Rev. David Holwick ZJ Veterans Day
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
November 8, 2009
2 Samuel 23:14-17
THOSE WHO HAVE BORNE THE BATTLE
I. Veterans among us.
A. Many are from World War II.
1) Bill Trengove served in the 7th Fleet under Admiral Nimitz.
He saw the landings on Guam and the Philippines.
2) Howard Jacke saw some of the same battles, and witnessed
kamikazes attacking the fleet.
3) Bill Johnson was an Army medic in the 9th Infantry Division
in Germany.
4) Chiz Blewett was a Seabee in World War II and Korea.
B. Others represent more recent conflicts.
1) Mark Noyes operated a radio on a ship posted off North
Vietnam.
2) Tom Sillence served in Korea in the same period.
3) Tex Smith served on the aircraft carrier Essex.
4) John Schrum and Harold Hoffman served in Germany during the
cold war, and Jeff Salmon was in Panama.
5) Tom Salmon served in the National Guard at Morristown.
Is that when they built Fort Nonsense?
6) The only woman veteran from our church, Kathy Sloane Lamm,
served in Korea and Kuwait.
C. Some of our families have paid heavily.
1) Sam Mino's brother Dante (Dana) died when his plane was shot
down while flying the Hump route to China in World War II.
2) Carolyn Cocking's brother, Jere Baker, was shot down over
Japan and was a POW in horrible conditions. The
experience haunted him the rest of his life.
II. We can count our blessings.
A. The military does not consume our lives.
1) The vast majority of us have never served in the military.
2) And most of those who have served have only spent a
short period in the military.
3) In the days of the Bible, it would have been a constant
interruption in life.
B. Our wars have been elsewhere.
1) New Jersey has never been invaded in the history of our
church.
2) America itself has only been harmed superficially by
enemies.
3) War is something we read in a newspaper or see on TV.
C. A fading emphasis.
1) Because of the distance of war from us, and the passing of
the World War II generation, Veterans Day is fading.
III. Veterans Day is an uneasy holiday for churches.
A. Most churches do not observe it.
1) Memorial Day is enough - and even that one is often morphed
to include all our relatives who have died.
B. The problem is war.
1) Jesus said to turn the other cheek and to pray for our
enemies.
a) By honoring veterans, do we dishonor our Lord?
2) Not all wars are created equal.
a) World War II was a national effort against evil
dictatorships.
b) Most wars are something less than this, and a few of
them seem to be for mostly selfish reasons.
1> The Mexican War was criticized by Abraham Lincoln
for being a greedy land grab. U.S. Grant agreed.
2> Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan all have their
critics.
C. Patriotism must not be blind.
1) We have a great nation, but not a perfect one.
a) Patriots can criticize the way our country conducts
itself.
b) Dissent is not a sin.
2) Some people make the military almost into a cult, and this
is just as bad as neglecting them.
3) Christians always remember that they are citizens of two
countries - an earthly one, and a heavenly one.
IV. Our world remains a dangerous place.
A. Human hearts remain hardened by sin.
1) Progressive laws and governments cannot eliminate this,
but only reduce its effects.
2) War is human conflict writ large.
B. The Bible understands earthly nations will engage in war.
1) Romans 13 says that God has established earthly governments.
a) This does not mean government is divine.
1> It means God has set up the institution of
government to protect people.
b) Governments can use force (the sword). Rom 13:3-4
1> They use it is to punish evildoers.
2> Note that government is also supposed to commend
those who do what is right.
c) Therefore most Christians see a need for governments
to conduct war.
1> It is not a blanket approval for any war a nation
wants to wage.
2> But we recognize governments must enforce their
principles.
3> As Jesus said, there will be wars up until the end.
2) We must remember we are also citizens of another nation.
a) The Kingdom of God wages war, but differently.
1> Paul says our weapons are moral arguments.
2> The church should never use a literal sword (ie.,
physical weapon).
b) Note how Jesus handled his arrest. Luke 22:38
1> He tells his disciples their world will be a
dangerous place, and they should obtain swords.
A> They come up with two swords.
B> Jesus says, "Enough!"
2> What did he mean by this?
A> He must not have meant it literally, because
he rebuked them when they used swords at
his arrest.
B> He probably meant it ironically - swords are
not the issue at all.
3> "My kingdom is not of this world."
V. Values of a veteran even a church can uphold.
A. David's mighty men. 2 Samuel 23:14-17
1) King David was primarily a warrior.
a) He was very successful at it.
b) Because of the blood he shed, he was not allowed to
build the temple.
2) His best warriors were highly honored by him.
In one episode, he was hemmed in at his stronghold
while Philistines occupied his hometown of Bethlehem.
David said he was thirsty, and some of his men went
behind enemy lines to get him some water.
What did he do with it?
He poured it on the ground.
We would think that was pretty rude, but David is
actually converting it into an offering to God.
Rather than using his rank to get something they
cannot, he shares in their suffering.
B. We should emulate the highest qualities of soldiers.
1) Endurance.
a) Soldiers often live in deplorable conditions.
b) Several popular emails show American soldiers sleeping
in muddy holes, or hiking in dust storms.
c) They endure because they have to, and because their
comrades are in the same boat.
d) Paul in 2 Timothy 2:3 - "Endure hardship with us like
a good soldier of Christ Jesus."
2) Self-sacrifice.
a) Soldiers are willing to suffer so their army can
achieve victory.
b) Often they will risk their own life to save the life
of their buddies.
1> This was even displayed in the Fort Hood massacre
this week.
c) Jesus tells us that there is no greater love than
laying down your life for a friend. John 15:13
1> He should know - that's exactly what he did.
3) Courage.
a) David's men disregarded their own safety to provide for
their leader.
b) Other specific exploits of his bravest men are listed
in this chapter.
c) Such bravery is downplayed these days.
1> It seems that honoring one soldier is considered
an insult to the others.
2> Soldiers themselves usually don't see it that way.
C. It is interesting that soldiers are a metaphor for Christians.
1) Jesus says their obedience to a chain of command is
similar to the way we should obey God.
2) Paul often describes himself as a soldier of Christ.
3) And the Bible describes our struggles with Satan as
spiritual warfare.
4) At a recent Roxbury Clergy Council meeting, another pastor
in town said he thought it was inappropriate to sing
"Onward Christians Soldiers" in church.
a) I disagree - it doesn't promote militarism, but a
committed Christianity.
VI. Honor the greatest veteran of all.
A. Jesus was more than "a lamb meek and mild." Revelation 19:11
1) The Book of Revelation describes him as a conquering
general with a vast army under his command.
2) The forces of evil don't surrender to him - they are
destroyed.
B. Have you enlisted in his army?
1) His is an all-volunteer army.
2) You must make a conscious commitment to his leadership,
and march with him the rest of your life.
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This sermon draws some of its ideas from “Veterans Day Reflections” by
Rev. John D. Telgren of the church of Christ in Leavenworth, Kansas.
(Kerux sermon #27427)
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