Warrior Faith

We recognize on Veterans Day, the dedication of those who are serving for a cause that is beyond themselves, that is greater than themselves.  They serve and have fought for freedom, for the ideals
upon which America was founded. In Philippians 2, we see these words:
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus...

Paul goes on to write about how Christ humbled Himself, even to the point of death, and how God exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name.  Effective service flows out of humility - our men and women in uniform have the opportunity to demonstrate their dedication to our country every single day; they are under the authority of their superiors, who are ultimately accountable to God, according to Romans 13.  And, ideally, our service members have the right to express their faith in Him, because so many have risked their lives to preserve what our Founders have granted.

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Jesus Himself taught the concept of self-sacrificial love, and on this Veteran's Day, we can take time to reflect on concepts of honor, sacrifice, bravery, and freedom, including freedom of religion.  In
John 15, Jesus said:
11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

On Veterans Day, we can remember the service and sacrifice of those who have bravely served our country, and recognize that there are certain challenges that those who have served in our military face, especially on the health front.  Fortunately, there is a health care system that is devoted to our veterans.  And, there are those that have recognized the struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and are offering help in that regard, even Christian ministries and support groups, like one you will find out about on today's Meeting House program.

Also, on this Veterans Day, in an effort that has been endorsed by some high-profile individuals who have served in our military and have been featured on film, there are free mobile health care services that are being provided by Medici and 2nd.MD, as Clint Phillips, the founder, related recently on the radio show.

The role of faith cannot be separated from our military, and I have reported periodically about challenges to faith being expressed and exalted in the military context, including the veteran's health care system.  There was a positive development earlier this year; CBN reported:

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced it has updated its policies "permitting religious literature, symbols and displays at VA facilities to protect religious liberty for veterans and families while ensuring inclusivity and non-discrimination."

The department's move aims to simplify and clarify the VA's policies on religious symbols, and spiritual and pastoral care, which have been interpreted in different ways at various VA facilities across the country in recent years, leading to much confusion.

The article quotes someone who has been a Meeting House guest multiple times, Mike Berry, who is director of military affairs at First Liberty. He said, "This new VA policy is a welcome breath of fresh air...The Supreme Court recently upheld the constitutionality of religious displays with historic roots such as those commonly found in VA facilities. We commend the VA for taking this necessary and positive action."

A Christianity Today article referred to that Supreme Court decision:

The announcement noted the Supreme Court’s June 20 decision, in which it permitted the so-called “Peace Cross,” a World War I monument in Bladensburg, Maryland, to remain in a traffic circle. The VA said the case “reaffirmed the important role religion plays in the lives of many Americans and its consistency with Constitutional principles.”

The policy revisions, announced July 3, come two months after a US Air Force veteran filed suit against the director of the Manchester (New Hampshire) VA Medical Center, seeking the removal of a Bible from a POW/MIA table at that facility.

But, that lawsuit is still in litigation. In fact, just a few weeks ago, FoxNews.com reported:

A lawsuit over a Bible on display at a memorial for POWs at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center can move forward, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

The ruling failed to end a months-long fight over a Bible display that prompted even Vice President Mike Pence to chime in.

The article goes on to say:

Judge Paul Barbadoro said in his decision not to toss the lawsuit that any case involving alleged religious freedom violation requires a “highly fact-specific analysis." There was also a legal debate over whether or not Chamberlain could claim "injury" over the Bible's presence since he himself is Christian.

Chamberlain is the veteran who filed the lawsuit, assisted by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.  The report notes that the Bible was "quietly removed," but then reinstated after complaints.  Fox also states, in this story released on Wednesday, September 25:

Vice President Pence sent a firm message to the Manchester VA hospital in remarks he made last month at The American Legion’s national convention in Indianapolis.

“You might’ve heard even today that there’s a lawsuit to remove a Bible that was carried in World War II from a Missing Man Table at a VA hospital in New Hampshire,” Pence said. “Let me be clear: under this administration, VA hospitals will not be religion-free zones.”

At the hearing on Wednesday, several veterans showed up at the hearing to show support for the VA – and the Bible's presence in it.

"The Bible on the Missing Man Table represents something that the actual POWs clung to to survive," said Quinn Morey of the Northeast POW/MIA Network.

Morey's group is one of several that maintains the memorial at the hospital with the VA's permission. He said Chamberlain is the first to complain about it.

Today is a great day to reflect on the contributions of those who have served in our military and to celebrate the role of faith, and specifically Christianity, in the lives of our servicemembers.  These are individuals who have chosen to serve a cause greater than themselves and reflect the words and the example of our Savior, who taught about and demonstrated a self-sacrificial love.

We can also consider that Biblically, we never lose our right and responsibility to live out and share our faith.  Constitutionally, as it's been said, people don't lose the right to live out their faith when they enter the workplace.  So, those who serve in our military should ideally have the freedom to live out their faith.

After all, our veterans have risked their lives to preserve the freedoms we have as Americans, which includes religious freedom.  When you hear of incidents in which these are not properly defended, it can be concerning, and we can appreciate those who regularly speak out for the freedom for someone to express his or her faith.