Remembering the Past

Next Monday, we will take some time to honor and remember those who have dedicated their lives in service to our country. We can consider what the Bible says about the notion of self-sacrifice and a Savior who gave it all for us. Philippians 2 states:
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
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.

Even though the data is over five years old, I think it can still illustrate for us the rich heritage of faith in the U.S. military.  A First Liberty article stated at the time: "According to a...study conducted by the Congressional Research Service, approximately 73% of all military service members identify as people of faith, compared to less than 3% percent who are atheist or agnostic. Religious diversity in the military is broadly representative of the U.S. population, with nearly 70% of active duty military personnel who consider themselves to be Christian."

The article added that:

Similarly, faith is also overwhelmingly present among veterans. According to an internal report conducted in 2015 by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, over 18 million of nearly 20 million veterans in America (more than 90%) identify as being religious, with less than 6% reporting that they do not belong to a particular faith group or they don’t know their religious affiliation.

The Christian legal organization noted:

In all, faith is in the DNA of America’s military, and it is it imperative that we continue to protect our service members’ and our veterans’ constitutional rights, especially their freedom to live according to their religious beliefs.

Faith has played a central role since our nation’s inception, back to the founding era when George Washington led the Continental Army in the fight for independence. Today, over 70% of the men and women who serve in uniform continue to draw strength, courage and inspiration from their faith as they fight for the rights and freedoms that we cherish so dearly.

But, as a more recent article on First Liberty's website states, there are monuments that can remind us of our rich freedoms and there have been attempts to remove some of those monuments because of the faith element.  The article says:

The 40-foot Bladensburg Peace Cross in Maryland commemorates 49 brave soldiers of Prince George’s County who lost their lives in World War I. But since it’s a religious symbol on public land, intolerant enemies of faith insisted it be taken down. One judge even suggested having the horizontal arms of the cross sawed off so it would no longer represent the Christian faith.

Thanks to First Liberty’s victory at the Supreme Court in 2019, this beloved monument’s historical significance was officially recognized, and the Court ruled it must be allowed to remain exactly where it stands.

For our work defending the Bladensburg Peace Cross at the Supreme Court, along with other cases including the Mojave Desert Memorial Cross and the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial, the American Legion bestowed on First Liberty its prestigious Distinguished Service Medal.

First Liberty Senior Counsel Danielle Runyan stated: “The history of our nation is not simply relegated to history books but can be found all around us in monuments, displays, and memorials capturing important events that symbolize, honor, and celebrate the fabric of our American heritage. Without these visual reminders, our ability to meaningfully understand and appreciate historical events and important moments since our nation’s founding would be lost and our patriotism diminished.”

I believe that the principles of the Christian faith and the heritage of our nation are intertwined. And, our military has been established and dispatched to defend the rights given to our citizens by Almighty God; rights that were identified in the Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution. In an age in which we see our freedoms of speech and religion under siege, we can continue to practice those freedoms and freely share the truth of God's Word.

There is a connection in mindset regarding our military. Those who serve understand the power of self-sacrifice on behalf of others, a principle that Jesus stated when He said in John 15, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."  And, we can also remember those who contribute to keeping the flame of faith alive in our military - our chaplains, including our Christian chaplains who are devoted to teaching and sharing the presence and principles of God to people who are devoted to service.