Beer Saint

I recently commented on a article my pastor wrote on his website “Institute for Christian Culture” http://christian-civilization.org regarding “The Christian Soldier.” Now, being that I served in the U.S.Army under Comrade Clinton, I think I have insight into the modern day military.

Today’s military culture chew’s up and spits out the majority of proclaiming Christian enlistees. I have seen it, mind you, on may occasions. I was a victim myself. We can debate whether I was really a “believer” during my time of duty (I don’t believe I was) but that doesn’t change that fact that the military sub-culture embraces and glorifies:

• Promiscuous Behavior
• Binge Drinking
• Arrogance and Pride

Now don’t get me wrong, I believe there is much honor in giving up your liberties (and in some cases your life) for the benefit of your countrymen. But as a Christian it is a dangerous endeavor.

But besides the spiritually hostile environment (much like our public schools), there is another reason why it is difficult to be a principled man and be a member of the armed forces in this day and age. What if your country asks you to do something that is not upheld in the Constitution we swore to uphold and protect? Our government would never dare do such a thing, right? Honestly it is happening right now. Read my comment that I posted regarding this matter:

The topic at hand is a double edged sword in my opinion. When one signs up into the armed forces, no matter what their specialty is, are trained as an infantry grunt first. “Soldier first” is the motto in every US Army Training Center. One can be a Chaplain’s assistant and still get put in the position of blowing someone’s head off if the situation finds itself. As a paratrooper in the 82d Airborne division I trained for all scenarios, even though my MOS was a Mental Health Specialist. Anyone who raises their right hand should understand that they are agreeing to kill at command.

With that said, a soldier agrees to defend the Constitution when he/she enlists. “I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;…”

Where the waters get murky is “what shall a soldier do when their government asks them to perform an act that is in direct violation of the Constitution that they swore an allegiance to?” (Sidebar: Swearing an allegiance to anyone but God is treading dangerous water in my book). Does a soldier have a right to question his superior on matter of law, morals, and ethics? Of course he does. Just because a soldier my not be privy to classified information regarding a foreign invasion (or the grand master plan) does not leave him without grounds to exercise his moral judgments. He is not a sheep nor is he a robot. He is a free thinking man, given understanding by the grace of God.

Being a “Christian” soldier has even more implications. You are bound by the word of God… the Moral Law that is written upon your heart. But I digress. The point I am training to get to is that soldiers (much like broad evangelicals these days) do as their told, eat up the propaganda, and don’t bother to think about the implications of their commitment to the Constitutionality of their job. Let us remember, extinguishing evil in this world is not the job of the American people, nor the American soldier. We are not world police, as per the Constitution of the Untied States.

The job of the standing military (according to the modern day role) is to protect our nation from enemies, foreign and domestic. Nowhere do I read where our military (which remember is paid for by the American taxpayer)is to be used for nation building in a Pagan, God forsaken, land.

And correct me if I am wrong here, but aren’t soldiers to fight in declared, just, wars? I am not seeing how our situation in Iraq fits into this category. What I see is a neoconservative government taking liberties that contradict what our Founders had envisioned. No matter the political ideology, the simple fact is that our government has bloated into a beast that abuses power on a worldwide scale. Goldwater and Reagen warned us of this decades ago.

My final thought: “Why should an American Citizen trust that a government, as evil as ours is, will send them on just missions?” The answer is: you cannot. That’s why none of my children will serve in the Untied States military at this juncture in our history. Their talents would be better used at dismantling and rebuilding the America that was once the City Upon A Hill. I believe that a revolution (of sorts) is long overdue. How can one fight in a revolution if he is bound to State allegiance?

This is how I view the new Reconstructionist movement.

Tagged as Christian Soldier, Constituion, Government, Miltary, Morals, Politics, Revolution, War+ Categorized as Politics