Think,
Christian
by
Laurence
M. Vance
by Laurence M. Vance
"And
so to every sailor, soldier, airman, and marine who is involved
in this mission, let me say you’re doing God’s work."
~ George H. W. Bush, December 1992
"And
to those watching tonight who are considering a military career,
there is no higher calling than service in our Armed Forces."
~
George W. Bush, June 2005
Even
though the war in Iraq is a
miserable reality, even though the number
of dead American soldiers is approaching
the 1,800 mark, even though more prisoner
abuse scandals are unfolding, even though
the
number of insurgents is growing, and even
though the
war on terrorism is creating
more terrorists, still Christians are defending
Bush, the war, and the military.
No
matter how anti-Christian Bush’s actions are, some Christians continue
to defend him because he professes to be a Christian. It doesn’t
matter how often the lies that got us into the war in Iraq are exposed,
many Christians still support this war – they are just upset about
the manner in which it has been fought. But the worst thing is that
no matter what their opinion of Bush (or any president) or his war
(or any war), most Christians persist in their holy sacrosanct reverence
for the military.
In
fact, it appears that support for the military among Christians
is actually growing. The troops are now the object of pity. Isn’t
it terrible that they
don’t get to see their families for weeks
and months on end? Isn’t it disgraceful that
they lack the armor they need for protection.
Isn’t it tragic that they
might suffer from psychological health issues
after they return from Iraq? And, horror of horrors, they
are facing injury or death every day as
they fight for our freedoms.
Never
mind that every soldier in Iraq joined the military voluntarily.
Never mind that every member of the Guard and Reserve knew that
he might be called to active duty. Never mind that no American soldier
has any business in Iraq. Never mind that every soldier who harbors
doubts about the wisdom of the U.S. military being in Iraq had a
hundred years of American foreign interventions to learn from. Never
mind that every soldier who participates in U.S. wars and interventions
is ignoring the wisdom of the Founding Fathers. Never mind that
the military does very little to actually defend the United States.
Just
never mind. Support the troops, defend the troops, pray for the
troops, write to the troops, send things to the troops, applaud
the troops, make apologies for the troops, worship the troops – just
never mind where they are, how they were sent there, what they are
doing there, and when they are leaving.
Many
Christians have practically elevated military "service"
to the level of the Christian ministry. Both presidents named George
Bush have done so, as the above quotations show. Christian defenders
of the military ought to pay more attention to the words of those
who have been in the military instead of disqualifying me from criticizing
the military because I have never "served."
The
following comments about life in the military are from some of my
readers. Although the Bible says that "in the mouth of two
or three witnesses shall every word be established" (2 Corinthians
13:1), I present here four "witnesses."
My
first witness is R. M., an Army veteran from Massachusetts:
I
remember my Vietnam "era" service. Pornography (in the
PX) and Prostitution (downtown Leesville) were readily available
at Fort Polk. Sometimes the drugs were so pervasive in the billets
that I thought we might draw anti-aircraft fire, the place got
so high. Alcohol abuse? No comment necessary. Kipling said it
best: "Men who live in barracks are never plaster saints."
My
second witness is J. O., a Marine Corps veteran from Colorado:
I
just finished reading "God Bless our Troops?" and I
agree 100%. I served from 89–93 USMC infantry along with
growing up a military dependent and I know many of those Christians
who are just as you described. It boggles my mind to hear their
comments regarding the military especially since most admit that
they have not served nor been a dependent at any point in their
lives. They make the military especially the Marines and Army
infantry MOS’s specifically out to be, well, almost like King
Arthur’s Knights in shining armor or something. I am left scratching
my head after hearing their descriptions and saying: "But
that’s not how it is." The unit I was in along with men from
other units we mainly went out drinking, looking for sex, and
the occasional fight at each liberty call we got. That was just
fun for us.
I
try to tell these Christians some of my past experiences but they
don’t want to hear it. I even went so far as to show some uncut
raw Reuters footage of Marines in action in Iraq that I found,
cussing and all. They either didn’t want to see it or were offended
by the cussing or something. As they are walking away I say, "Why
are you offended? Its just the way they talk is all. Its like
that in peacetime as well." On another occasion I’ll sit
there laughing at one marine’s joke on a video (crude and sexual)
and the Christians get really offended. Once again I say that’s
just the sense of humor besides its funny as hell!
I
just don’t understand Christians like Jerry Falwell for example.
I am still left scratching my head because I have never in my
life experienced the type of "military" that they describe
or envision.
My
third witness is L. G., an Army veteran from South Dakota:
I
just read your piece from today’s Lew Rockwell. Well put. I find
it hard to believe that so many nominal ‘Christians’ think that
the military is some kind of enclave of virtue. I was in the Army
for 4 years ('84–'88). Let us forget, for a moment, that
the purpose of the military is to kill and destroy property –
as if that is not bad enough. How does the military hold up when
it comes to instilling what Christians call "values"?
Well, I was shocked at the pervasiveness of drunkenness and sexual
immorality among my fellow soldiers. A half-hearted review of
the divorce and unwed pregnancy statistics of military personnel
would give one an outline for a book on military culture. Go to
a VA hospital and see which department is the busiest – it
will be the alcohol and drug treatment program. Military culture
is rotten to the core (despite the clean-shaven, spit-shined façade),
and it corrupts those who enter therein.
My
fourth witness is T. S., a Navy veteran from Florida:
As
a Christian, I made a foolish decision to enlist in the United
States Navy. I served from 1990 to 1994. At the age of 18 I entered
boot camp. I was placed in a company of 80 men. Never did I meet
one professing Christian. It was either mold to the ways of the
others or be a cast out. The military has very few standards when
it comes to sexual perversion, filthy communication, or alcohol
abuse. The military does have some strict standards when it comes
to drug abuse, but that did not stop two Marines and I from obtaining
a large sum of hashish in Spain. Many other Marines and Sailors
purchased drugs that were brought and used upon the ship. Pornography
and sexual perversion is out of control within the United States
Military. Many a young man was first introduced to pornography
within the military. God only knows the number of innocent minds
that have been perverted. I can remember walking into a break
room full of sailors on my ship and there on the television I
saw hard-core pornography. I still suffer from some of the things
these eyes saw in the Navy. I also recall the military sponsoring
strippers at the club on base.
I
also became a drinker of alcohol within the military. It was easy
to obtain alcohol on the Little Creek Amphibious Base, either
from the club or from beer vending machines. The sale and drinking
of alcohol is not discouraged but encouraged by many within the
ranks of the United States Military. I can remember coming back
from the Persian Gulf in 1991. Our ship had not seen a port of
call in months. Our only stop before crossing back over the Atlantic
was in Rota, Spain. Now, what do you think was on the mind of
every sailor that day? I can tell you for I was there. Every sailor
was either drunk, stoned, or seeking sex through one of the numerous
prostitutes available at a very cheap price.
My
conclusion is this: If Christians desire their son or daughter
to live by Christian values, they should not allow them to join
the United States Military. Many Christians will not allow their
children to attend public schools, but then allow them to join
an evil, wicked, and murderous United States Military.
 Think,
Christian. The presence or absence of the Christian values of these
witnesses is irrelevant. This is eyewitness testimony. So aside
from all that is wrong with U.S. foreign policy, wars, and interventions,
why would a Christian even think of joining the military or reenlisting
if he had the misfortune of already being in it?
Because
of September 11th? Not even Bush uses that excuse anymore.
Because of money for college? "The love of money is the root
of all evil" (1 Timothy 6:10). Because of family tradition?
Some families have a tradition of gluttony and drunkenness. Because
of the war on terrorism? Our actions are making more terrorists.
Because the military is fighting for our freedoms? Our freedoms
are fast disappearing. Because you have to go where they are to
"win them to Christ"? "It is never right to do wrong
in order to get a chance to do right" (Bob Jones Sr., Chapel
Sayings). Because of foreign tyrants? John
Quincy Adams said that America "goes not abroad seeking monsters
to destroy." Because the military is defending the country?
The military is defending a lot of countries, but certainly not
the United States. Because there is no higher calling than military
service? Don’t be deceived.
 What,
then, is a Christian, or anyone else for that matter, to do? How
about mowing lawns, trimming trees, or making hamburgers? A needy
service is performed, it doesn’t cost the taxpayers a dime, and
no one gets killed. Think, Christian.
June
21, 2005
Laurence
M. Vance [send him mail]
is a freelance writer and an adjunct instructor in accounting and
economics at Pensacola Junior College in Pensacola, FL. His new
book is Christianity
and War and Other Essays Against the Warfare State. Visit
his website.
Copyright
© 2005 LewRockwell.com
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M. Vance Archives
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