I remember it as if it was yesterday. It was about 4 years ago. I was pulling up to the church on a Sunday morning and one of the members approached my car as I was getting out. She said, “Here Rev. Brown, take one of these. It’s only $2. I’ll get the money from you later.”
What she shoved in my hand was one of those yellow, magnetic ribbons that donned the message, “Support Our Troops!”
I remember not knowing what to say for fear that I might offend her, but deep within me I knew that I wanted nothing to do with that yellow, magnetic ribbon. At that time, there was this blind patriotism drenching popular culture supported by right-leaning religious groups who declared that God gave the “Divine OK” to utterly destroy human beings in Iraq with shock and awe in Jesus name.
As a Believer in Jesus and a Follower of The Way, I disagree with war and believe that it is inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. How could one follow a man who was called The Prince of Peace and encouraged loving one’s enemies and at the same time champion war and the killing of other human beings?
Soon after that parking lot experience, I began preaching sermons as I had opportunity against the invasion and occupation of Iraq. I also started preaching against the military activity between Israel and Hezbollah. (and particularly Israel’s murdering of innocent civilians and unjust occupation of Palestine.)
Sometimes with reckless abandon, prophetic zeal, and perhaps doses of self-righteousness I tried as best I could to send a clear message that Followers of Jesus could not waver on the issue of war. The teachings of Jesus just don’t support it.
Now, however, I’ve had a few more experiences in life. Now, I’m a pastor who possesses a greater level of concern for the well being of the sheep. I’m not some itinerant minister who can run to a foreign pulpit, unsheathe my blade, cut up the sheep, leave the sanctuary bloody, and walk out satisfied because I told it like it T. I. is. Now, to a much greater degree, I’m concerned about preaching the truth in such a way that will bring about spiritual growth…that will help build people up -not just tear them down and leave them crippled. And even if I cut them I attempt to extrapolate the cancerous growth with a surgeon’s precision leaving the healthy cells in their proper place.
Now, I can say that I’ve sat down with some of my family members who are in the Armed Forces and had conversations with them about how they are wrestling with being the one who makes sure the screws on the missile launcher are tight. Now I can say that I’ve seen the residue of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in family members who still have nightmares about bombing schools in Iraq. Now I can say I’ve met men who were in Vietnam and who still can’t speak about what they saw or participated in while there. Now I can say that I have friends who work for some of the largest weapons manufacturers in the U.S. and who engineer some of the most deadly weapons that the general public has not been made aware of yet.
And now, as of a couple of weeks ago, I can say that two young people who are dear to me have informed me that they have chosen to join the Armed Forces and submit themselves to a process where they will be forced to surrender their ability to think independently, silence their conscience, and dehumanize other human beings so that pulling the trigger will be easier. They’ve agreed to become a part of the world’s war machine - a highly profitable system utilized by the principalities of this world to control the general population of the global community. They’re not the only young people in my circle who have made this decision. I know many young people who have opted to take this path…despite the scriptures, despite Dr. King, despite their religious beliefs, despite Jesus. It baffles me why young people join the military.
And yet - How do I minister to them? How do I support them while maintaining my ardent disagreement with their decision? I try to think of them as if they were my own children. What would I say to my daughter if she wanted to enlist? What would I say to my son? Surely, I wouldn’t picket against them. I wouldn’t kick them out of my house. I wouldn’t disown them. I wouldn’t barrage them with deep philosophical arguments that prove that “I’m right.” But my deep, unyielding, and longstanding love for them would compel me to say something.
I don’t know if these are the right answers, but I think I’d say something like:
“Son, God did not create you to kill other human beings.” …or
“Daughter, there are better ways to expand your horizons and see the world than by signing your life away to the government.”…or
“Son, I sense that you feel your options in life are limited and that you have to enlist in order to pay for college, but I guarantee you that there are other ways to fund your education.”…or
“Daughter, I urge you to read the stories of other young people who walked this path before you and consider what you’re really getting yourself into.”…or
“Son, before you enlist do your homework on what you’re getting yourself into and don’t just count on the word of the recruiter. Like a used car salesman, it’s their job to embellish and fabricate benefits in order to get you to sign.”…or
“Daughter, I know you’ve already enlisted, but there is still time…you can still change your mind”…or
“Son, it is remarkable that you have expressed your willingness to die for your country’s causes, but have you considered enlisting in a different type of army where you can still face injury and possibly death for PEACE instead of for war?”…or
“Daughter, I want you to know that there is a Federal Law that would prohibit me from discouraging you to join the Army, but I am willing to face being arrested if it will help you to think again about this decision.”
What would you say, Faith in Action family if you were in my shoes? Have any of your children, family, or friends joined the military? For those who are in the military and are Believers in Jesus, how have you reconciled what Christ says versus what your Commander says? For any clergy out there how do you minister to your parishioners who are either in the military or have loved ones overseas? For any activists out there, what strategies have you found to be effective in the effort to get military recruiters out of our schools and off of our college campuses?
Help. Our children are marching off to war.
