As the days countdown to my son’s pending deployment, I cannot help but be touched by the fact that some people might consider him a monster—and they are not enemy combatants!  There are influential voices, guiding policy makers on religious tolerance within the military, who characterize Christians as “monsters who terrorize their fellow Americans by forcing their weaponized and twisted version of Christianity upon their helpless subordinates in our nation’s armed forces.” (Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation).

Unfortunately, some people consider Christians, serving in the military and who share their faith, to be proselytizing, which would position them for court martial—some are comparing proselytizing (which is a vague, “according to whose definition?” term) to sexual assault.

I have struggled writing this blog—I desire to write a scripture and fact based blog, but in reality this issue goes deep within my heart; I cannot type these things without my emotions being involved, so I will share my heart.

My children, all three of them are committed Christians—their faith defines their morality, their behavior, their identity and everything about the way they live.  They did not come by their Christian faith easily—it was a journey of discovery and overcoming painful life situations, so when they “share their faith”, it comes not only from knowledge, but life and heart experience. …and that is what witnessing consists of – giving a first-hand account of something that has happened in their lives.  Two of my children also happen to be active duty military.

I think it is interesting that Mr. Weinstein uses the word “terrorize” to characterize Christianity—the inference equates Christians with radical jihadists, which evokes the all too fresh pictures of the recent bombings in Massachusetts.  Now, I admit some, who claim to be Christians but do not represent Jesus in the world, have taken some radical actions, but they truly are the exceptions.  I think the same efforts that are going into educating people that not all Muslims are terrorists should go into enlightening those same educators that not all Christians terrorize their subordinates or coworkers just because they share what gives them hope.

…and if you are conscious at all of the news, you realize that active duty military and veterans face some very daunting obstacles like PTSD, depression and suicide, limited resources, delayed benefits, homelessness, broken relationships and broken homes just to name a few.  And who of those people, broken by war and duty does not need hope?  Who does not need compassion and a helping hand?  While people are debating the role and the voice of Christians in the military, there are Christians and Christian organizations reaching out to offer help, support, compassion and understanding.

The Holy Spirit graciously brought to my mind two Biblical points of reference for me.  The first is the story of Esther, a young woman who God put in a position of influence to make a difference for her people.  I believe that, as long as God has had a people of His own, there has been an enemy who desires to quiet their voices and destroy their lives.  Things have not changed!  It is through wisdom and risk taking, borne of the Holy Spirit and prayer, that governments, people, and policies can be changed.  When we settle into fear, the enemy wins, when we take action through faith, prayer, and seeking God for ways to help the ones who serve (or have served) our country, the enemy is defeated.

The other thing that hit me with a sense of poignancy is that my son does not have to leave this continent to go to war—everyone who is a Christian is in a battle, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

My prayer is that Jesus be exalted, and His people united through the Holy Spirit, that our brave, Christian service men and women will not be intimidated by any enemy—seen or unseen—and that they experience the love and support of other believers.