“For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.” Romans 13:4
November 11, 2022
Human government has been ordained by God to punish evil and encourage good. It is said to be “the servant of God” to function as “an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.” For this reason local governments have a police force and our nation has divine authority to defend its citizens by the institution of the military. A Veteran’s Day has been established to honor men and women who have served in the United States armed services. A visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a solemn reminder that freedom is not free. Christians do the right thing in honoring those who have served us all by the willingness to “bear arms” in the defense against foreign aggressors. The preaching of John the Baptist spoke of the importance of moral order for soldiers (Lk. 3:14). Giving up personal rights for the sake of others is a mark of societal stability (2 Tim. 2:4). Servants of Christ can learn from the honor code of soldiers. The Army Values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage are commended to us all. It is a mark of a declining civilization that denigrates military service and seeks to defund police forces. It has been suggested by some that the Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded to the Armed Forces for their role in keeping peace. Take time on this Veteran’s Day to thank God for those who have worn the uniforms of our various branches of military service. Attend a Veteran’s Day celebration when possible. Serving in the armed forces is an honorable part of serving our nation for good and the restraint of evil. H