Thought for Today
Genesis 10:8 Cush became the father of Nimrod; he was the first on earth to become a mighty warrior.
Exodus 15:3 The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name.
Matthew 8:5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him
Acts 10:1 In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called.
Today is Veterans Day. “Veterans Day, observed on November 11, 2025, is a federal holiday dedicated to honoring all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. This day, rooted in the history of Armistice Day, marks the cessation of hostilities in World War I at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, it celebrates the patriotism and willingness of veterans to serve and sacrifice for the common good.” (msn.com)
I am not a veteran. Mine is not a military family. My uncles were in the military in WWII. My brother-in-law was in the military during Viet Nam. There are veterans in our daughter-in-law’s family. Irrespective of whether I, you or anyone else actually did serve in the military, we all have benefited from and continue to benefit from “the patriotism and willingness of veterans to serve and sacrifice for the common good.”
We did honor our congregation’s veterans during worship this past Sunday. In our sanctuary we have a framed banner on one wall with a star for every member of our congregation who participated in WWI. Different colored stars indicated those who were wounded and those who lost their lives. Each year we include an insert in our worship bulletin listing the names of those who have served from our congregation or family members who served.
The word veteran does not appear in the Bible. Yet from Genesis 10:8 forward, warriors and those who served in armies are mentioned. Each year as we note Veterans Day and our other national holidays associated with wars, victories and the military, I am fascinated by Exodus 15:3 and the image of God as a warrior. I am equally fascinated by some of the militant and nationalistic hymns in our hymnals. I do not recall ever having chosen Onward Christian Soldiers to be sung during worship, although it is a hymn I remember singing as a child. Perusing my records, I did find that I once chose Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory despite the fact that I was raised in the South and that hymn is also known as The Battle Hymn of the Republic.
I remain conflicted about militantism and nationalism in association with the worship of God. I think of God as being associated with peace. We have sung When Peace Like a River numerous times in worship.
The sad truth, however, is that from beginning to today, faith and the necessity to defend that faith have always been inextricably linked. We have to acknowledge that there have been times where ‘defense’ has been more an excuse or rationale than a true reality. The Crusades come to mind. That hymn Onward Christian Soldiers harkens back to those Crusades where the knights of the cross went into battle behind banners decorated with the Cross and many of the knights wore a cross on their armor.
I was born during WWII. I have studied the history of that war. I have also studied the history of the Crusades. I have read the history of the Holocaust. I know that countless lives have been lost through the need for “the patriotism and willingness of veterans to serve and sacrifice for the common good.” I also know that among the Roman occupation force in Israel in the 1st century there were men like Cornelius, “Acts 10:1 In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called.”
We pray during worship each week, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We’re not there yet! Until that day, there will always be the need for “the patriotism and willingness of veterans to serve and sacrifice for the common good.” Today and every day we need to be thankful for those who serve and sacrifice.
Stay safe, thank a veteran, trust God,
Pastor Ray