Today is the Sunday before Veterans Day, and Olney Baptist Church pays tribute today to our veterans in a special ceremony at noon. This is something we’ve done now for three years, and it’s a beautiful and appropriate thing our humble little church does for our community, especially the veterans in our community.
I just want to take a moment and say a few words from my heart about our veterans.
I grew up in a family of veterans. My father served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. He was an electronics technician on a destroyer – the USS Robison. See the pic above. That was his ship. My maternal grandfather was in the Army during World War II. A decorated hero, he earned two Silver Stars, a Purple Heart, and a various other decorations. I also have several uncles and cousins who served at one time or another in our armed forces. One of my uncles was on a troop transport that got torpedoed in the Pacific. He clung to a life raft until rescued.
Being patriotic and being grateful for our veterans was (for me growing up) as natural as breathing.
It is sad that today, patriotism is on the decline. And many Americans have insufficient gratitude for those who sacrificed so much for their freedom.
It is also frustrating that many churchgoing Christians recoil at any patriotic sentiments being expressed in church. Don’t get me wrong. If we’re talking about partisan politics, I agree with those Christians who have reservations. I don’t believe political partisanship belongs in the pulpit. But patrotic gratitude is different.
There is nothing wrong with churches in various parts of the world honoring the country in which they worship, and that includes expressing gratitude for the veterans who helped give them the freedoms and blessings they enjoy. In fact, doing so is consistent with what Peter says…
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. (I Peter 2:17, KJV)
In the ancient world, the “king” or emperor was essentially synonomous with the state. The king was the state. So when Jesus said to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, He wasn’t talking about Tiberius (the Roman emperor at the time) simply as an individual, but as the embodiment of the Roman Empire itself. When Peter says to honor the king, he doesn’t simply mean Nero (the Roman emperor at the time of Peter’s writing) but Rome itself. The Empire overall.
And that was controversial to some. Many in Jesus’ day and Peter’s day resented Roman rule.
It’s interesting but perhaps not surprising that such resistance and resentment exists today, even in the United States. I hope such is not the case with you, because…for all its faults…the United States of America has done far more good than harm. And the blessings of this country far exceed its burdens.
So, thank you, Veterans! I’m grateful for the United States. I’m grateful for you. God bless you.
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