Happy Memorial Day!

                       This is Memorial Day weekend.  The official start of Summer.  Cook-outs, hot dogs, apple pie…  Yard work, travel, vacations…  Some years more than others I think about the lives of those who’ve died for our country, the ideals they brought with them into their military service.  I also think about our nation’s ideals and the ways our Christian ideals intersect with how we should live as people of faith in our country.  I do worry, however, when Christianity gets co-opted by politicians in the name of “the nation.”  Jesus was very clear that “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), and Paul reminds us that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20).  Christianity is obviously trans-national in our roots and our core.  On the day of Pentecost, the apostles all spoke in foreign languages so people from other countries could hear proclaimed “the mighty deeds of God” (Acts 2:11).  Because of all that, I have no doubts about the need for a separation of church and state and am leery of what some call “Christian nationalism.”

            I have done a lot of funerals for veterans, and every time “Taps” is played (it’s a beautiful hymn, by the way) and military honors are performed, I do think about how they tried to “love their neighbor” by serving their country.  Whether they saw combat or not, they were willing to fight for people oppressed, against those who would do evil in the world.  I imagine that that is how they felt.  In the prayers sometimes, I’ll pray that our service men and women help to “keep the peace.”  It a tragic sign of sin in our world that we sometimes need to fight wars to have peace.  I think about the refugees I’ve come in contact with—from Somalia, Sudan, Iraq—countries that have been filled with violence.  Ideally, we as a nation can and should do something if we are able—what exactly that is can and should be debated.  When a war is just and how it is executed should be debated.  Either way, I have a lot of respect for soldiers who’ve been willing to serve, making sacrifices (I think of their families), and have gone into those places as “peace makers.” 

            In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus says that he gives peace, but not as the world gives (John 14:27).  It’s a reminder again that our Christian values are not the same as the world’s values.  There is a spiritual peace that Christ promises, something deep within, rooted in how he loved us, that transcends our country’s ideals.  From his gift of freedom we have peace—and are free to love and serve others.  We should thank those who have done that, who have lived out their faith for the sake of our fellow Americans, in a world in need of peace. 

Peace,

Pr. Christian