Jesus said: “Take up your SWORD and follow me?” (Army Chaplain Propaganda)

Last updated on: February 6, 2013 at 4:20 pm by Kurt Willems

Jesus said: “Take up your SWORD and follow me?” (Army Chaplain Propaganda) 2013-02-06T16:20:05-08:00 Kurt Willems

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Do you remember that wonderful verse in the Gospel of 2nd Hesitations? You know the one in chapter 9 verse 23 — “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their SWORD daily and follow me.”[1] Here is a way to literally apply that verse…

U.S. Army Chaplains serve both God and country by bringing their unique gifts with which they are endowed by God, to the Soldiers of our nation in the broad, challenging, diverse, and ever changing environment of the Army. While the benefits and pay of an Army Chaplain are often much better than what a minister normally receives, the requirements and stakes are much higher! Army Chaplains are our nation’s Soldiers who minister to our nation’s sons and daughters, and their families. Like any Soldier, they must endure the hardships, separations, and deprivations of those whom they serve. Like any Minister, they must provide dynamic and genuine ministry with a shepherd’s heart. Our nation’s sons and daughters need qualified, committed, and called men and women to serve as spiritual leaders to them in the fulfillment of their duty. Will you consider the call? The need has never been greater, the experience never so rich. Qualified and sent by their religious bodies, trained by the U.S. Army, and led by the God that they serve, Army Chaplains are expected to exercise dynamic and influential spiritual leadership, without violating their faith or conscience. Army Chaplains are the ‘soul and conscience’ of our nation’s Army. Whether leading worship, patrolling the motor pool, or visiting the hospital, Army Chaplains are always at the frontline of the Soldiers’ life. Additionally, Army Chaplains serve on a Commander’s special staff in order to ensure that their spiritual gifts and leadership are integrated in the daily exercise of command decisions. The Army has a place for you if you have a place in your heart for Soldiers. We have both full-time and part-time positions. Many of these positions are right in your own backyard. We even have a place for you if you’re a ministerial student. Explore the site. Talk with an Army Chaplain. Your nation needs you. Consider the Call!

http://www.goarmy.com/chaplain.html

There is a word that comes to mind after reading this advertisement for the recruitment of the Army chaplain: Constantine. Now, before I go on, I want to make something clear. I am not judging those who feel that this is a route that they can take to serve God. Soldiers need Jesus and his grace just like all of us. I suppose that if there were a way to be a full-blown advocate of nonviolence and therefore, anti-war; that I could imagine being a pastor for the Army. In a very real sense, the Army could be one of the greatest missionary endeavors ever undertaken as one attempts to expose the propaganda of the US Empire, releasing good people from the bondage of violence and acting contrary to the way of Jesus.

And think of the wonderful perks of such a job… “benefits and pay of an Army Chaplain are often better than a minister normally receives;” you get to be considered as one of “our nation’s Soldiers;” you get to “endure the hardships, separations, and deprivations of those” who are in the Army; and best of all, you get to be “trained by the U.S. Army”!!!!! Oh, did I mention the opportunity to serve two masters! As the first line of the advertisement proclaims: “U.S. Army Chaplains serve both God and country…” Okay, now I have offended some, and for this I am sorry. So, what’s my deal?

My deal is: I am convinced that the church of Jesus Christ, a movement of nonviolence in the shadow of the second greatest empire in history (Rome), was intentionally subversive towards power for the first three hundred years of the her existence. I am convinced that us Americans have bought into the lie of common sense rather than the foolishness of the Gospel of peace. I am convinced that the idea of peace through the sword led to Rome’s eventual demise as it will every nation. I am convinced that no nation is “Christian.” I am convinced that a better way forward for the people of God in the Empire is possible. May we be the people who show our culture that the only Empire worthy of giving our lives to is the upside-down kingdom of God! May we choose to pick up Rome’s instrument of execution reserved for insurrectionists – the cross. Remember: “Your nation needs you!”[2]

[1] For actual passage see Luke 9.23!

[2] Again, allow me to state how much I respect people who disagree with me on issues of violence and peace. I know many “just war” folks who follow the other teachings of Jesus much better than I do…

Jesus and nationalism

Previous Post

November 29, 2010

Dear Reader... First Post At a New Site!

Next Post

December 1, 2010 All Out War: Investigating Spiritual Warfare, part 1

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category (Series) All Out War-Spiritual Warfare (Series) Church Plant Journal (Series) Dear Reader... (Series) Earthquakes...Signs of the Times? (Series) Entering the... Conversation (Series) Evangelical Culture Myths (Series) Everything is Meaningless [Pete Enns] (Series) Evolving Evangelicalism (Series) Hell Yes. Hell No! Who Cares? (Series) Hidden Worldviews (Series) If Evolution is Right, what about Adam? (Series) in less than 300 words (Series) Jesus and Nationalism (Series) Liberating Women for Ministry? (Series) Life-Changing Books (Series) Markers of Church Plant Movement (Series) Nonviolence 101 (Series) Philemon - Reconciliation (Series) Quote to Ponder (Series) Red Letter Dialogues (Series) Resource of the Week (SERIES) Revelation Sermons (Series) Share Something Sundays (Series) Simplicity in the Burbs: $2 a day (Series) The Binding of God [Open Theism] (Series) The Creed: Anabaptist Reflections (Series) Values for Church Leadership (Series) Video to Ponder Anabaptism Animal Advocacy Books Church Ministry Church Planting Community Culture Eschatology Eucharist Evangelical Reject Evolution Fundamentalism Greek Greg Boyd Guest Contributors Hell Holy Spirit Israel/Palestine Kingdom of God Lent Missional N. T. Wright Nationalism New Creation Nonviolence Open Mic Open Theism Parenting Passover Paul Philemon Podcast Politics Restorative Justice Revelation (the book of) Rob Bell Ron Martoia Sermon Shane Claiborne Social Justice Speaking Engagement Spiritual Warfare Spirituality Temple Theology Tim Geddert Tribulation Uncategorized universalism Video Blog Women in Ministry Worship Music Youth Ministry

Select a Month August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 October 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 December 2016 October 2016 August 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who interpreted dreams for a Pharaoh and a baker?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Aaron Joseph Daniel Moses

Support this
Column