One hallmark
of the theology of Martin Luther was his doctrine of vocation. Luther explained that every Christian has a
holy calling from God as they serve God and neighbor in their unique context. From the mother working in the home, to the
farmer in the field to the soldier on the field of battle, all of these could
be rightly understood as having a holy calling.
Luther wrote a little pamphlet titled, “Whether Soldiers Too Can Be
Saved,” in which he affirms the unique and holy calling of soldiers. The understanding of the vocation of soldier
is rooted in Luther’s distinguishing between the two Kingdoms (Church and
State) and his understanding of government as an agent of God, based on Romans
13:1-4. There, St. Paul writes, “Let
every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority
except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore
whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who
resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to
bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is
good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good.
But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he
is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”
Lutherans
have always understood that God rules through His “left-hand kingdom,” the
government, to preserve order, provide for the common good and execute justice.
God's “right-hand kingdom,” the Church, exists for the proclamation of the
Gospel and the administration of the keys (binding and forgiving sins). But God
rules through both kingdoms, yet for very different purposes. However, we
should never fail to see God's hand at work through civil government. St.
Peter, like St. Paul, affirmed the government as God's instrument for the good
of believers and non-believers alike. In 1 Peter 2, he writes, "Be subject
for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as
supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to
praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you
should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are
free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of
God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor."
The emperor [government]
exists for your good, unless you do evil. Then he is there to punish you. As St. Paul wrote, "If you do wrong, be
afraid." As Lutheran Christians, we
affirm that government is ordained by God and He is the one who provides for
the common good through a government that maintains roads and public works, that
protects citizens, and carries out justice. The questions and answers section
of Luther’s Small Catechism states that the one source that has the authority
to take the life of another is the government by fighting just wars and through
capital punishment (There are seven principles that guide just war theory –
just cause, last resort, formal declaration, just intention, principle of
proportionality, principle of discrimination, principle of limited engagement. For more information read http://www.lcms.org/Document.fdoc?src=lcm&id=453). But ultimately, it is not the government that
has such authority to take life, but God, who carries out His justice through
His rule by His left-hand Kingdom.
Our Biblical
understanding of government being an agent of God means that we believe that
God is at work through divinely ordained government even when the rulers are
evil or could be considered our enemies.
As citizens of the United States of America, we are thankful for the
freedoms that we have as delineated in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We are citizens of both kingdoms and that
means that we are vigilant against those who would restrict our religious
liberties in any way. It is good for us
to recognize the importance of being citizens of both kingdoms and to treasure
the freedom of the Gospel, that is the forgiveness and life that are ours in
Christ Jesus, on one hand and the religious freedoms that are ours as citizens
of the United States of America.
Throughout
our nation’s history, Christians have sought or been called upon to serve in
the vocation of soldier in defense of the State. Gene Edward Veith writes, “Luther maintained
that it is God, working through the offices
of the judge or soldier who takes life and punishes sin. Christians can indeed occupy these offices,
being called them as divine vocations.”
It is good for our nation to take time to remember those who gave their
lives for the cause of freedom. Their
service to their country is indeed a holy calling. So how does one function as a Christian and a
soldier. Veith provides some wise
counsel, writing, “A soldier is loving his neighbor when he protects his
country…yet this by no means negates the commands to love our enemies and to
forgive those who trespass against us.
In their personal lives, soldiers…must indeed love and forgive their
enemies. But in their vocations, by
virtue of their offices, they are authorized to ‘bear the sword.’” While we long for the day when wars will end
and there will be true peace, we know that such time will not come until the
last day when the Lord bids our bitter conflicts cease. Until then, as citizens of the United States,
we should be thankful for those who have fought to protect our liberties.
It is
especially important for Christian citizens to be mindful of the freedoms and
to not take these freedoms for granted.
It is also good for us to remember, not simply on one day, those who
gave their lives for the sake of our freedom.
Some of the most moving and fitting words of remembrance come from the
pen of President Abraham Lincoln in a letter to a Mrs. Bixby of Boston. The letter reads:
Dear Madam,
I have been shown in the files of the War
Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the
mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how
weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you
from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering
you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died
to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your
bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and
the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the
altar of freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
A. Lincoln
Today, as
remember those who have fought and died for our country, it would also be an
ideal time to pray for our enemies and those who persecute us. This is also a
time to pray for all those who serve in our Armed Forces that they would be
kept safe as they are placed in harm's way. Today, we pray that God would bring
to justice against those who do evil and we thank Him for those who work to
defend our freedom. We also ask God to bless our nation and to call our leaders
to understand their role as agents of God and to truly be servants who seek to
preserve order, provide for the common good, execute justice and defend the
lives of the weakest among us. Finally,
we remember all those who have humbly served to defend our country, but
especially those who lost their lives in that defense and give thanks to God
for their sacrifice.
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