2/26/08

Does The Military Give Me My Freedom?

Okay, today was kind of the last straw for me. I got another forward in my e-mail box about U.S. soldiers. I'm sick and tired of hearing about the U.S. military and how I'm supposed to act like it's personnel are my heroes. Even more than that, I'm sick of hearing the following phrase over and over: It is the military that gives you, as an American, the right to accept or reject Christ. This is patently false, no, this is just plain bullcrap.

Does the military in some sense, protect the American's freedom of speech? Yes, in some sense. But that is not the same thing as saying they are the ones who procure the possibility for me to freely proclaim Christ. Honestly, it just pisses me off when people say this!!! Here's the thing, whether or not there was a United States military and whether or not I lived in this country or one where Christianity was banned, I would still confess Christ. In other words, I am willing to lay down my own life for my beliefs and my confession. If someone were to take my life for my belief, so be it. No military is giving me the right to preach Christ and to continue to preach Him. No, I would do it anyway. I would do it whether I lived in a so-called "free" country or not.

Enough of the bad logic and portraying soldiers as Savior(s). They are not the Savior and they are not the guarantors of my salvation or preaching of Christ. Americans need to quit trusting in the government's mighty war-machine and start trusting in Jesus the Messiah. Nobody in a war uniform has anything to do, whatsoever, not one iota, with what I preach and what I believe. That is up to me and me alone. Finally, it is quite revealing to me when people who profess to be Christians make the kind of statements I'm railing against. Why? Because it tells me that if there came a moment in time where it came down to confessing Christ and being killed verses denying Christ and living, they'd choose the latter. It's like a lot of the reason they're trusting in the first place is because they feel safe doing so. Put them in a country where it is unsafe to profess Christ and they wouldn't do it. Probably, they'd follow and trust in that country's military too, just so they wouldn't feel unsafe.

4 comments:

  1. While I do agree that it is not the military who gives us the right to accept or reject Christ I disagree with alot of your feelings posted here and things you have said elsewhere.

    Hmmm...I think I'll refrain here.

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  2. Jason,
    Of course you are free to disagree (by the way, is someone else procuring your right to disagree or not).

    On theological grounds, I would like to hear what you have to say. As you can see, what I feel and say are not just based on my feelings or thoughts, they are Christ-grounded, theologically-grounded, Scripturally-grounded. If you don't feel comfortable saying what you need to here, feel free to use email or we can meet and talk. However, if you'd like to, you're more than welcome to dispute my claims here, civilly, of course.

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  3. Hmmm...your comments are scripturally grounded? I didn't see any scripture at all in your blog. Our government, while not perfect, has made it safe for me to worship publically and I am thankful for that! Just because someone is greatful for living in a country that is free doesn't mean that they would not be a christian in a country that weren't. I can have a longer life witnessing for Christ than in a country where I may have been killed long ago.

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  4. anon,

    what the heck are you talking about scripturally grounded? your comments make no sense to me! i might as well just say that i don't see any scripture citations, that is, number and verse, in your reply. ridiculous argument, i think. i'm not saying be ungrateful for where you leave, i'm not ungrateful for that. however, i don't think i owe it to people who are killing others. my freedom rests in Christ and Christ alone.

    also, sometimes a short-lived life is a more powerful witness than a long-lived one. Sometimes it is the opposite.

    bad arguments anon.

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