Veteran’s Day, the Church and the Secular World.
Each week I ask the Lord what He wants me to write about in my Friday blog post. This week I started asking Him that question right after last Friday’s post, which happened to be the day after Veteran’s Day. I heard very clearly in my mind and in my spirit that He wanted me to write about Veteran’s Day. My initial reaction was “what in the world would you want me to say about Veteran’s Day”? I continued to ask that question all week and now it’s Thursday night before the Friday post. Once again I asked Him “are You sure You want me to write about Veteran’s Day?” Yes!
So… here I am at my computer saying “tell me what to say and I’ll type it”. At this point in time I haven’t the foggiest idea where He is taking me. I’m curious, as I’m sure you are, about where He is leading me. The remainder of this post will be about what comes to my mind as I wait for words and direction from the Lord.
We have heard about and read about veterans as far back as we can remember, all the way back to ancient Israel. I’m sure we have all heard about David the shepherd boy and Goliath the giant.
1 Samuel 17:45-50 (NIV)
47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell, face down on the ground. 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
David is the first major veteran we know about and is quoted as saying, “the battle is the LORD’s”. David was later honored to become King of Israel. I personally believe that as we fight in today’s warfare of Good against Evil, the battle still belongs to the Lord! At this point, the Lord asked me to reflect on how veterans are being honored today. In America we have one day a year set aside to honor veterans. As a veteran myself, I appreciate the thanks I receive for my military service. However, the Lord asked me to look a little deeper into what I observed on Veteran’s Day this year.
Veteran’s Day morning, Shirley and I attended a veteran’s breakfast at the Hy Vee grocery store on our side of town. They were serving breakfast free to veterans and their entire families… countless hundreds of people! To say it was a fabulous breakfast would not come close to how amazing it was! (All you wanted of: Two kinds of eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits & gravy, waffles, cinnamon rolls, donuts, orange juice, coffee and more.) I could go on and on but I’m sure you get the picture. ($$$$$ for Hy Vee and that’s just one store) Later in the day I received a free full meal from Applebee’s restaurant along with a $5 off coupon towards my next meal. I also received a coupon for a complete meal at Freddy’s to be used anytime in November. Everyone was so extremely gracious; and we felt very, very honored! This happens all over this great country of ours! Thank you to all the establishments who provide meals and services on Veteran’s Day!
So Lord, what is your reason for asking me to write about this? He answered by telling me to contrast how the secular world honors veterans, who have devoted years of their lives to keeping America free, compared to how the church at large honors veterans. It is my observation, after more than 70 years in and around various churches, that, by far, the most common method of showing honor to veterans is as follows: We appreciate our veterans, and if you have served in any branch of service please stand so we can honor you. (applause) I’m sure that there are churches that show honor to veterans in more tangible ways; however, I believe that it’s not the most common. Why do I believe that, you ask? Why else would the Lord require me to shine His light on this short-coming by His body, the church?
I have asked myself several times how I feel about writing this post. As a veteran myself, I feel a little embarrassed to even be talking about this subject. It’s not a great necessity of mine to receive a free meal or require a pat on the back. Although it is appreciated, it’s not that high on my list of needs. Evidently, it is a big deal to the Lord, however, because He did asked me to write this! Perhaps we as the church need to ask the Lord what He has in mind, and maybe we can do better for Veteran’s Day next year.
After all… it is God and Me (WE) in Twenty-Three (2023)!
Romans 13:7 (ESV)
7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.