 Our Constitution is a God-ordained document, and most who defend its
principles of government see their duty as sacred. Their primary
allegiance, however, is to the God who created and established all
we seek to defend. That's the flag we really wave.I was
privileged to serve as a Marine officer for eight years. Marines
celebrate the founding of our beloved Corps -- Nov. 10, 1775 -- the
day before everyone else celebrates. That birthday predates the
signing of the Declaration of Independence.
We cherish each birthday, remembering that many times over our
long and illustrious history, the Corps has faced calls for
disbandment. Marines just kept reinventing themselves, getting
leaner and faster, and never shirking the call to be "last to know,
first to go."
No one in his right mind wants to go to war. We all desire peace,
but we must remember how elusive it is. Warfare is sometimes
necessary to fend off the evil intentions of the despotic,
imperialistic elements of the world. Ever since the entry of sin
into the world, violence has walked among us. Our dual nature causes
us even to war within ourselves. Yet, it is our "better angels" that
we ask our military men and women to employ. And most do.
That selfless spirit drove and protected our young nation, even
when torn by violent civil war, and I pray it drives us still today.
In fact, I was reminded recently that Thomas Aquinas in his "Summa
Theologica" equated just war to a form of charity as an expression
of love for God and our neighbor.
I believe Jesus meant it when he said we could expect "wars and
rumors of wars" (Matt. 24:6) as we await his second coming. Still,
the prophecies that preceded the advent of the Christchild into the
world spoke of him as the Prince of Peace, among other epithets. His
own people, for the most part, did not recognize him as Messiah,
since he did not come making war to free them from their oppressors.
The freedom he represented was of another kind.
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 For me, the most poignant scene in all the Bible takes place just
prior to Jesus' "Olivet Discourse" to his disciples and his
prophetic statements referring to the end times. It occurs sometime
after his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where he knew he would
soon die. Standing on a hill overlooking the city, Jesus lamented
over his own people who had rejected him: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How
often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen
gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling" (Matt.
23:37).
Many have been unwilling to be reconciled to God through his Son
and have figuratively stoned the "prophets" who have spoken the
words of life to them. Too many in the world cry peace but still
reject it. So we continue to send our military forces into harm's
way when we perceive a threat to our fragile peaceful coexistence.
We do the same with our missionaries. That will not change until the
Prince of Peace returns to establish his kingdom here on earth.
Above all, that Prince of Peace is a gentleman who patiently
offers the gift of reconciliation but never forces us to accept it.
Fickle mankind chooses war when we could have peace. I salute those
who understand that, yet put on their armor without hesitation and
go into battle, both physically and spiritually, with a banner of
hope.
To them I say, "Semper Fidelis!"
[Text from file received from
Debbie Thurman]
Debbie Thurman is an award-winning columnist and author who writes
from Monroe, Va. Her e-mail address is
debbie@debbiethurman.com.
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