Ministers of God

In True North by Morne Stephanus

November eleventh is a day set aside to honor men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. These individuals are due the honor bestowed because they served their country honorably but also the interest of God. The Lord sanctioned the System of Government (Cf. Romans 13:1) and by implication the Armed Forces under its command (Cf. Romans 13:4). These individuals are more than just a uniform, they are God’s Ministers (Cf. Romans 13:4). Some of the works in which the Armed Forces are engaged are not only sanctioned by God but serves the interest of God. 

The Armed Forces serve as a deterrent and disciplinarian of evil. Some might like to think that evil does not exist, and that evil men and women are best left to Hollywood fiction. This mindset is one of dangerous ignorance or conscientious stupidity. Evil is real because sin is a reality and as long as sin is in the world, we will have individuals doing evil things. The Lord sanctioned Government to be the protector of the innocent against those who practice evil. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evilRomans 13:3-4. When Al Qaeda flew planes into the Twin Towers the Government acted within God’s laws to execute judgment upon those evil individuals who did so. The men and women who served in resulting conflicts were fulfilling God’s mandate to Government, “executing wrath on him that practices evil.

The Armed Forces serve as a preserver of peace. One of the mandates of the armed forces is to preserve and protect peace in this nation. Unlike many other nations, we do not have artillery fire and bombs going off in our neighborhoods. The peace that we enjoy is a product of the men and women who stand on a wall to protect it. Their actions are wholly in line with God’s desire for any country. Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth1 Timothy 2:1-4. The reason God desires peace is so that mankind might be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. How difficult is it to preach the Gospel in a war-torn country, how difficult would it be even for Christians to fulfill their duties with bombs going off left and right? The Armed Forces who protect peace are indirectly helping Christians operate in an environment that affords them the preach the Gospel. 

The Armed Forces serve as a protector of Liberty. Our constitution affords the Christian the right to assemble and worship God. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. (Bill of Rights). The Military does more than just provide peace, they also protect our current way of life. In this country, we are free, free to worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). This freedom is not an American right it is a God-given right. Free will is a product of Divine origin bestowed on the crown of God’s creation (Geneses 1:26 & Acts 17:24-27). This freedom was once threatened by a man who embodied his father the Devil (John 8:44) Consider what this world would have been like if Nazi Germany gained world dominance. The success of Hitler was stifled by the involvement of the United States in World War II. Who stood in defense of our God-given freedom? Who died on the beaches of Normandy to protect our ability to exercise a God-given right? It was men and women of the Armed forces, who served not only as God’s ministers against evil but preserved a way of life that would ensure our current liberty to worship and serve the Father.

We bestow honor on these men and women for their service to our country. Moreover, as Christians, we are especially grateful for their actions that have promoted, preserved and perpetuated the Cause of Christ. To God Be the Glory. 

“Bill of Rights.” Bill of Rights Institute, https://billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/bill-of-rights/.