Thought for Today
Psalm 8:4 what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? 5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord.
I was born during WWII. I grew up in the U.S.A. of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. In my youth, I remember hearing and reading about duty and honor. We don’t hear or read very much about either today. As I approached adulthood, it seems to me that our public discourse began to focus almost exclusively on our rights. Almost every aspect of our society and culture became rights-oriented. So much so, that almost the only times we ever hear or read about duty or honor are on holidays like Memorial Day, Veterans Day and maybe Pearl Harbor Day.
We are rapidly approaching a Presidential Election. There will be debates, interviews and endless speculation about the candidates’ position on various ‘hot button’ issues. Do you think we will hear or read any mention of duty or honor?
In yesterday’s Thought, I made a somewhat disparaging comment about politicians making countless ‘pilgrimages’ to cemeteries, placing countless wreaths on memorials, and endlessly blathering platitudes. They did. Some even mentioned duty and honor, especially the sacrifice made by those being honored. We even have some politicians here and elsewhere in our country who have put themselves in harm’s way. Our own congressional representative served honorably in the Marine Corps.
I do plan to listen carefully to all the political discourse in the coming months and I will especially watch for any mention of duty or honor. I fully expect to be disappointed. This morning, I am wondering why we do not and will not hear more about duty and honor. Have the words somehow morphed in meaning? While I was sleeping, did the virtues of duty and honor somehow become less virtuous?
In some aspects, WWII seems to be the last war where the contrasts between the combatants were so clearly demarcated. As we watch the historical video footage or even in movies, it is easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys by the shape of their helmets and the emblems painted on their war machines. As in the western movies of my youth, where the bad guys wore black hats and the good guys wore white hats, good and evil are clearly delineated. The good guys did right, not for political or economic gain, but for duty and honor.
And, in all of this, how does my faith figure in? As a Christian, should I demand that our politicians clearly state their own positions and understanding about duty and honor? Many of them will gladly pose for photo-ops, Bible in hand, maybe in front of a church. But, how many of them are people of honor? Being a Christian is about much more than posing and posturing with a Bible in hand. Christians actually read their Bibles . . . or at least should. Christians actually go to church . . . or at least should. Christians actually practice what they preach (or have preached to them) . . . or at least should.
The scribes and chief priests sent spies to watch Jesus and to attempt to trap Jesus into treason. They asked him, “Luke 20:22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" Jesus saw through their plot and responded, "25 Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." Every time I read that passage, I sense an even deeper meaning for Christians in Jesus’ response to those trying to trap him. For believers, what should immediately come to mind is the question of whether there could be anything in all Creation that does not belong to God?
I am a strong supporter of our separation of church and state. I do not want our civil government having any opportunity to dictate to my faith tradition or to any faith tradition (or to any lack thereof) in terms of what we can or must think, say or believe. For those who scoff at the impossibility of governmental interference in matters of faith, I recommend a reading of history and a close examination of all Islamic nations today.
As a Christian, however, I believe I have every right to demand that candidates wanting my vote explain their understanding of duty, honor, of “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable.” And, I have every right to hold them accountable to it.
Stay safe, demand accountability, trust God,
Pastor Ray