Much-Deserved Observance for America’s Fallen

Memorial Day. What’s this weekend all about anyway? A three-day weekend of getting together with family and friends for barbecues and picnics – hotdogs, hamburgers, potato salad (here in the South, it’s ‘tater salad’), and all the fixin’s? The annual running of the Indianapolis 500? Or if you prefer, NASCAR’s annual 600-mile race? 

 

Those are fun activities for the holiday weekend, but in fact Memorial Day isn’t about any of those. It’s former name, “Decoration Day” (which some folks still use), emphasized it’s an annual observance highlighted by decorating the graves of soldiers fallen in any of the USA’s past wars.

 

A popular song from years ago included the lyrics, “War – what is it good for? Absolutely nothing!” Lots of people would agree. War – conflict between one group and another, or one country and another – is one of the worst aspects of the human condition, and it’s been that way from time immemorial.

 

Unpleasant as it is, we can’t ignore the reality of war. For the warriors and soldiers involved, their loved ones, and those who know little about the ravages of war, it’s good that Memorial Day is observed. Ours is far from a perfect nation, but the freedoms we enjoy, the rights and privileges many other nations don’t offer, were hard-earned – at the cost of many lives. Those who died should be remembered and honored for their noble sacrifices.

 

Those brave individuals who fought and lost their lives in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and on many fronts in the Middle East, deserve our gratitude and recognition. They didn’t choose to die but were willing to pay the price if necessary.

 

My father, thankfully, wasn't among them. He saw battle in the U.S. Army with both infantry and artillery units as a commissioned officer and was wounded twice, as the two Purple Hearts he was awarded attest. But he saw many fellow soldiers who did die. Dad never wanted to talk about what war was like. Most of the memories he brought back from the battlefields weren't pleasant, and he didn’t want not to revisit them. 

 

Since my dad departed from this life early, at the age of 62, I was only 31 and very much immersed in forging a career and building a family. I wish I could have had more time with him, especially to thank him for his service and the scars from war, both physical and psychological, that he carried for most of his adult life.

 

Thinking about the many thousands who died for the freedoms and rights we so often take for granted, I’m reminded of the words Jesus Christ spoke to His closest disciples. He wasn’t talking about war, but what He said resonates just the same. Jesus declared, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). 

 

In the most important sense, Jesus was speaking about what He was about to do on the cross, dying to make once-and-for-all atonement for our sins. As Romans 5:8 states, “…God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That was the very ultimate of ‘ultimate sacrifices.’

 

But when we think about it – there being no greater love than laying down one’s life for one’s friends – this is exactly what fallen American heroes through the centuries have done. Whether at Bunker Hill and Cowpens, Bull Run and Gettysburg, Somme and Verdun, Pearl Harbor and Normandy, Inchon and Heartbreak Ridge, Khe Sahn and Hamburger Hill, or the Gulf War, many breathed their last to serve and defend people like us. They need to be remembered.

 

The book of Ecclesiastes, which many Bible scholars believe was written by King Solomon, often presents a rather cynical look at life. For instance, Ecclesiastes 1:11 declares, “There is no remembrance of earlier things; and also of the later things which will occur, there will be for them no remembrance among those who will come later still.” Let this never be true for what Memorial Day represents. 

Remembering Those Who Served – Including the Living

These flags proudly remember the
sacrifices of those who served in battle,
and the many who gave their lives.

Today marks the observance of another Memorial Day, one of the most fitting holidays in the calendar year. War is a horror that has plagued humankind since the start of history, but that shouldn’t detract from our honoring and remembering those who gave their lives so that we could enjoy the freedoms we so readily take for granted.

I believe it should also be a day in which we think of those who may not have lost their lives in combat, but suffered serious injuries, both physical and emotional.

Two friends, both veterans of the Vietnam conflict, have wrestled for many years with a common wartime consequence, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is a malady that most of us who have never served during wartime cannot fully understand or imagine. Yet its toll on countless thousands has been very real, even debilitating.

Today, my friends are devoting much of their time and energy to assisting others who, like themselves, survived combat physically, but have suffered a grave toll emotionally and mentally. The suicide rate among veterans who have suffered PTSD in combat is alarming; others find themselves homeless, unable to function properly upon returning to civilian life.

My father served in World War II; I remember many nights during my childhood when he would awaken, screaming. He never talked of his wartime experiences, but I know the nightmares were a byproduct of what this twice-wounded, two Purple Heart and one Bronze Star recipient had seen, heard and felt on the battlefields of Europe and Northern Africa. We knew little, if anything, about PTSD back then.

I remember how shamefully Vietnam vets were treated in the late 1960s and early 1970s when they returned home. They had gone to serve their country, doing what they thought was right, even though many at home questioned America’s wisdom in its involvement. Their noble, yet largely unappreciated, service reminded me of something Jesus said to His followers: “Greater love has no man than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends” (John 15:13).

Thousands of U.S. soldiers did just that, lying lifeless on East Asian fields of conflict. Others lay down their normal lives, returning to American soil physically, but shattered just the same, not the people mentally or emotionally they once had been. Even if they didn’t think it in so many words, their sacrificial service was truly an act of love.

But as we commemorate the sacrifices of so many, in far too many wars, I can’t help but think of an even greater sacrifice, that of the Lord Jesus Christ. Going to the cross to die for the sins of mankind, paying an incomprehensible price on our behalf, Jesus epitomized that “greater love.” As Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

This Memorial Day, please take a few moments to remember those who gave so much for us. And especially think of Jesus, the One who gave more than we could ever imagine – so that we could receive far more than we could ever deserve.

God is Love . . . But God is Not ‘Nice’

One manifestation of God's love is the beauty of creation.

We often hear people saying, “God is love.” When you hear that, what comes to mind? Do you envision a celestial Teddy bear that longs to be hugged – and to hug back? Or a divine, grandfatherly figure with beard flowing white, peering down from a remote post in heaven, observing the foibles and failings of His creation, smiling and shaking His head as He thinks, “Those silly people – they do the darnedest things”?

It’s true that God is love. The Scriptures say so. I like the translation of 1 John 4:16 that reads, “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

The question is, what does “God is love” mean? Is it like the nice grandma who loves everyone – family, friend and stranger – with nary a negative or critical word toward anyone? Is it a love that says anything goes, blind to wrongdoing and offering full acceptance – even approval – of any and all behaviors?

If we study the Scriptures, we realize neither is true. The Greek language, in which most of the New Testament was originally written, is much more exacting about “love.” In English, we “love” dogs and goldfish, jobs, cars, spouses and partners, children, favorite music, pizza, sports teams – and sometimes, God – using the same word. Obviously, our meaning isn’t the same for each.

The Greek, however, distinguishes forms of love – friendship love, sexual love, selfless love, and others. When we read “God is love,” it conveys benevolence but also expresses His sacrificial love that cost Him more than we can comprehend.

Because in Romans 5:8 we’re told, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That’s not a warm, fuzzy kind of love. Certainly not a casual, cuddly type of affection toward us. As Jesus said in the days leading up to His crucifixion, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends” (John 15:13). How many of us has experienced love like that on the human level?

At the same time, while contemplating the truth that God is love, we must do so within the context of understanding He also is holy, and righteous, and just. The notion that the Lord’s love requires Him to condone anything we do, without question or judgment, reflects a gross misunderstanding of a perfect, pure, holy God who cannot tolerate sin in any form. We see that throughout the Scriptures.

Someone has said, “God loves us as we are – but loves us too much to leave us that way.” That’s why Jesus put great emphasis on being “born again” in the third chapter of John, and the apostle Paul writes about becoming a “new creation in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17) and being “crucified with Christ (so that) Christ lives in me.”

I’ve learned something about this by being a parent. My love for each of my children – as well as my grandchildren – is unconditional and unwavering, but that doesn’t mean I’ve supported or approved of everything they did. Even being aware of my own imperfections, in my love for them I still desire that they not only to know right from wrong, but also to do, think and be right – and not wrong.

God’s love pours out of His perfection. We love (there’s the word again) to read passages like, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him” (1 John 3:1). This asserts that God’s love does not mean He must consider every human His “child.” Only those who truly know Him.

As 1 John 1:5-9 explains, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Our God, in His love, wants us to walk in light – and not darkness. And to acknowledge our sins, confess them, and seek His forgiveness, restoring us to proper fellowship with Him.

If there’s anything “God is love” means, it’s not that “anything goes.” He’s love, but He’s not “nice.”

Love: Is That What the World Needs Now?

Remember the beautiful classic, “What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love," written by Burt Bacharach and recorded by Dionne Warwick and others? Or the Beatles’ tune, “All We Need is Love”? Even though these songs have been around for a long time, they still ring true for many people. In fact, a recent edition of “The Born Loser” (shown above) bore the same sentiment, even though Thornapple, the comic’s main character, conceded, “Unfortunately, there seem to be some issues with supply and demand.”

Why can’t we all just get along? Why can’t we all join in one great, global group hug and stop all this hatred, violence, discord and dissension?

I’m no sociologist, anthropologist or psychologist, but in more than six decades of living on this earth I’ve observed and learned a lot about human behavior, including my own. And I’ve concluded part of this problem is our notion of “love.”

The English language uses the word love in myriad ways: We love puppies. We love our spouses. We love our favorite sports teams. We love pizza. We love our children and grandchildren. We love an afternoon nap. We love shows like “Downton Abbey.” We love science. We love “Star Wars.” We love our car. We love country music, or rap. The same word, but in each instance we apply very different meanings.

The ancient Greeks had it figured out. When referring to “love,” they had a variety of words to specify what they meant. Four of the most common words for love were eros (sexual love), philia (friendship or love between equals), storge (affection, particularly between parents and children), and agape (selfless or sacrificial love). So when they talked about love, there wasn’t much confusion over whether they meant being physically attracted to someone, one man caring deeply for another in a non-sexual manner (“Love you, bro!”), a mother’s devotion for her son or daughter, or loving so deeply that one would be willing to die for another.

In fact, Jesus referred to the agape form of love when He said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends” (John 15:13). Tell me, when we say, “what the world needs now is love sweet love,” are we talking about the kind that would involve making the ultimate sacrifice if necessary?

Probably not. We’re thinking about the warm, fuzzy, touchy-feely type of love that says, “I love you, you love me – so we’re good, right?” Or maybe we’re referring to the “love” expressed on shows like “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette,” where the guy or gal falls in love with different people each episode, driven solely by hormones and the notion, “He/she makes me feel good!”

Sadly, if the latter forms of “love” are what the world needs now, they’re not going to solve anything long-term. Because we have all discovered love driven solely by fickle, hot-and-cold, here-today-gone-tomorrow emotions usually doesn’t last.

This is why I believe the best description of the kind of love the world truly needs is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, a passage commonly inserted into wedding ceremonies even though bride and groom are too enraptured with one another to really be paying attention. If you’re not familiar with it, it says:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails….”

Seems to me that’s the kind of love the world really needs. If we could all agree on that, and each of us would resolve to pursue it earnestly, with determination and sincerity, I’m all for it. But if we’re wanting to settle for a love that’s nothing more than warm and fuzzy, count me out.

No Greater Love Than This

The killings of four U.S. Marines and one Navy petty officer in Chattanooga, Tenn. on July 16 marked yet another episode in the growing, tragic narrative of extremist violence across our land. The debate about the how’s and why’s rages on, but in the days following the tragic events, in which the shooter also was killed, two positives emerged – if such a thing is possible.

One was the incredible bravery demonstrated by the military personnel and law enforcement officers who responded. In fact, after doing all they could to guide innocent bystanders to safety, two Marines reportedly rushed back to the reserve facility hoping to subdue the shooter and protect others that were in harm’s way.

Marine Staff Sgt. David Wyatt and Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan had guided nearly 20 people out of a building and beyond a security fence before returning when they discovered two were missing. Wyatt and Sullivan lost their lives attempting to save others.

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends” (John 15:13). He said this prophetically about His own crucifixion for the sins of mankind, but the principle is universal. What greater, more courageous sacrifice can anyone make than to offer their life for another?

A poster at a memorial site shows photos
of the Marines and Navy petty officer who died.

We hear of acts like this in times of war and in response to violence, but it also applies any time we willingly place the interests and well-being of others ahead of our own. As Philippians 2:3-4 states it: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Surely those noble Marines didn’t re-enter the building with the intent of dying, but were willing to do so if necessary. They were looking out for the interests of others.

The other positive was the incredible show of compassion and pride exhibited by citizens of Chattanooga and its surrounding area, as well as hometowns of the other fallen military heroes. For each of the funeral processions of Wyatt, Sullivan, Sgt. Carson Holmquist, Lance Cpl. Squire “Skip” Wells and Petty Officer 2^nd Class Randall Smith, many thousands lined the routes.

American flags of all sizes were waved all along the roadways, on highway overpasses and in the cemeteries. Homemade signs of support were held high, and tears were shed, even by those that never personally met any of the shooting victims. I’ve never seen such a mass display of the Stars and Stripes, even on July 4^th.

Those that assembled were not warmongers – just men, woman and young people with great pride in being citizens of the United States, greatly appreciative of the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform, and sharing sympathy for the great losses by family members and friends.

A wooden cross joined a display of American flags
at a memorial set up near the recruiting office.

While the grief shared by the mourners was profound, this great show of support must have helped to provide much-needed strength. The Scriptures tell us about, “…the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Most in the crowd certainly had not experienced that kind of loss, but we’ve all known our share of sorrow, enabling us to offer some small measure of comfort to the survivors. In a letter to the Chattanooga community following her son’s funeral, Sgt. Wyatt’s mother, Deborah Boen, wrote. “Even in our sorrow, we feel that God’s blessing us with the outpouring of love from this community. We…were in awe of all who stood in the hot sun to honor our son and all the fallen heroes. We saw it all, and felt all the love showered upon us.”

Even in times of great tragedy and the aftermath of heinous acts of violence, God’s grace and mercy – and the best of humankind – can shine through.