Thought for Today
Genesis 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days-- and also afterward-- when the sons of God went in to the daughters of humans, who bore children to them. These were the heroes that were of old, warriors of renown.
Psalm 19:5 A report goes forth through all the earth, their messages, to the ends of the world. He has pitched in them a tent for the sun; (NAB) 6 it comes forth like a bridegroom from his canopy, and like a hero joyfully runs its course. (NAB)
Isaiah 3:1 The Lord, the LORD of hosts, will take away from Jerusalem and from Judah Support and staff-- all support of bread, all support of water: (NAB) 2 Hero and warrior, judge and prophet, diviner and elder, (NAB)
Yesterday was June 6th. My first thought, as I took the newspaper out of its plastic cover this morning, was to wonder whether or not I would see a frontpage acknowledgement of yesterday as the anniversary of D-Day. There is merely a small picture in the bottom right corner showing attendees at a ceremony in Colleville-sur-Men, France. There is also a reference to an article buried inside on page 5.
I wonder how many citizens of the U.S.A. were aware of yesterday’s being the anniversary of D-Day. Certainly all of us born during or immediately after WW II. Of all the beach invasions of the war, the Normandy landing is the most celebrated and remembered. I was privileged to work with several Marines and Navy veterans of the Pacific campaign and know that invasions at places like Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and Okinawa were equally difficult, dangerous and deadly.
Today, I am thankful for all the men and women who have put their own lives in harm’s way so that I can sit at my computer and share my Thoughts with you, so that I can live in a free land, so that I can do, think and say what I believe, irrespective of whether or not it is government-approved.
If you think it odd that a minister would ever be thinking about heroes and warriors, about invasions, they are all part of the cost of what it means to be a child of God. Human life is a gift from our Creator God, “Genesis 2:7 then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.” All life is to be treasured, honored and protected because it is a gift from God. Life is literally the breath of our Creator.
Sometimes, sadly, there are those who do not treasure, honor, or protect life. There are those who want only to destroy life. WW II may be the most glaring example of a period where the lines of distinction between those who do and those who do not honor life have been so clearly drawn.
Even then, however, the moral, ethical and spiritual issues of taking life, of killing were difficult and demanded serious consideration. One of my personal theological heroes, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, struggled with whether or not to be involved with an attempt on Hitler’s life. He knew his duty was clearly to oppose Nazism. He refused to go into exile or to cease teaching and preaching. But the taking of God-given life should never be condoned lightly.
What is our Christian duty today? How are we to honor those who risked the ultimate consequence to preserve our freedom? Is it proper to print frontpage banner headlines every year on June 6th? Is that an unacceptable glorification of war and killing? Why this one, particular day? Why not the anniversary of the invasion of Sicily?
For what it’s worth, what is our Christian duty regarding any of the armed conflicts going on in our world today? Gaza? Ukraine? Whose side should we support? Should we support either side?
Being a Christian is rarely easy in the secular world of human society. We are called to live in the world where Jesus’ warning is ever present, “Matthew 24:6 you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet.”
Yesterday, we honored those who gave the questions careful consideration and then put their own lives on the line to protect our lives and the lives of generations yet to come. Say an extra prayer of thanksgiving each day for those who did so. Never forget.
Stay safe, enjoy your costly freedom, trust God,
Pastor Ray