(Article for
publication week of 10-9-2014 AD)
"When Jesus
heard it, He marveled, and said to them that followed, 'verily I say unto you,
I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel' " (Matthew 8: 10). We
have been considering the Roman centurion as an example of "great faith."
The whole account is found in Matthew 8:5-13, and Luke also records this
incident in Luke 7:1-10. We noted in the two previous articles of the Narrow
Way that this man's faith was marked by humility and complete confidence and
trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. We also noted that this faith was found in an
unlikely and surprising character, a
Gentile.
Now, let us note
well that this faith is also surprising in that it is found in a soldier. Our
Lord found greater faith in this Gentile Roman than He did in the Israel of His
day, including (apparently) His Own disciples. This was surprising, but equally surprising that it
would be found in a professional military man. Saving faith is always a rare
thing (Matthew 7:13-14), but it is especially rare in the military. Soldiers
are more noted for their drunkenness, profanity, gambling and whore-mongering
than for faith in Christ and a holy life. There are of course notable
exceptions, like Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson who were men
noted for piety and led their men in the worship of Christ as well as in
battle. Another notable exception would be Oliver Cromwell who led the
Parliamentarian Army in the English Civil War. The Roman Centurion is an
example of God's sovereign grace that often surprises us. God sometimes saves
the most unlikely characters (in our eyes at least).
Our lesson is a
good place to point out that our Lord never commanded us to be pacifists. If it
were a sin to be a soldier, this would have been a good place for our Lord to
rebuke the centurion and command him to resign his commission. By our Lord's
silence concerning the man's earthly station, He gives His approbation of men
serving in the military. Not only was our Lord silent regarding the man being a
soldier, but He commended him for his faith which was "great."
Another example of a military man who was saved by grace and became a Christian
was Cornelius in Acts 10. Peter baptised him, but did not command him to seek
to get out of the Roman army. Many other scriptures (in both Testaments) and
examples of Godly men who were warriors could be cited, along with the text
before us show us that the scriptures do not require pacifism.
But, I must also
point out that while the military may be a lawful calling, it is a dangerous
one. I mean it is dangerous spiritually, for the military life exposes a man to
many temptations. Our Lord taught us to pray for deliverance from temptation,
not to run headlong into it. It is one thing to join the army when your home is
invaded as our Southern Forefathers did, but it is quite another to join the
army as a mercenary to fight in unjust, unconstitutional, undeclared wars on
other continents. When I have been asked , I have advised and urged the young
men with whom I have been associated to stay out of the military. And I will
continue so to do. Being in the military is a spiritually dangerous life
(though lawful) in the best of situations. But the fact is that the US military
has not been engaged in a lawful war (at least) since the Second World War.
That was the last war that was constitutionally declared and the politicians
who were and are active and passive in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of
Americans and innocent civilians abroad will give an account at the Day of
Judgment to receive in their bodies the just recompense of their reward. I hope
the congressman from this district is reading.
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