The Importance of All (Part 1)

                I expected the acrimonious rhetoric to abate somewhat in the weeks after the election. I thought a little distance from the competitive arena would dampen the fires that so enflamed the debates and campaign. Days have slipped away, Christmas has come and gone, and my various social media platforms still fill with all manner of hate-mail and abusive postings. We must turn away from a political culture which elevates winning by any means and securing power, personal and party, as the primary goal, and instead embrace a healthier ethos of examining ideas based on truth and reality and making decisions based on candid polite discussion. Our infatuation with power as the end result of political debate does not serve us well. Power should be the tool of the republic, the means by which we serve the greater good, enabling the citizenry to best fulfill the ideals of our Declaration, pursuing “certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” In our thirst for winning, our overweening belief that our viewpoint either ought to, or must prevail, we damage the fabric of our society and strength of the Republic. If we expect to survive as a strong and prosperous nation we must discard the practices of the past and look to address the serious and pernicious problems which seem so deep-rooted and intractable.

                No culture will long survive which easily discards individuals, heaping scorn on certain classes and groups, denying them opportunity based solely on happenstance of birth. Our greatest capital, most abundant resource, most viable path to success is our human capital. The men and women we rub shoulders with daily hold the keys to success. We must pursue policies that seek to lift and ennoble all citizens, no matter the race, religion, or bank-account. We must truly and fully embrace the noble sounding phrase, “sanctity of life.” Life is not only sacred in the womb. It deserves protection and nurturing after the first nine months. We must seek out ways to ensure that all children attend good schools and enjoy the benefits of a high quality education. We must develop policies that secure education for all children within our borders. Failure to build an excellent education system will condemn certain groups, racial and socioeconomic, to second-class citizenship. In a nation as blessed as ours, that is not right. We have the means; we must not lack the moral courage to act. We must foster a broad vision that leads to success for all citizens, not just the well-heeled or those from the “good side of the tracks.” This ought to include our university system as well. Not everyone will choose to advance their learning beyond high-school. But, everyone who shows the diligence, desire, and capability should find a seat at the appropriate university. A country which encourages the individual to reach as high as possible, one that removes needless barriers, and understands the investment nature of education, will serve its people well. We must truly understand that our population is our greatest asset and take appropriate actions to strengthen, not alienate, to lift up, not push down, to salve festering wounds, not decry the injury.

              Those who occupy the lessor, meaner positions of our age need our help and assistance, not our condemnation. We must discard those baser instincts which encourage us to look down upon others of unfortunate circumstances, no matter the cause. Yes, some arrive at these states through poor decisions; however, the solution lies in providing help, not in demeaning them or somehow elevating the bar, all the while forgetting our own good fortune in avoiding such dire straits. We need to teach our children respect for all those we meet since in truth we did precious little to deserve our own comfortable existence. Life is sacred through and through, from the cradle to the grave. Even in old age we must do our best to secure an acceptable outcome. Those who have for so long contributed to the advancement of our nation ought not to fear the twilight years. We enjoy abundance in our nation. Yet we seem to be engrossed with amassing it for ourselves instead of investing in our society. We need structures, pay, healthcare, education, housing, and others that broaden the blessing instead of narrowing it. These sorts of structures take vision. This sort of growth comes through hard work and risk. Not all plans work well, but we cannot refuse to take action any longer. To proceed further down the path of self-centeredness will only insure the demise of the Republic and our way of life. 

Post Election Musings

                I took a hiatus from FaceBook and other social media for a short while after the election. I found the hand-wringing by some and the crowing by others distressing and boorish. The election did not solve any problems; merely selecting a new captain the ship of state. While the presidency remains a singularly powerful office, the constitution curtails that power with various well-conceived checks and balances. President-elect Trump will soon discover that even those in his chosen party remain bound to their individual constituencies and that the levers of government are slippery and extraordinarily difficult to move; especially for one untrained in their manipulation. Here are a few thoughts regarding the upcoming days, weeks, and months.

                For my friends, stinging from the surprising defeat in the Electoral College, stay focused. Harden yourself against the temptation to criticize every single perceived misstep or un-presidential action. Each man, or woman, must grow into the office. After the mantle of leadership descends, all presidents discover what it means to represent the entire nation. Keep focused on important issues. Temper your criticism. Always, always, always include a recommendation. Anyone can point out faults or failures. Take the time to put forward solutions, well thought out recommendations that have some hope of acceptance and possible success. Any course of action that requires unobtainium does not help. Do not succumb to the gadfly temptation. Developing and enacting true solutions to the seemingly intractable problems that vex our nation will require work and effort, not an endless stream of critique. Avoid becoming the party of “no.” For far too long, congress has simply stood by and said “no” to anything that did not issue from their own party. We need to hold our representative accountable for inaction as well as action. Keep substantive issues in front of the body politic. Work. Constantly work to better the lot of the poor and downtrodden. Do not consign the next four years to positioning yourself to recover some ephemeral aura of power. In many ways this time will truly test your devotion to the causes you espouse. Stay in the fight, keep focused on your objectives, and abjure descending to mindless attacks on character flaws which, in reality, do little to improve the state of the nation.

                For my friends, rejoicing in their success; try to show a little grace in victory. After all, Secretary Clinton garnered over 1.5 million more votes than President Elect Trump. Our quirky and non-representative electoral college delivered the victory into the hands of Mr. Trump, not the popular vote. It is important for us to remember that more people voted for the ideas of the Democratic Party than voted for the ideas of the Republican Party. While President Elect Trump and his party will enjoy the fruits of victory, take care when charting the course of the nation. The Republican Party did not win a sound ideological mandate from the nation as a whole. When considering policy goals, remember to look across the aisle, as it were, and inquire from the loyal opposition. Listen to our friends who voted for Secretary Clinton, or even Senator Sanders, there are considerably more of them. Besides, wining at the Electoral College does not give one a corner on good ideas. We need everyone pulling together in order to solve some of the big challenges we face. Belittling them will not encourage cooperation or support and is manifestly un-American and un-Christian. Do not feign surprise at protests and demonstrations. Prior to wining, President Elect Trump, as well as many of his supporters, spoke darkly of not accepting Clinton win. Lawful protest is a fine old American tradition and part of our political process. It would be wise for us to listen carefully to such demonstrations, as they may very well represent the majority opinion. Let us work together, developing good, inclusive, plans to address the problems we face.

                All of us need to abandon those pseudo news sources that continually spew out propaganda, innuendo, and outright lies. These people traffic in harming others. They profit by appealing to our baser instincts and encouraging hate, ignorance, and division. We must deny them a platform for their libelous spasms. How can we expect to make coherent, informed decisions when we continually consume such slanted media? We must avoid the temptation to choose those outlets which make us feel better by feeding our own particular narrative. They may feed a darker need in our character, these vicious attacks on others, but we must rise above them and embrace cogent discussion and thoughtful recommendations. True news educates and informs. Consuming true news takes time and effort often resulting in cognitive dissonance as we assimilate new information. When we start tailoring our news, basing our choices on those outlets that make us “feel” good, we give up our claim to be an educated person, and by extension, society. Seek out and patron those media which provide insightful news. Avoid those outlets which constantly issue retractions or corrections based on slovenly reporting.

                Those of us who claim the name of Christ, must redouble our efforts to well represent Him. We must stop conflating Christianity with a particular political party, policy, or platform. When developing our world-view we must be careful to extend the same grace that we depend upon to those who might view things differently. After all, in those infrequent moments of true introspection, we find ourselves churlish failures who poorly understand God’s deep, abiding, and crazy love. Jesus calls us to a radically different way of living and loving. Whatever our party we must seek out those who are weaker, those who are poorer, the sick, the lost, the lonely, the indigent, and the frightened and tend to their needs. After all, Jesus came and found us when we were estranged and in violent opposition.

                Two final thoughts; we must stop thinking in terms of them and us. Whether we voted for President Elect Trump, Secretary Clinton, or a third party candidate, we’re all Americans. We should want saner minds to prevail and our leaders to succeed. We will make better progress once we realize that the point of politics is to move the nation forward, not destroy, totally own, or crush the opposition. If our government fails, we fail. The stakes are too high to accept failure as a viable course of action. Perhaps the time has come to revisit the need for the Electoral College. Twice in my lifetime the popular vote has been reversed by our antiquated and outmoded election system. As we continue to improve our ability to engineer elections through carefully targeted appeals and gerrymandering, we must expect more frequent occurrences of this type. For our national political health we need to consider divesting ourselves of this unneeded system. 63.5 million voters justifiably feel disenfranchised. Continued results such as this will erode trust in our institutions. It will take work, but our nation would profit from such a worthy exercise of democracy.

Politics of Fear

     “Mr. Robinson, do you think our founding fathers would be proud of our nation today?” I usually get this question in my American History classes sometime around Thanksgiving or Christmas. By this time we’ve covered the Revolutionary War and the writing of the Constitution. The question normally, though not always, comes from a student with a troubled view of society in general. They tend to focus on the negative traits of our society, thinking that I will join them in a pessimistic assessment. They, and almost everyone else in the classroom, express surprise at my answer.

     “I think they’d be rather proud of our nation, and perhaps surprised at our success.” I seriously believe this. This comes from two sources; my generally positive outlook and the fact that I have to read a lot of history in order to teach it. It also stands in contrast to much of the socio-political speech and imagery that fills modern media. Politicians and their surrogates expend large amounts of money, time, and creative energy stoking the fires of fear. Vote for me, support my candidate, accept my policies, embrace my world view or life as we know it will cease to exist. This exploitation of fear skews the view of many people into a very dark place. Many, despite evidence to the contrary, feel fearful, living their lives in dread of some unnamed enemy or catastrophe. They constantly wring their hands despite the unparalleled prosperity and security of this time.

     I understand that my glass is constantly half-full. I also know that by almost any metric you choose, we live in a land and time of great material blessing. Without laying blame or assigning credit we enjoy an unemployment rate of 5.8%. Since my birth in 1961 the U.S. economy has continued to grow, albeit with periodic downturns, most notably in 1974, 1982, and 2010 ¹. Since 1948 our unemployment rate has consistently been under 10%, rarely above 10%, and usually below 5% the figure traditionally quoted as full employment ². Of course we’ve endured various downturns, but nothing as painful as the great depression. This applies to crime as well.

     In almost any water-cooler conversation that turns to crime, most people assume that things are much worse than they used to be. Yet, violent crime rates have fallen over the past twenty years. This information comes from the FBI, a trustworthy source ³. In general, the United States is a much safer place than it used to be, yet most people find that hard to believe. Even after viewing data that contradicts their view, they insist that in their neck of the woods crime rates are rising and the streets remain unsafe. They long for some idyllic point in the past when bad things did not happen to good people. Where does this pessimism come from?

     The current political season causes much of this. Candidates and parties on both sides of the aisle employ the politics of fear. Elect me or things will get worse. Some even put out a message that claims our nation teeters on the edge of an existential abyss, claiming that we’ve gone backwards somehow. This incessant hue and cry of impending apocryphal crisis influences people. Despite the problems we face, and we do face a variety of serious problems, by almost any measure our nation is a stunning success. I regularly chat with colleagues who express grave doubts about our nation. They struggle to believe when I point out facts that say otherwise.

     We must construct our world-view based on facts. We must not let politicians, news organizations and pundits continually stoke the fires of distress and alarm. All of them profit from fear mongering. Some build constituencies, some increase market share, and others simply make money through a continual ringing of the claxon. Through creating a climate of fear, those in power avoid addressing the serious problems we face. They encourage us to focus on nonexistent dangers. This enables them to gain our support without having to develop sound strategies for dealing with the real challenges we face as a nation, and as a global community. In this election cycle we must force politicians to address the difficulties of our day. In so doing, we will forward this great experiment in democracy, continuing the progress our founding fathers worked and sacrificed to start. We must thwart those forces which would exploit fear and take us backward. Instead, let us with firm resolve, clearly evaluate our current situation and determine the best course of action to address the real issues we face. Then we can effectively continue the great work building and strengthening those democratic institutions which have made our nation a great one, one that its originators will be proud of.

1.   The World Bank at: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=US

2.  The Wall Street Journal at: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703338004575230041742556522

3. The FBI at: https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/tables/1tabledatadecoverviewpdf/table_1_crime_in_the_united_states_by_volume_and_rate_per_100000_inhabitants_1993-2012.xls

Truth Matters

     “…if I really cared…,” the words stood out to me as if written in glowing crimson. In fact they refuse to leave me and in many ways seem emblematic of what ails our political discourse today. An acquaintance had posted something that, while factually correct, had been taken out of context to make a political point, to somehow paint their perceived opponent in a dark light. I had differed reminding them of the salient facts and how they had distorted them. They did not dispute this. They just did not care about the veracity of how they used them. They were willing to perpetuate a falsehood in order to buttress their political position. We must care.

     We must strengthen our mental discipline to care about facts and how we use them. We must take the time to check our facts before posting, or otherwise using, them in the public domain. This is the critical issue in this election cycle; indeed in any election cycle. We cannot become so intellectually flaccid as to not care about the truth. When a politician, public figure, or newspaper handles facts carelessly we must take the time to call them on it; to demand retraction when appropriate. We exist in a day where a variety of a-political organizations provide free public fact-checking. PolitiFact.com and Snopes.com are just two of the many sources available to help the public sort through the morass of political sound-bites. Without public vigilance politicians, and other public figures, will lapse into saying what they think we want to hear and hope of effective government diminishes and perhaps even disappears.

     If we relax our standards, allowing leaders, pundits, and those seeking public office to savage the truth, soon they will not consider truth important when making public statement. Discarding integrity as a critical and cherished trait will further erode public trust and confidence in the institutions on which we depend. And in so doing, we will leave our children and grandchildren a sorry mess; a non-functioning country. We must work to make integrity in public discourse the only acceptable standard. We cannot accept dangerous lapses in integrity. Sometimes, when pressed a person might say, “Well all politicians lie.” I am sure that I have let slip those words. We must guard against such a cynical dismissal of the importance of truth. While it is probably true that all politicians have lied at one time or another, it does not lesson the importance of truth. Pilate, the Roman leader charged with upholding justice in Palestine, took such a cynical attitude, saying, “What is truth?” when confronted with a challenging statement by Jesus. We must not let their casual insults on our integrity and intelligence go unnoticed and unchecked. We must push back against the rampant scorn of this age, which has led to such a casual disregard for the truth. Truth matters.

     We must also discipline how we personally handle facts. Knowingly posting or reposting a snarky meme that plays loose with the truth on the social-media platform of our choice is not acceptable for the Christian. We must take the time to verify and when something untrue or misleading slips past, we must quickly retract, admitting the mistake. Scoring political points in order to support our chosen candidate, party, or issue by misrepresentation or dissembling is not defensible for the Christian. We must retain our dedication to the truth.

     Truth matters. It matters so much that Jesus reminds us that He is the truth. If it mattered so much to Him, we ought to care for and handle the truth in a similar fashion. When we become so enamored with a party, platform, idea, or candidate that we manipulate, or even abandon, the truth we lose our moral compass. This level of commitment requires sacrifice. We must willingly commit to measuring our ideas and beliefs against the stringent, unforgiving, standard of the truth. Such commitment, and its attendant time requirement, challenges us. It does not fit well in our sound-bite every-hour-on-the-hour driven world. A commitment to the truth entails that we first ascertain, or apprehend, the facts and then use them in an appropriate fashion. It also requires that we give up basing our identity on a party or cultural set of biases; instead basing our identity on the truth.

     In an odd theological twist; which I believe to be more than a linguistic quirk, Jesus equates Himself to truth. Ultimately commitment or fidelity to the truth is a commitment to Jesus. More than “knowing” the truth we must also rightly handle the truth, II Timothy 2:15. We can, as my acquaintance did, present “true” facts in a fashion that distorts or deviates from the truth. We must not use facts to misdirect or deceive. To engage in such activity is deception, and incongruent with a lifetime commitment to adhere to the truth, and in this election season does not serve our nation or our Lord well at all.

Out of the Cellar

    Salt and light, Jesus called us to be salt and light. What does that mean in today’s world, in this country, in

this election season? How do I serve as salt and light? In this time of great acrimony, accusation, and extreme polarization how do I best serve God, the Body of Christ (locally and dispersed), and my community? What can I bring to the table? How can I best represent God while engaging in this election cycle?

     Some would council withdrawal, claiming the system is so corrupt as to make any attempt at a good decision impossible. Many in the ancient world took this view, generating the monastic movement, which remains with us today. Scripture does provide some support for such withdrawal, but a monastic life-style provides its own challenges and problems. Additionally, I do not see Jesus living a monastic life in the gospels. Of course there were time when He took the apostles aside for a season of recovery and instruction. But the Biblical record shows a Jesus who moved in His society. Given that, I find total withdrawal from the political scene unsupportable. Salt kept in the cellar does no one any good as it cannot serve any of its intended functions. Salt must come out.

     A great many Christians today fully engage in the system, supporting one party or another. Politicians of all stripes court the “Evangelical” vote. Success in certain sectors of the country depends upon a politician’s ability to speak to the critical issues of that region’s religious electorate. Sadly, Christians often succumb these blandishments, promises of support or true belief, endorsing the party or candidate with great fervor and commitment. This level or type of activity brings its own set of problems. When we unstintingly support one party or another, we must carry their baggage. As human institutions, parties remain flawed, displaying a variety of foibles and certain severe failings. No human endeavor escapes our pernicious fallen state. Sin pervades all political enterprises. Embracing a political party as “my” party, tars me with its inherent failings. Also such party affiliation tends to divide us from fellow Christians. We see harsh and divisive speech between fellow Christians in public media all too often. Someone posts support for one candidate or another and fellow Christians spew all manner of bile across the posting. Most of us know certain people we avoid, or certain topics we avoid around them.

     Often we adopt a one issue focus in response to problems generated by party affiliation. We ignore other problem areas, drawing a modicum of comfort from the party stance on our key issue. Sadly this frequently causes us to take the additional step of justifying policies or platforms contrary to Biblical standards. We wring scripture hoping to find justification for our support. Such proof-texting does damage to Holy Writ and I fear may grieve the Lord. So what are we to do? What type of participation involves action without wholesale support for one party or another?

     I believe we ought to participate without courting or accepting party affiliation. Party affiliation diminishes our prophetic voice. Standing outside the party allows one to speak critically of the party. A nonaffiliated person may speak to any key issue. Once I affiliate with a party then I must tread very carefully when talking about certain issues or planks in the platform. As a Christian this allows me to focus on a wider variety of issues. Unbound by party strictures, I am free to raise issues that I believe important. I can agitate as the Spirit might lead. In Philippians 3:19-21, Paul reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven. And while I would not censor a fellow believer for party affiliation, I believe that we would better serve God and our nation outside that system, speaking God’s love, His stringent love, boldly.

     A second tactic I would recommend is the secret ballot. In our nation we enjoy the privilege of a secret ballot. No one need know who I voted for. Obviously, those who are close to me, exchanging thoughts and ideas probably can make a good guess, but I need not say. Additionally, one might, and this is hard for me, focus on issues as opposed to individuals. In this particular cycle, we see a lot of, “I will vote against this or that person.” That is the individual’s right. But perhaps we, our nation, and, dare I say, the Lord, might be better served if we carefully thought through all the issues at hand. If we steadfastly speak to issues, eschewing personal attacks, we might find ourselves spilling out of the salt-cellar and working as Jesus intended. In John 6 Jesus, sensing the crowd’s political desires avoided political entanglements. We might consider adopting a similar attitude and retain our ability to speak truth. There is one final thing we might consider.

     As Christians we must always deal kindly with our brothers and sisters, remembering our own failure and need for God’s grace. Political dialogues need not become acrimonious, especially between fellow believers. Sometimes I think we assume that engaging in political speech somehow negates the need for graciousness and patience. We do not have to attack one another. We must strengthen our ability to present our ideas and thoughts without resorting to hurtful words and phrases that alienate. We must not allow our political passions to rule us. Instead, we must allow God’s Spirit to rule us, leavening our speech.  And as this campaign unfolds and we engage in the ongoing debate, perhaps through love we will serve our nation as both salt and light, as Jesus would have us.

Climbing with Jesus

     “Matt, do you want to go for a walk before breakfast,” Christy asked this morning? Normally we walk before breakfast. We get up, spend some time in devotions, and then go for our morning preamble. We walk a particular route of two miles in our neighborhood, taking around 28 minutes and 30 seconds, give or take. Spring, summer, fall, and winter you will find us stumping around our neighborhood. Christy, the ever-loving sacrificial spouse even gets up at 5:30 A.M., in the deep dark of winter, to accompany me on my morning rounds. As required, we bundle up. This morning, however, I thought before I answered. This sunrise found us at her parent’s cabin in Cloudcroft, New Mexico.

     I paused before answering. A walk from her parent’s cabin entails hills. Located on a pine-shaded bluff overlooking the highway that enters Cloudcroft from the east, her parent’s cabin sits on high ground. Unlike the roads around Lubbock, all the roads in the area climb and fall, rather steeply at times. In Lubbock, I never think about hills or rise and fall. We have rise and fall. The few times I’ve ridden a bike or run in Lubbock, I’ve become aware of the topography; but only in an academic sense. I know that Quaker, which runs north and south near my house gently climbs as you head north. Things in Cloudcroft are much different, requiring an adjustment in how I view things. Am I willing to head out on a walk which will raise my heart rate along with my elevation? In winter, I think about the conditions of the road; whether walking or driving. Do I wish to navigate the grade? While on walks and I look at cabins as places to stay, making mental note about which ones would require a four-wheel drive in the snows of winter…almost all. My point of view has changed.

     A relationship with Jesus calls us to such radical change. Walks around my neighborhood in Lubbock are casual affairs with little thought to cardiovascular affect. If I want to push myself in Lubbock, I must increase the pace. Getting past the drive, which slopes downhill, will elevate the heart-rate here in Cloudcroft; which may say quite a bit about my sedentary life. The simple act of walking is quite different here. Jesus calls me to such a change. Simple adjustments do not come near the radical alteration He desires. Life with Jesus implies a totally new approach; a new viewpoint. He wants to remake me, to lift me into the rarified atmosphere of His presence, and that changes everything. I no longer view the world and those who travel its surface like I used to.

     Often I make the mistake that somehow Jesus just wants to clean me up, make me presentable; spiritually speaking as it were. Jesus wants so much more, demands it in fact. He wants to totally remake me, top to bottom. We’re not talking about a nick of paint here, a touch of spackle there. No, Jesus wants to totally renovate, knocking out walls, adding new rooms, tearing out old dark and dingy spaces. He wants to radically change how I view things, how I make my decisions, and how I interact with the community around me. I often want to continue on my easy morning walk. Jesus wants me to go to a new and different level. Before acquiescing, He urges me to count the cost.

     And that is particularly challenging for us as Christians today. We, in our Western culture, want things easy. We like drive-through Christianity as it were. We’ve settled for a homogenized anemic version of Christianity. We don’t mind cleaning up a bit, scrubbing off some of the more obvious stains, but do not wish to embrace the stringent call of Christ. Jesus calls us up and out. He wants to take us into the rarified air and that stretches our lungs. Loving those who are different is not easy. Laying down our lives, taking risk, sacrificing our comfort does not come easy. We want the safety and comfort of the flatlands, terrain that does not elevate the heart-rate. Submission to Christ, being His disciple, does not allow for such an anemic response. He reaches out to us, drawing us into a new existence, one where we no longer view things as we used to. From altitude, we see things more clearly. Looking at pictures from Cloudcroft the sky seems more vibrant, less subdued, clouds crisper, more dramatic. Jesus wants a similar effect on our spiritual vision.

     Climbing with Christ opens our eyes to the fact that we are related to all mankind. After all, He bled and died for each of us and yearns to embrace all of us. Driven by that salient fact we must reach out as He did, seeking to love all we meet. Of course this lifestyle includes risk. Jesus loved unconditionally and it cost Him dearly. He calls us to the same manner of life. Often when hiking around Cloudcroft my rate soars with the altitude, but the rewards when I stand on the high-ground with chest heaving and heart pounding surpass. Life with Him exercises me; but, the view, oh my the view.

Flower Pots

     Flowers are not the only things that grow in my garden. Gardening nourishes my soul. As always, God’s spirit teaches in the little things I encounter as I work in my garden. I never know exactly what lesson He has in store as I grub around in my little patch. Of this I am sure, He works on me while I work on my, His really, plants. Each year, I don my worn shorts, roll up my sleeves, and He gets to work.

     I first turn to preparing my pots; which languished all winter long beside my house out of sight and out of mind. Previous years plants slowly disintegrate under the weight of winter rain and snow.

Dead roots shrivel and harden into clumps. I take each pot in turn and work the soil, turning it and breaking up the clods. One year I failed to fully and deeply turn the soil in one pot. All summer the flowers in that pot struggled. Not only did they have to deal with the harsh Lubbock sun, they also had to work around those hard spots. Consequently, they never flourished. Oh they grew and produced blossoms, but they never did erupt in the effuse riot of color I expected. Their roots were inhibited. Now, I take my time when preparing, or tilling, the soil. I reach deep, exploring for any hardness. Once I find a hard spot, I work it into softness, breaking up the clods, crushing the shriveled roots, and extracting any stones I might find. I take my time doing this, sitting with my legs sprawled out around the pot as I slowly turn it this way or that, plunging my arms in as I grope for any offending mass. It is worth the time and effort.

     Properly prepared pots provide a welcome environment for flowers. They send out roots and new growth quickly. Soon blooms festoon my yard. The pots themselves are worn and drab; however, I do not care. I’m looking for the colorful blossoms. I do not keep the pots around as a collection of statuary. I keep them for the service they provide. They hold what I truly desire, great and abundant beauty.

     My heart is similar. When I harbor hard spots, clumps as it were, God’s Spirit finds it difficult to produce fruit…or blossoms. Jesus talked about this at various times; most notably in His parable about the differing soils. Unlike soil, various urges animate my heart and all too often it clings to those things which create or increase hardness. Bitterness, envy, fear, and lust are just a few of those things which make the soil of my heart coarse, resistant to change. Of all the things that inhibit God’s work in this perhaps fear is the most powerful.

     I fear change. I like sameness in my life. I enjoy the comfort of stability. Constancy was one of the reasons I stayed in the army for so long. Once you understand the rules and roles life in the army is fairly simple. Oh, you change jobs every year or so and move to new assignments every two or three years, but overall life remains remarkably steady. I knew where I stood. The rigid rank structure simplified relationships. The legal requirements of orders provided a certain simplicity. All of these things made life easy. God calls us to a different sort of existence.

     He wants to break up all those hard spots, those places which harbor ill-will toward others, and let in new growth. He calls me to not fear those who are different, to love them, to provide room for them, and to go the extra mile for them. Sadly, I often resist His efforts. I’m used to those hard spots and do not want to risk breaking them up. I find it easier to limp along; comfortable in my complacency. His way involves great risk. He wants to turn over the soil of my heart, working out all the hard spots, until His desired plantings can take root and bloom. I am instant when working in my garden. I do not quit until I’ve worked through all the soil in a pot. God allows me choice. He will let me cling to the flinty parts despite the deleterious effects. But, if I let Him have His way, let Him work His will, the results are quite beautiful and the harvest bountiful.

Black Lives Matter, More than a Policing Issue

    Black lives matter. I read these words all over social media and the news. I also find, “Blue lives matter,” and “Yellow lives matter.” Now I’m seeing “All lives matter.” It seems that some find the movement, “Black Lives Matter” somehow unnerving, annoying, or denigrating to their lives. I believe this view misses the point. Black lives matter is not about policing; though that is the issue most focus on.

     Black lives matter speaks to all of the issues that marginalize Black people in our nation. While it is true that over the past few decades, primarily during my lifetime, we’ve made progress as a nation. We must still bridge the gulf that still remains for a distressing percentage of our fellow citizens. It is true that we elected a Black president, by healthy margins I might add. Unfortunately many of our fellow citizens of color face enormous obstacles in securing their hopes and dreams. The Black Lives Matter movement calls us to improve policing, yes, but so much more as well. Far too many Black children endure second-rate education in third-rate facilities. Private or magnet schools do not exist for most of them. Oh there are a few shining examples which help a handful. But, many still leave school lacking the basic skills needed to pursue a dream; whether it be a university education or a quality job. They do not enjoy all the social mechanisms which pointed me in the right direction.

     Growing up in a white middle-class environment I enjoyed tremendous support for achievement. All around me were good examples of men and women who succeeded. Most families were intact, nuclear families. Everyone expected us to go to school and finish. I do not think I had one friend who failed to finish High School. Most of my friends attended university, with a large percentage finishing. All of us enjoyed encouragement and expectation. For many young Black men and women these supports do not exist. They must develop the motivating and sustaining skills internally, on their own.

     Black Lives Matter calls us to eradicate the societal structures that marginalize and alienate our fellow citizens, our brothers and sisters. We must find ways to improve education, create pay equity, and generate appropriate housing opportunities. We want to extend the “American Dream” to as many as possible. So when we think and talk about “Black Lives Matter,” we’re really talking about a large number of issues that need attention. Incarceration rates are related to, but different than policing. Currently, one of three Black men can expect to serve time in some sort of correctional custody during their lifetime. This involves cultural issues of chronic poverty and judicial issues of sentencing. All of these call for our attention if we seriously want to bridge the gap that currently divides. These issues, and many more, clamor for our attention.

     If we consider the Black Lives Matter movement seriously, we must think through the long-term issues that generate these societal problems. Proper policing is only one of the many issues that plague certain sectors of our society. If we truly believe in the American Dream and other cultural icons we must willingly take steps needed to expand security and prosperity. Walls around gated communities merely exacerbate the problem. We want inclusive solutions. We do not want to leave marginalized groups of have-nots peering over the walls, rattling locked gates, dying in abject poverty. As, arguably, the wealthiest nation on the globe, perhaps in history, we can develop better solutions that bring many more of us into prosperous circumstances. So yes, all lives matter, but that’s not the point. 

Building a Future

     Pain and anguish ooze from all my social and news media. This summer seems awash in violence. Every time I log into Facebook or email another madman has vented his spleen on innocents. Orlando, Minnesota, Baghdad, Istanbul, and Dallas; the list goes on and the toll climbs. I struggle to make some sort of sense of what I perceive as senseless, random violence. Refugees stream out of parts of Iraq and Syria, seeking some sort of sanity in a world where the powerful exert great influence over much of society and great swaths of territory. How does one respond?

     I must share in their grief. I cannot let physical and cultural distance dim my awareness of their plight or render their suffering irrelevant to my current condition. Those reeling under the thumb of the oppressor do not deserve such pain and anguish. They did nothing to warrant such treatment. Our good circumstance, mostly driven by birth and other factors beyond our ability to influence, does not make us more deserving of our present blessings. We so easily forget that God sends the rain on the just and the unjust alike; a very challenging passage (Matthew 5:44-46). We’ve done nothing to merit peace and well-being. So we must push back against those forces that would have us minimize their grief and pain due to their station in life. In some way, their grief is my grief, their pain mine as well, and their loss diminishes me. While we share in their anguish, we cannot let it overwhelm us.

     We must take action to improve our culture, locally and globally. Our decisions inexorably bend ourselves and our culture either toward peace and prosperity for all, or away from it. The day is long past when we must first clamor for our rights, defending our particular piece of political turf. We must adopt a wider view, one that puts the plight of others, near and far, first. We must push back against the deluge of violence, in all forms, that threatens to sweep us away. We bear responsibility for the culture we construct. We will build the world our children and grand-children will inherit. We must look and listen carefully to those who seek our support, financial or political. Those who gladly stoke the fires of anger and fear, seeking to create division do not deserve our support. Neither do those who seek to make a profit from pain or violence in any form. We must find ways to set aside those things on which we differ and come together on common ground.

     The things which bind us together are much greater than those on which we differ. Sadly we often focus on relatively minor variances, feeding our fear of “the other.” Let us look for those areas of commonality, those confluences of human thought and endeavor which all desire. Every father and mother longs for enough food and shelter for their children. They yearn for circumstances which enable their children to engage in education. The vast majority of men and women seek profitable employment that engages the body and soul. Most men seek remuneration that provides for their families and leaves enough free time for a modicum of rest and recreation. We yearn for the time and resources to explore and expand, feeding our spirit through the arts; whether in consumption or creation. These commonalities provide a road-map to the kind of culture we should create.

     Let us labor for conditions that provide those basics; food, shelter, worthwhile labor, adequate pay, and time to engage in those activities that profit the soul or spirit. The recent chaos should not drive us behind walls or gates. Ignored, the violence afar may come this way. We must reject the siren call of isolation that pulls us to our doom and instead embrace the suffering, rolling up our sleeves and bending to the task at hand. We must work, locally and globally, to create a society or culture and provides for the weakest among us. That is how we react to the seemingly random violence. Perhaps, it is not as random as we might wish. Perhaps, we ignored the warning signs too long and now the claxon sounds. But, heeded, it is not too late. The work may be hard and long, but the harvest of peace and prosperity will be worth the effort. To quote the Psalmist in Psalm 126: 5-6,

⁵ Those who sow in tears

    shall reap with shouts of joy!

⁶ He who goes out weeping,

    bearing the seed for sowing,

shall come home with shouts of joy,

    bringing his sheaves with him.

Let us now, in tears, plant the seeds that will bear goodly fruit in due course.

     

The Poinsettia

     Every Christmas my mother gives all the kids a Poinsettia.  It’s not a big thing; just one of the many little things she does that fill our lives with joy. She makes sure that we gather as a family, celebrating birthdays and other happy milestones. An excellent cook, she regularly hosts large gatherings replete with heaping helpings of loving generosity. In many ways her love binds us together as a family. But I digress, this is about a Poinsettia.

     Each year we enjoy the bright red and green foliage. I place them on a stool in the bay-window of our dining area. There they add a more color to our holiday season, reminding us that we are loved and cherished. Dutifully I water them daily; but they never last. Sometime around January they start to fade, dropping their leaves in slow succession until I’m left with a wizened stick, which I throw away. But not this year.

     I’m pecking this out on the second day of July and my annual Poinsettia still sits in its’ place of honor on the stool in the bay window. Flourishing. It continues to add leaves and grow. But it looks very odd. Since I never expected it to last, I did not turn it slightly every day. When you have potted plants you need to turn them a little bit every day in order to keep them symmetrical. If you fail to turn them they grow much more on the side facing the sun. Now, my Poinsettia faces the front yard with very few leaves on the side of the plant that faces inward. I’m not certain what to do. Should I start turning it now in order to bring back some sort of evenness? I just don’t know. What I do know is that my plant loves the sun and puts almost all of its energy toward reaching the sun. In doing so it has changed, slowly over time.

     In a small way this plant speaks to me about my relationship with the Lord. This plant has one central focus…for a plant. It seeks the light. Over time it has expanded and grown a large stem to reach the light. Since I failed to turn it, there are very few leaves that face inside the house, but verdant growth facing the source of the light. This relentless drive has transformed this plant. Due to my ineptness as a plant manager it is an odd looking plant; but, I like it. It reminds me every day that as long as I look to Jesus I will thrive and be transformed.

     God calls me to make His son the central focus of my life. When I do so His light changes me, conforms me to his shape, remaking me in a new form. Many of those bad habits, darker impulses, and selfish motives wither and drop away. I find myself bent toward Him and away from lessor things. In the strong light of His love I flourish, expanding in new ways, finding new and verdant growth where none was expected. Sadly, I often reach for the dim light of this world and then wonder why my growth is anemic at best. Then I’m like the room side of my plant.

     The room side of my plant still has a few leaves. They are small, faded, and drooping. They will survive but all the growth and deep, rich color resides on the sun side. When we follow the world we will find all growth disappointing. We want the strong vibrant colors of a full life; but refuse to seek the son. Instead we settle for a counterfeit and wonder why we fail to thrive. If we would just face the Son and bask in the light of His presence we would find our world transformed. Paul speaks of this in II Corinthians 3:18 when he talks about us beholding the Lord and being transformed. He reminds me that this is not of my doing, but the Lord’s. He also reminds me that I do not generate this change; God’s Spirit does. My plant took on its current shape due to how I treated it. In a like manner, God changes us into His likeness according to His plan. We cannot be sure how it all turns out, other than we will be like Him.

     I don’t know how long my Poinsettia will last.  I’m in uncharted waters. But I do know two things. As long as it faces the sun, my Poinsettia will thrive in that direction. I also know that as long as I face the Son, I will thrive in the way that He desires. I will ultimately take on His shape and likeness, the shape and likeness I was born to. 

Military Roles and Relationships Part 4

     “No sir. I’m sorry we cannot do that. It would be immoral,” the words hung there in the air, generating a scowl on the General’s face and a rapid beating of my heart. I’d run into one of the great challenges of armed conflict; deciding that a plan, though likely to succeed, was morally unacceptable. In Western thought we bin wars as “Just” or “Un-Just” based on centuries of thought both secular and theological. Using the term “just” raises significant challenges for Christian military leaders and planners as they seek to serve God and the state in desperate circumstances. Commanders agonize over the words that comprise their orders. Subordinates read orders and transform print into actions. Actions they undertake in circumstances often filled with uncertainty, violence and chaos. In moments of intense pressure and rushing pandemonium subordinate leaders must somehow divine the right decision.

     The term “just war,” one chosen to bring clarity and support for armed conflict developed over centuries with key input from such luminaries as Thomas Aquinas and Augustine. The combative nature of monarchs and the chaos released by the darker impulses of soldiers during war shocked theologians. Thinkers sought to limit bellicose monarchs of the Middle Ages and keep the carnage of armed conflict in check; both admirable goals. Part of the designed framework included justifiable reasons for going to war; hence the term “just war.” As a monarch, if your reasons aligned with those in the doctrine then your war was considered just and those who participated incurred no guilt through participation or support. This did not mean that you could not sin while in war, just that if you waged war within the developed boundaries you were considered just. All of this seems reasonable. After all we ought to limit the occurrence of war and its inherent brutality. I grapple with the term just and its effect on the disposition and decision making of participants.

     Contrary to what we may believe, humans seem to have a built-in (by God I believe) resistance to taking the life of other humans. For example, during my first tour in Iraq an entire unit drove through an ambush without returning fire; something senior leadership did not appreciate. In fact, the entire chain of command stood in front of the CJTF-7 commander explaining their soldiers lack of action. Once ignited and stoked the fires of anger required to kill others are not easily quenched. The more inhuman the enemy, the easier it is to slay them. And in this fundamental truth lies my problem with the term “just war.”

     If I am just in my cause, my enemy must be somehow unjust. If they are unjust or iniquitous, then I do the country, the world, and perhaps the Lord a favor by extinguishing them. And if I’m doing the Lord a favor, then killing more at once is acceptable. Additionally, if we employ questionable tactics to prosecute an unjust war then perhaps they are acceptable given the dire circumstances of war. You see the idea of a “just war” leads to many problems in execution. The chaos and confusion of war is fraught with difficulty enough without adding moral murkiness through the label of a “just war.” Perhaps we need to revisit our terminology.

     The generally agreed upon principles of a just war are; having just cause, being a last resort, being declared by a proper authority, possessing right intention, having a reasonable chance of success, and the end being proportional to the means used. It is the first principle that creates problems, a just cause. Humans have spilled copious amounts of ink trying to delineate a just cause, so I’ll add a bit more. I do not find comfort in the term “just cause.” Perhaps we ought to explore a phrase such as an “unavoidable war”. Some wars erupt due to forces neither side is able or willing to contain. There are times when social and political forces in nations or a region drive conflicts. The U.S. Civil War might be considered an “unavoidable war.” Of course this phrase contains various pitfalls, as do all such phrases. Another phrase we might consider, “a war thrust upon us.” This phrase seeks to describe a war of aggression; WW II for example. In WW II Japan and Germany adopted aggressive political systems that resulted in years of conflict. We might use a phrase employed by the United Nations, “peace enforcement.” This describes actions taken to bring hostilities between waring nations to a close, normally against either belligerents will. Peace enforcement is a more aggressive version of peace keeping and frequently includes hostile actions where peace keeping normally does not. It seems to me that these three phrases might help us navigate the turbid and turbulent waters of armed conflict without stumbling into the pitfall of making one side just over another.

     When we as a nation elect to send our armed forces into combat we must seek to not only equip them with the best arms and armaments available, we must also see to equip them mentally and morally. Often moral failure on the field of battle stems from a lack of preparation and practice. It is true that you will execute in war the same way you execute in practice. We need to carefully think through how we talk about and prepare for the moral component of war. When we label ourselves as just and the enemy as unjust, we open the door for decisions which civilized nations would find abhorrent, even in the manifestly uncivilized business of waging war. I think it is time for us to reconsider our phraseology, seeking to improve on the “just war” theory without discarding its better components. 

My Rights?

     Recent events compel me to take a hiatus from my examination of the concept of a “Just War” and turn to the comingled issues of the treatment of the LGBT community and the second amendment. I know that some would rather not make this turn; in fact I hesitate as well. But, the horrifying event in Orlando, Florida remains in the forefront of my heart and mind. As I mentioned in an early FB post, I thought I’d left such atrocities behind when I winged my way out of Baghdad in 2009. I’d seen the wreckage left behind when Shia had gunned down over thirty Sunni men and boys after lining them up against a wall. Perhaps it was Sunni gunning down Shia, I don’t well remember. But the horrifying sight of broken bodies, the coppery smell of coagulating blood, and the keening wail of the gathered women remains vivid. Now, in my own home, loved ones gather shattered remains and mourn the loss of those they hold dear.

     Some, thankfully few, hold that in some way the LGBT community deserves or brings such treatment upon themselves. Sometimes we view this community with special repugnance, forgetting that all sin separates and we all sin. Paul reminds us of this in Romans 3:23. It seems as if we forget this most salient fact. Apart from God’s mercy and grace we all stand guilty. In our lost state God reached out to us. We do nothing to merit. We do nothing that causes God to owe us anything. We must summon the courage to love those who are different than ourselves. In response to a question about who is who in the zoo, Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan, teaching that all those we meet along the way are our neighbors. We must also remember that the same grace I expect God to continually apply to my failings applies to others’ failings.

     These are difficult questions. When do we presume on God’s grace? When, and how, do we stop behaviors abhorrent to God? How much patience does God have with us, with others? All of these are good questions; ones I will not attempt to answer here. I will say that Jesus calls us to ere on the side of graciousness. Loving the fallen is difficult, but something that God calls us to do. He calls us to take risk. He calls us to plunge in and reach out to the world around us. Those who were wounded, maimed, or died in Orlando did not deserve their fate any more than we might for our transgressions. We must grieve with those so deeply wounded, knowing that God did not take special delight in this tragedy. We must work to bind up wounds. We must work to staunch the tide of violence.

     We must revisit our understanding of the Second Amendment. Those of us who wear the name of Christ would do well to think of this "right" in the light of I Corinthians 8. Here Paul addresses the issue of rights and brotherhood. In his day eating meat offered to idols was quite an issue; today, not so much. But he does say, “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” I Corinthians 8:9. He instructs us to be tender and willing to give up our rights in order to preserve unity. I know that he wrote this to believers about relations with other believers. I fully understand the theological leap that I am making. But I believe it is one worth contemplating.

     As Christians we gave up our rights when we became slaves to righteousness. Perhaps we might apply this to the secular world. Perhaps we might consider a slight curtailment of certain secular rights in order to secure a better future for ourselves and our posterity. I believe that my relationship with Christ should lead me to be extremely flexible regarding my rights; even in, or perhaps especially in, the secular realm. After all, we represent Christ who gave up everything in order that He might save us. Paul continues in this example when he says, “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” Romans 9:22. We ought to be a most flexible people. We ought to be those willing to give up some portion of our rights when seeking ways to limit the carnage.

     In every aspect of modern life we regulate behaviors that might prove a threat to those around us. You have to prove your abilities to drive a car, show adequate knowledge of the rules of the road, and prove fiscal responsibility in case of accident in order to legally drive. In response to death and injury inflicted by unsafe vehicles, we developed a wide variety of regulations. I remember when cars did not necessarily come with seat-belts. I installed seat-belts in my first pick up; partially to enable the young woman of my choice to sit next to me. Now, cars come with seat-belts, airbags, anti-lock brakes, crumple-zones, and a plethora of other safety features. Consequently, cars are safer, more reliable, and much more dependable. In the late nineteenth century we wearied of the abysmal state of processed food in our nation. We developed the FDA and as a result enjoy some of the safest food on the globe. Again, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, aghast at images of children killed and maimed in factories we legislated our way into a safer country; a country which does not condone and limits child labor. We’ve seen a variety of legislative efforts that improve our society. I frequently read postings which disparage the ability of legislation to affect human behavior and societal norms. A careful examination of the facts; especially when you consider the examples of other countries, leads one to understand that well thought out legislation results in positive outcomes.

     The second amendment states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The term “well regulated” leaps out at me. Evidently the authors of the amendment expected some form of regulation. They left us free to develop constraints we deem necessary. This flexibility is part of what makes our Constitution a marvelous and useful document. We need to explore every avenue available in order to develop a more just society.

     As a Christian, I support such attempts to make positive changes in my nation. We simply cannot accept the status quo. The tragic events in Orlando lead me to carefully reexamine how I think about LGBT issues and the second amendment. The example of Jesus leads me to the conclusion that I often overemphasize my rights. He gave up His in order to show me a better way. Perhaps, I need to be less protective of mine in order to help create a better country.

Military Roles and Relationships: Part Three

This is part three of what has become a four part essay exploring the roles and responsibilities of the military in our republic, today considering some of the possibilities a Christian might explore when evaluating the military, its role in our society, and whether a person of faith can serve.

     Isaiah 9 challenges me; especially verse five, “Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.” When I was in college I majored in history while my roommate worked on a Masters in some aspect of theology. He now teaches at a private Christian University, and I, the retired career officer teach at a parochial high-school. As roommates we often engaged in lengthy debates about whether a Christian could serve in the military. Despite our differences we remain friends and are in many ways much closer than we used to be. Now, as a gray haired warrior looking back I still grapple with this issue. Is there room in the Prince of Peace’s kingdom for one such as me? Now as my life turns more toward mentoring young men and women, what kind of counsel would God have me provide? It is one thing to for a man to weigh a given issue, decide, and then take action. It is yet another thing altogether for a man to advise or encourage another toward a specific action. Additionally, parents entrust their children to me. Sadly, in some cases I spend more time with children than their parents. Consequently, I must give thought to my words, knowing that some will listen and conform their lives to my words. A careless word or thoughtless remark made in haste might lead a young soul to shipwreck. How does God view service in the military? Can one who claims to serve the Lord also serve an earthly kingdom?

     While I answered these questions for myself before I entered upon life in the Army, I continually revisit them as I tread the path before me. I find that some things I once held dear and perhaps even sacrosanct not as important as before. Ironically, today some things I once considered peripheral seem absolutely critical; foundation stones of faith. One thing I can say with surety, I am a failed sinner and without God’s tender mercy and grace I am lost. It is only through the leavening action of His Spirit that I make any right choices. I know that my understanding is limited and fundamentally flawed. Yet, I believe that God would have me ponder these issues, approaching any conclusions with humility and tenderness toward those who feel differently. I may be wrong and God may work in their lives differently than mine. One final thought of introduction, as we consider partisan politics and electoral choices these issues influence our decisions. What kind of leader will the person be and how might he or she handle such grave decision as employing deadly force? So how does God view these convoluted and problematic issues?

     We know that Jesus instructed His followers to turn the other cheek (Luke 6:29). We also know our love for one another identifies us as His followers (John 13:35). Later Paul reminds us to do everything possible to live in harmony (I Timothy 2:2.). Indeed Jesus is the prince of peace and His disciples, as individuals and a community, must also work for peace. When followers of Jesus sought to make him king by force He refused, withdrawing from the crowd (John 6:15). Even the most casual reading of the New Testament reveals a focus on living in peace and harmony. But what of the Old Testament? People often people speak of the God of the Old Testament as being different than the God of the New Testament. In the Old Testament we find passages where God instructs His people to obliterate certain groups. God speaks of David as a “man after his own heart” (I Samuel 13:14). He was a warrior king who fell out of grace with Saul due to his prowess as a soldier and commander, yet despite his warrior nature and personal failings he remained close to God. How do we us understand the seeming dichotomy between the Old and New Testament. Perhaps a more careful examination of scripture and its context will help us see more clearly.

     I believe that God is the same, always (James 1:17). God did not take a chill-pill or mellow out during the four hundred years of silence. I believe that what we perceive as a difference between the Old and New Testament God issues from a rather surface reading of the Bible, a lack of context (cultural and otherwise), and perhaps poor translations. Of course, the poor translation issue is best addressed by learned men and women such as my roommate as they possess the requisite linguistic skill-set. But I believe that even without training in ancient Greek and Hebrew we can draw valid conclusions regarding the nature of God and service in the military.

     In the Genesis creation account we find a God that brings order out of chaos. At some level God appreciates order. Look out into the universe and you find a place where things unfold in a predictable fashion. Of course there seem to be exceptions, things we do not fully understand, but normally upon closer examination we find some sort of orderly process in effect. Look inward, down into the fascinating alien world of microbiology, and again you find order and process. And while it is true that the more we know the more we find that we do not understand, we do see an orderly arrangement inward and outward. Look on into the Old Testament accounts and we see God applying order on human relations designed to restrain our chaotic impulses.

     Much of the Law of Moses seeks to limit the violence born of a desire for revenge and secure justice for the weak and defenseless. While we tend to limit our concept of justice to perpetrators receiving their just deserts; God includes defense of the poor and widow in His view of justice. Much of the prophetic writing in the Old Testament takes leaders to task for allowing the rich and powerful to trample the poor, widows, orphans, and alien sojourner under their feet. God expects society to moderate the behavior of the powerful. He expects leaders to use their authority to achieve these goals. This did not change in the New Testament.

     In Romans 13:5, Paul encourages Christians to be subject to ruling authorities. He reminds his readers that God put them in place to enforce some level of good order and discipline. He writes in the context of the Roman Empire at its peak of power and authority; an empire oppressive by today’s standards. Peter echoes this in I Peter 2. In some way, often difficult to divine, authorities support God’s desire for a well ordered society, congruent with His concept of justice. A person serving in our military helps a nation provide that type of society. Of course our military, like all human institutions, is flawed and needs careful oversight and management. But, in some larger sense militaries and police forces when used in a restrained fashion serve God’s purpose in blunting the power of baser human desires. The New Testament offers other intriguing possibilities.

     John, Jesus’ cousin and prophet, preached a stringent message of repentance and changed lives. So stringent in fact that he lost his head over it. Buried in his story is a quick reference to the military. It seems that soldiers, perhaps Roman soldiers, came out to hear this wild eyed, bizarrely clad, bad haired prophet speak. They, like everyone else asked, “What should I do?”

     He responds, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” (Luke 3:14). As a career soldier, I always found the later part of his instruction hard to follow. Interestingly John does not instruct his questioners to give up soldiering. He calls them to behave with justice, but does not urge them to seek new employment; a very challenging passage considering the context of occupied Judea. But this is not the only interesting passage in the gospels.

     Later on, while Jesus is teaching in Capernaum, a centurion approaches him, asking Jesus to heal a favored servant. When Jesus indicates a willingness to come, the centurion famously replies, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹ For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Impressed by the man’s faith Jesus exclaims, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.” You find this account in Matthew 8 and Luke 8. The centurion’s life prepared him for faith. Here we see a Roman soldier whose boots had printed the sands of many places lifted up as an example of faithfulness. And like John, Jesus passes on the opportunity to urge a change in profession.

     Another example, this time from Acts 10. Cornelius, a God fearing man, sends for Peter upon instructions from God. After receiving instructions from on high, Peter takes action. He travels and preaches. And, after hearing Peter, Cornelius and his entire family become Christians and are often counted as the first Gentile converts. Luke, the author of Acts, provides a few items of interest concerning Cornelius. He was a centurion, another Roman Soldier. Luke, the faithful historian, adds this detail; Cornelius was a centurion in the “Italian Cohort.” Once again, we read of no instruction given to leave the service of the Roman military. So what do we make of all this?

     I think we can make three general assumptions from scripture. One, at some level God desires good order and discipline. He does not favor a society out of control where those with money and power run rough shod over the weaker elements of society. Two, He uses human institutions, such as governments and militaries, to bring about justice in the world. And three, service in the military does not necessarily exempt one from membership in the His kingdom.

     This does not mean that I would advise anyone to serve in the military. The military life is fraught with spiritual peril. Many men and women have lost their way while wearing the uniform. The temptations for a wide variety of sins are great. As one rises in rank and leadership the need for great moral courage arrives. More than once I’ve had to face very senior officers and say, “Sir, we cannot do that. It is immoral. If you insist, you must find someone else to do it.” Fortunately for me the American military provides for such moments and in all cases those in authority over me relented. As a leader and soldier I’ve seen and done things that I do not speak of. As with all soldiers who’ve engaged in armed conflict, I bear mental and emotional marks. These experiences shape who I am and how I think and God has used them to make me into a better vessel for His service. This does not mean that I think those who feel led to adopt a more pacific view are wrong.

     I can understand how a person can read scripture and feel that bearing arms would conflict with their understanding of God’s will for their life. Pacifism is long and noble tradition which God has used to help forward His kingdom. In many ways only the bravest need apply for the role of pacifist. Despite our different roles the soldier and the pacifist must work toward the same goals of peace and justice. As one who’s stood in dark cells with the floors still damp with the blood and gore of torture and whose walls had recently echoed with the screams of the tormented, I know the work for justice must needs be done. I also know that all human institutions fail and those who bear the name of Christ must often labor and sacrifice to redirect these institutions. As a failed sinner I approach all these issues with great humility, knowing that save for God’s action, I would be permanently lost and that God may call my brother and sister to a very different role than mine. He is the one who makes all of us stand.

    

Military Roles and Relationships: Part Two

This is part two of a three part essay exploring the roles and responsibilities of the military in our republic, especially considering the weighty decision to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

     “Sir, what do I do,” asked the young private as he handed me his cold child while his wife wailed, rocking on the couch?”

     “Go to your wife, comfort her,” I replied. The young soldier shuffled over to his wife, sat down, and together they wept. I carefully laid the dead infant in the crib, covering her with the soft blanket. And in the dark German night the three of us mourned while we waited on the krankenwagen (German for ambulance). For the next few weeks the platoon rallied round the young soldier and his wife as they walked through the dark night of mourning and into the gray fog of a changed life. Eventually they managed to sort through the pain of a shattered life, putting together a semblance of normalcy. After three years and a couple of promotions the couple moved on to a new assignment and out of my life. I did hear that they had another child. In ways unlike any other profession, the Army includes off-duty hours.

     Ask any leader, officer or NCO, and they will relate such stories. My superiors held me accountable for those things that my soldiers did while on duty and off. My soldiers’ familial challenges became mine. I was expected to help them overcome such heavy challenges as alcohol or drug abuse or relatively minor ones like an unmown lawn (particular to military housing). I had to explain what I was doing to help soldiers deal with children who acted out in school. More than once I was the grim faced bearer of tragic news. The itinerant nature of the military drives much of this; as well as, the legal effects of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

     As a commander, I exercised legal authority over my soldiers twenty-four hours a day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year any place on the globe. Once when civilian authorities were unable prosecute an NCO for sex with a minor I stepped in, arrested him, brought him to trial, and watched him shuffle off in an orange jump-suit and manacles. As leaders we take our responsibilities regarding our soldiers seriously. We rejoice at their successes, weep at their failures, and grieve when they fall. One of the hardest tasks we must complete is the duty to inform the next of kin that their loved one has fallen in battle. Not only do we inform, the Army details someone of the appropriate rank to walk the grieving family through the labyrinth of details regarding disposition of remains, personal affects, and final pay and allowances. I had a subordinate who traveled deep into Mexico to help the family of a soldier who had fallen. The young sergeant had immigrated and enlisted. He’d become a U.S. citizen while serving, giving his life for his new country. My captain, a Spanish speaker, did a marvelous job of holding the hands of the bewildered grieving family. Not because he was a particularly great officer, though he was, but because the Army takes care of its own; for good or for ill. We do our best. Sometimes our best is not good enough. Then we sit down and work out what a new best looks like and strive for that.

     Once while serving in CJTF-7 (Combined-Joint Task Force 7), COL Woody (Colonel, USMC), the JOC (Joint Operations Center) commander stopped at my desk.  His looming, six foot three plus, presence quickly drew my attention. “Sir,” I asked?

     “A moment of your time, MAJ (Major) Robinson,” he rumbled?

     “Yessir.” Over the next few minutes he asked me quite detailed questions about one of my subordinates; some of which I could not answer. You see, my original unit of assignment had departed from Iraq and my next unit was due to arrive shortly. I was detailed to CJTF-7 to await their arrival; a practice early on which would soon be discontinued. I had only known my subordinate for a short time, a couple of weeks, and had not had time to get to know him. In fact, technically I was not his commander. Still, COL Woody expected me to develop a full relationship with him, take responsibility for him, and considered my ignorance a failure. I quickly set about fixing that particular shortcoming. Unlike any civilian job I’ve ever had, the military expects leaders to concern themselves with all aspects of a subordinate’s life. I’ve counseled soldiers on a wide variety of mundane tasks; balancing a checkbook, purchasing and maintaining a car, appropriate discipline of their children, and proper diet. When I was a Second Lieutenant in Germany, my junior enlisted had to get my permission to marry. I’ve also walked with soldiers the tortured path from chemical dependency to sobriety. I am by no means unusual in this. The military is a tightly knit family with all the associated benefits and responsibilities. We rejoice together and we weep together. We celebrate promotions, births, graduations, and other important milestones. We grieve together over our maimed and fallen. In my experience we are unique in this respect. How, you might ask, does this pertain to the discussion over the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

     The burden of leading men and women in armed conflict presses down on leaders at all levels, including the president. We almost always pass over this aspect of military life when discussing President Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bombs. Yet, this is perhaps one of the most salient portions of the discussion. President Truman, who’d experienced the horrors of trench warfare as an artillery officer in World War I, faced casualty lists in the hundreds daily. As the commander in chief the ultimate responsibility for the dead and wounded rested on his shoulders. By the time President Truman assumed responsibility for the prosecution of the war the casualty roles topped 300,000. Facing the invasion of Japan, which had shown no proclivity for surrender, he was presented the possibility of ending the war quickly, with low risk of U.S. loss of life. We cannot underestimate the appeal of such a prospect. A president must face families deprived of loved ones with some level of surety that they have done their best to secure the objective with a minimal loss of life. Given even optimistic casualty estimates for an invasion of the Japanese homeland, the arithmetic of the nuclear option would seem the best choice, even if horrible to contemplate. In a fallen world where nations pursue war, often for spurious reasons, militaries are a fact of life. When engaged in a conflict thrust upon us, we must consider every option to end it in victory, and quickly. Those of us who enjoy the easy comfort of civilian life, far from the pains, perils, and rigors of armed conflict should never forget the burden we place on those who secure our ease. We should not easily dismiss the heavy weight those in leadership, at all levels, bear. Thankfully, it is a burden foreign to most. 

Military Roles and Relationships: Part One

     President Obama’s recent visit to Japan, and Hiroshima, generated vigorous discussion and debate in the various social media I frequent. Bits and bytes crossed the ether, filling “in-boxes” and blog comment sections. Both sides of the issue staked out territory, vigorously defending their cause. Yet, in all the theorizing, Monday-Morning quarterbacking, and posturing, I noticed a common thread; misunderstanding the role, or function, of the military in such matters as national defense and foreign policy. Additionally, I also detected a lack of understanding about the nature of soldiers; who we are, how we think, what motivates us, and our feelings or thoughts about such matters as warfare and its effect on the human spirit. I found the lack of empathy for those in leadership positions, those shoulders that bear the weight of grim decisions, distressing. When debating such policy matters we must ensure that we examine the issues from a point of understanding, not one of stereotype or prejudice.

     In our republic, civilians assert supremacy over the military. Our president serves as “Commander in Chief,” and as such has no rank. If a general, or officer of lessor rank, is elected they must resign their commission prior to taking the office of president. As an officer, whenever I dealt with civilians I always addressed them as “Sir” or “Ma’am.” Every officer dreads the receipt of a letter from congress. Congress wields great power over the military. More than once in my career I was the subject of congressional inquiry; both very unpleasant experiences (in both cases I was found to have acted appropriately). Until President Reagan, presidents never returned the honor of a salute as they were civilians. Due to the importance of the issue of civilian supremacy, I would recommend returning to the no return salute practice. Besides, every president, no matter their party affiliation salutes badly. A quick search of internet images reveals a plethora of poor presidential salutes. We in the military take our orders from the President, a civilian. Our laws prohibit members of the military acting in a law-enforcement role; except in cases of extreme national emergency. Our experience as a colony, complete with colonial military abuses, left an indelible mark on our national psyche. We keep the military at arm’s length from the reins of power for good reasons. We in the military, especially career soldiers, understand this.

     Generals do not wake up one morning and say, “I think I’ll invade _______________________.” Soldiers, especially those who’ve spent time in combat, know the chaos that unleashing the darker, deadlier tools of diplomacy brings. To find those responsible for the ills of armed conflict, look at either end of Pennsylvania Ave. and Wall-Street. We in the military may not carry out our orders well or to the liking of those who sent us; but, we follow orders nonetheless. Soldiers bear a great responsibility for how we carry out orders. Sometimes we must refuse to follow orders. To serve in the military one must possess two types of courage; physical courage to enable you to strap on your kit and go outside the wire and moral courage to tell a superior officer, “No, we cannot do that. It is immoral.” Without both types of courage one cannot serve their commanders well or fulfill their oath of office. Occasionally soldiers fail at one or both, with devastating results. And in this day of near instant communication these results may exert significant influence, good or ill, on national policy. Whatever the case, soldiers act on the orders given and though we must account for our actions, those who give the orders that send men and women into harm’s way must also account for their actions.  When debating policies, we must keep our gaze fixed upon those nexus of power that consider employment of force a viable option. Rather than seek support for a “just war,” perhaps we should focus on only fighting those wars unavoidably thrust upon us.