Written by Kara Tobey
I have to confess that I was very unsettled by chapel last Wednesday. Namely our tribute to Veteran’s Day.
I understand that the role of the military and its relationship to Christianity is not a simple issue, and I mean no disrespect with this article. I want in no way to write off or dishonor anyone who has knowingly put their life in jeopardy as I offer my sentiments on the issue.
That said, some of the language used in chapel deeply concerned me. First, I do not pledge my allegiance to a flag, nor do I serve a country. I am loyal to God alone, and when his way conflicts with that of the government, he is the one I will follow. It is frightening to me to stand in a room full of Christians, listening to them loudly recite their commitment to a flag, an inanimate symbol of government and geography, when moments before perhaps half the audience was participating in those songs that indicate our allegiance to the Creator of this world.
Additionally, it was mentioned that the men and women serving in our armed forces are sacrificing their lives for each other and for us. That is a very noble idea. However, that has already been taken care of. Someone has already sacrificed his life for me, and if anyone needs to die beyond that, I volunteer.
Most of all, I was deeply shaken by the presence of guns in chapel. I find this symbol entirely incompatible with Christianity. In conjunction with the American flag and military, guns are a symbol of destruction, domination and killing. As Christians, our primary symbol is to be the exact opposite: one of defeat, submission and being killed, namely the cross.
As a Christian, I struggle to see any way in which a system that directly kills other humans can be justifiable, and that is what the military is, despite all reasons that may make it necessary or desirable.
But what about our safety, our way of life? What if they come to kill us or take over our country? To this I say that Jesus never promised us protection or the preservation of our ways. I am doing my best to model my life after a man who got himself killed, and I do not pretend that this decision is sane or safe in any way. But I believe that it is the best way. I understand that in laying down my life (see 1 John 3) I might actually have to lay down my life. I accept.
The marriage of Christianity and nationalism disturbs me. What of the Christians around the world who are not Americans? Are they directed by God to be thus loyal to their own governments and flags? What if they live in countries we are at war with?
At one point, Dr. Matlock showed us a picture of himself standing next to a rocket launcher, a reflection of his time serving in the Navy. He expressed to us that this picture made him very uncomfortable because at the time it was taken, he was not a believer and if he had died at that point, he would not have gone to heaven. If we follow this line of reasoning, how can we possibly condone killing people from other countries who are almost assuredly not Christians in the interest of protecting ourselves and our lives? According to Dr. Matlock’s reasoning, isn’t there more on the line for our enemies than for us?
Finally, I would like to ask what exactly Jesus meant when he instructed us to love our enemies. And in my conscience I cannot find a way to believe that loving our enemies has anything to do with their destruction.
