Veterans

               Crime shows such as Dateline and 20/20 are obviously very popular. Studies show that twice as many women watch as men. These studies explore the reasons why people are so fascinated with watching true stories about murder. There are even college courses taught on this phenomenon. Friday evenings have two solid hours....on two different channels....Saturday is just a tad below that. So....many Christians....primarily women....saturate themselves with evil....twelve hours before their church service....and of course the pulpits never warn of this.
               This is my second post on Veterans Day....but with a different twist. What is a 'veteran' as it pertains to the Christian life? We honor today veterans who have served our country in the military. Lord willing....I hope to be at our local Veterans Day parade in about an hour. I don't like to run into friends at these parades....and chit chat....and laugh. I 'd rather stand a little bit in the back and reflect. There will most likely be a Korean War veteran riding in an automobile.....and a handful of Vietnam Veteran types marching....maybe some reenactors....and an R.O.T.C group.
                Veterans may have twenty years service....or they may have served only two years during Vietnam. They may have been in firefights in Iraq....or they may have worked out of an office. They come in all colors and shapes and sizes....male and female....young and old. This is their day....where we say....thank you....for giving of your time...and for being there when needed....and for the sacrifices both small and great that you have given for our country!
                 So what is that Christian veteran? Well....technically speaking....there should be no such thing as a Christian veteran....for the word 'veteran' as it pertains to the military implies past tense....although in sport a player may still be active but referred to as a veteran player. For my purposes here....there is no past tense....and 'veteran' means one who has served for many years....and is what is often called....a lifer. 
                 War is fundamentally different to the Christian soldier. There and has been blood and death....and a war of all wars is just ahead. There can be office work so to speak....but if there has been no war....and no wounds....for even the daintiest and frail Christian are true soldiers....then something has not gone according to God's plan....for He tells us that all of us most definitely will be fighting most of the time....and wounded often....but healed always! 
                  The veteran in this sense knows the pain and the fear of battle. He knows the dense fog of war....and the confusion. He knows what it's like to cry out to God for help. He knows the butchery of the enemy. He knows what it's like to be taken by surprise. He knows what's it's like to lose a battle...to lie in the dust bleeding....ashamed that he wasn't prepared enough....or didn't have enough courage. He also knows victory....he (she) is now a veteran....hardened in many respects....much more knowledgeable than at first....once a recruit following advice....he now gives it....thus my thoughts at the beginning of this post....flee these morbid fascinations that work against any and all edification....and as I posted yesterday....flee talk radio that drags you off God's mountain....flee sport and entertainment if you cannot keep them in moderation....flee the megachurch if the praises that you are led into are not preceded by mortification....and flee any church that does not warn to flee the wrath that is to come.