Untouchables

I heard a Military Scripture Reader speak today, and the openness about his work and calling was both refreshing, but also challenging. How do you square the circle of giving the gospel to a soldier who faces a tour in Afghanistan and puts his life on the line? How do you approach the core belief of real places like heaven and yes, hell, without putting a young soldier on a guilt trip before he is deployed, while staying true to the truth of the Scripture?

The Army Scripture Reader told his story. He was watching the repatriation of a soldier, killed in action, his coffin draped in the Union Flag and bearing his cap, as it was escorted from the back of a Hercules air transporter by members of his unit who marched slowly as the journey to his final place of rest was continued. The question that came to the mind of this young Scripture Reader startled me. “Where is that young soldier NOW”? He believes it was straight from God, and the question catapulted him into service to present the gospel to mostly young, and godless soldiers. Now read the question again.

We have come to venerate our military, and we get very protective and patriotic when they go on active service, and when they return, either as a triumphant marching unit, or in a coffin. The young men who offer their life in their country’s service can do no wrong, and are almost raised to sainthood. They are honoured in church and society alike for the price they are willing to pay for our continued freedom, and rightly so.

Now back to the question that God placed in the mind of our young Scripture Reader. He emphasised that the Word of God is true for all, and does not exempt soldiers, sailors or airmen, no matter their rank, or how highly we think of them. Like us all, when presented with the truth of the gospel, they have a choice to make, the answer to which will determine whether they spend eternity in heaven or hell. No in between state, one or the other. So perhaps we need to see behind the sentiment of the bravery and the uniform, and recognise the need of a Saviour in our military that we all have, and the same question we must all answer.