorate the slaughter of Australian troops at Gallipoli (Turkey) in 1915, during the first World War. You can hear his editorial in first person, from a soldier, about the British “empire” and the massive incompetence on the part of British politicians (chiefly Winston Churchill) that led to a death toll that hit every town and every city in what was then, still a tiny nation. Listen:

When I was a young man I carried my pack
And I lived the free life of a rover
From the Murrays green basin to the dusty outback
I waltzed my Matilda all over
Then in nineteen fifteen my country said Son
It's time to stop rambling 'cause there's work to be done
So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun
And they sent me away to the war
And the band played Waltzing Matilda
As we sailed away from the quay
And amidst all the tears and the shouts and the cheers
We sailed off to Gallipoli

How well I remember that terrible day
How the blood stained the sand and the water
And how in that hell that they called Suvla Bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter
Johnny Turk he was ready, he primed himself well
He chased us with bullets, he rained us with shells
And in five minutes flat he'd blown us all to hell
Nearly blew us right back to Australia
But the band played Waltzing Matilda
As we stopped to bury our slain
We buried ours and the Turks buried theirs
Then we started all over again

Now those that were left, well we tried to survive
In a mad world of blood, death and fire
And for ten weary weeks I kept myself alive
But around me the corpses piled higher
Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over tit
And when I woke up in my hospital bed
And saw what it had done, I wished I was dead
Never knew there were worse things than dying
For no more I'll go waltzing Matilda
All around the green bush far and near
For to hump tent and pegs, a man needs two legs
No more waltzing Matilda for me

So they collected the cripples, the wounded, the maimed
And they shipped us back home to Australia
The armless, the legless, the blind, the insane
Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla
And as our ship pulled into Circular Quay
I looked at the place where my legs used to be
And thank Christ there was nobody waiting for me
To grieve and to mourn and to pity
And the band played Waltzing Matilda
As they carried us down the gangway
But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared
Then turned all their faces away

And now every April I sit on my porch
And I watch the parade pass before me
And I watch my old comrades, how proudly they march
Reliving old dreams of past glory
And the old men march slowly, all bent, stiff and sore
The forgotten heroes from a forgotten war
And the young people ask, "What are they marching for?"
And I ask myself the same question
And the band plays Waltzing Matilda
And the old men answer to the call
But year after year their numbers get fewer
Some day no one will march there at all
The endurance of war takes its toll. The cheers that went out in shock and awe begin to grow quiet as our troops come back from the front lines in body bags, and as amputees. Questions of war legitimacy begins buzzing upon the headlines, and people begin questioning those in charge.

Why are we doing this? Why are we at war?

….

As Christians, we are given our orders. They are clearly articulated. We are given dispatch from our General and we are told without any hesitation to Love Each Other as our Commander in Chief has done for us. Not the W… Jesus Christ. Our Lord. Our Chief. Our Commander. This word “Lord” holds political meaning along with the spiritual and tutorial significance. Yet, Christ himself rewrites the definition of “Lord” when he strips down to servants’ clothing and washes our feet. Our President, Our Caesar, Our Leader of the world; showing us what true leadership is: To die for His friends. Sacrificial love. Amazing love, how can it be? That thou my God would die for me???

Phil2:6-11Christ…Who, being in very nature [a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature [b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human being, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the Name that is Above Every Name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in Heaven and on Earth and Under the Earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The world out there is full of darkness. And you my friend are a soldier of the Light. The battle is on. It begins as you stand up, as you look around--it begins as you simply say “hi” to someone next to you. Why? Because you are in the battle, right now at this point the darkness begins its spin within your soul. “You don’t need to be nice to that person; they wronged you the other day.” Your orders within this battlefield: Love each other as Christ has loved you. In this case: forgive them. Darkness says: “you had a hard holiday weekend; you don’t have enough energy to care for that person.” Your orders: Love each other as Christ has loved you. In this case: show them that you care.

Some of us have the luxury of going to boot camp. But most of us go out to the front lines immediately and begin the war against the darkness. God equips us with the courage of the Holy Spirit and audacity to be followers of Christ. We move within the conflict of loving each other by holding tight to the revelation of God. On the frontlines, our only weapon to hold onto, is the application of Christ to our hearts. We love. That’s what we do--that’s what we are called to do. That is our battle here on Earth. To love Each other. And if you’ve truly loved for any time, you know what a battle it is. How it must be maintained, and how much endurance it takes.

But maybe you are not a recruit yet, or perhaps like Bogle, your past has given you good reason to question the “Empire.” So you ask starkly, “Why do I need to go?” Or, “Who is this leader that leads in weakness?” I can’t convince you to enlist, but let me tell you a bit about the commander in charge.

Jesus Christ. God of Very God, Man of very man. Savior of the world. Jesus acts as Savior by delivering us from our sins. Our Darkness. On the cross, God shows us how much we missed the mark. Judging our evils. By looking at our sin, we cry to God “FORGIVE US!” It is this act of repentance that begins our dawn as a Soldier of Light, for our God of Light is rich in mercy. And His fountains of Light, Life and Love are able to wash us clean in the blood of the Lamb. Saving us by His forgiveness. Wiping the debt clean.

There is a battle out there for our souls; but there is also a battle here, in our minds, that will give it legitimacy. How can you follow orders if you don’t believe in the cause? When you are bombarded by media that tells you that this war is futile, do you agree? Is the magnetic ribbon on the back of your pickup truck really all you can give as support?

OH that as an officer I could convince you that this war for your soul is indeed valid. That when you see our troops returning from battle with an arm or a leg missing, Oh I would hope that you would know that their sacrifice was worth it. That as you see the veterans wheeling down the street in their wheelchairs, I would hope that somehow I may be able to convince you to not grieve, mourn, or pity them, but rather you would see them as the heroes that they are.

Company: What is your primary objective? To love each other… That is an order! I am telling you this because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name!

Veterans: You have followed him well!!! I am telling you this because you have known Him from the beginning.

Soldiers: You have overcome the enemy. Your strength and adherence to orders have given you victory!

Recruits: You know the Father. You know why you joined. Because the Father of Lights is one you can give your allegiance to, without reservation.

Are you in the battle? Has the negative spin of the battle let your morale fade? AreYou in your living room watching CNN critiquing a battle you know nothing about. Let me encourage you this morning to stand up. Proverbs 24:16 For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again…”. So dust yourself off. And put on your flack jacket of Light. Pick up the word of God on your heart. And fight for your soul Today. Do what you are called to do. Love each other! Today, now, that’s an order!