Memorial Day: Combat Boots and the Cross

This Sunday I walked into the sanctuary of Mt. Bethel to find a rather unexpected "altar"ation of the altar. In honor of Memorial Day, one of the congregants had obtained a pair of battle-worn U.S. Army issue combat boots. They were laced up with American flag ornaments in between laces and tongue. The cross, the big Bible, the two tall white candles, and two combat boots, with American flags to accent it. This was a substantial symbolic contrast of two very different kingdoms, founded on two very different visions: divisions and violence, and unity and peace. Rather than type a lengthy post of my reflections on this, I'd rather just leave a few bullet points and then if anyone wants to talk further that is always fine with me.

1) It struck me that this problem is very real for those of the lower classes. While academics and liberals may scoff at war, the Army provides a story, an identity, a history, and a family to many people who would otherwise not have many opportunities (by academics and liberals I do not mean the great majority of our professors at the Div School, in fact their work is exactly the type of scholarship which has enabled the church to recognize the moral challenge of warfare). The Church can only advocate peace if we can prove ourselves to be a people capable of providing those same people with a story, identity, history, and family centered on the peaceable kingdom of Jesus Christ in order to replace the very effective story provided for soldiers by the Army. True pacifism has to be an active pacifism which organizes its members for the war of dying to self and loving ours enemies which will take every bit of energy and discipline, ultimately even requiring us to lay down our own lives. The Army turns out, not to be morally vacuous or evil at all. The Army provides a very substantial positive assertion of morality, which rivals that of the Church. The challenge facing the church today is that the Army seems more capable of forming moral bearers of its narrative than the church. The issue is the narrative that the morality is rooted in. The Army does a good job instilling a moral story into its members--the problem is that strong morals which grow out of a violent and divisive story create strong positive moral institutions which are characterized by the inability to break out of the violence which undergirds their story. (If my distracted ramblings don't make sense here, I'd recommend some of the Hauerwas books on the bookshelf above and also a book called War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning).

1a. It strikes me that in light of the Armed Forces ability to cast a positive moral vision of problematic violence through events like Memorial Day, just doing nothing is not an option for the Church. Memorial Day should be an opportunity not to applaud the Armed Forces obviously, however, neither is it appropriate to sit on the sidelines and say nothing. This is an opportunity for the Church to present its witness. There are two potential pitfalls to avoid for the church on a day like today: A. Idolatry--when the Church falls captive to the worship of the state. However and furthermore, B. Quietism--when the Church rolls over and says nothing, implicitly accepting its role as a 'private' institution with no bearing on the 'public' issues of violence, aggression, etc.

2. By way of contrast to a cross that is embraced by the carriers of violence, nationalism, and division, I was assigned to write and deliver the prayer's of the people for the service. Here was my prayer, which hopefully witnessed to a different reality in which humans do not need to kill one another to construct meaning for their lives:

A Prayer for Trinity Sunday

Almighty and everlasting God,

you have given us grace,


by the confession of a true faith, 


to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity,


and in the power of your divine Majesty


to worship this Unity:


Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship,


and bring us at last


to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father;


who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign,


one God, for ever and ever

Lord God, we pray for the universal church, gathering together in worship around the world today, from every tribe, tongue, and nation. We pray, Holy Spirit, that you would enable us to be a people capable of witnessing to the truth and peace of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Overcome the divisions that continually grow up in our midst that we may glorify the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by building up the unity of the global church.

Lord God, we also ask for your sovereign action in ruling over the nations of this world. Protect the innocent and let your justice roll down over the whole earth.

We pray for those this morning around the world who are suffering and in need. We pray that you would come to their aid powerfully and quickly. We also pray that you would use us as your tools to work as representatives of you in this painful and broken world.

Lastly Lord, we pray for your powerful action here among us at Mt. Bethel. We lift up to you our special concerns for our family, friends, and neighbors. Holy Spirit come and fill this place, remind us that we are the family of God. Strengthen us in this time of transition and bless this church with your peace as we continue on this journey of discipleship.

Lord God, we praise you for the free gift of love that you have given to humanity, which flows out of your glorious and mysterious Trinitarian life. Bring this gift of love to its climax soon, we pray, in the coming of our Lord Jesus. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.