Watching Lone Survivor
(the movie about “Marcus Luttrell and his team set out on a mission to capture
or kill notorious al Qaeda leader Ahmad Shahd, in late June 2005.”), it caused
me to ponder a few things. I know, imagine that.
Looking at them as military
personnel (not focusing on whether they were specifically Navy Seals), it shows
the comradery and training many (even if not to this extent) of our military
personnel go through and have with each other. It is a bond that perhaps some
may never have experienced, whether absent from the military or never truly
have had that close relationship with a friend. For they were a group of
friends, a band of brothers, ready to stand together and give their lives for
each other. John 15:13 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man
lay down his life for his friends.”
Do we, as Christians, do that?
Do we bond ourselves to other Christians, as friends and brothers in Christ? Do
we stand with them and sacrifice ourselves for them in the cause of Christ? A
good many American Soldiers are lost, yet they still serve and fight to protect
one another and for all Americans, even when they may have tiffs with one
another or even possibly disagree with the orders. Can that be said of us? To
see their comrades in suffering and death causes distress, drawing empathy
within the sternest of souls, while they press on to complete the given mission
with all that lies within them. Do we?
When faced with those they
considered the enemy, they chose grace and mercy toward life rather than judgment
and wrath toward death. They were unarmed, untrained, and not aggressively attacking
Marcus Luttrell and his fellow soldiers. Sure, they could and would lead others,
who did desire to physically harm them, to their position, but they themselves
were not true soldiers by definition. Just as many who contend against the
things of God are merely mimicking that which they have seen and heard. They
are not the militant anti-theistic who have directly waged war against God and
Christianity. We should show them mercy and use opportunities given us to lead
them to Christ. Attacking them with vengeance does not make us more Christian,
nor does it endorse the cause of Christ. How America would be perceived by
their actions was important to Marcus Luttrell and his team, just as it should
be to us concerning the world’s view of God through us.
As usual, when we try to group
all persons, sexes, races, nationalities, etc. together, we are often surprised
to find detractors. When Marcus Luttrell was on the verge of capture, help came
from where he least thought it would. From those he already counted his enemy.
What he found was those who, though they did not know him nor really understand
his orders and purpose for being there, had an oath by which they governed
their lives (which was also unknown to him). As Christians, we should see this
in those who are not Christian. Quite possibly they may be good people, persons
of morals which do help us even in our times of need. We should not merely
discount and avoid them, but rather try to understand them and befriend them
that we may share the orders we have been given of the Lord.
Marcus Luttrell never intended
to be the “Lone Survivor” and neither should we. We should prepare to obey the
orders of our Lord, determine to stand with our brothers, and adamantly give
all that we have on the battle field, even if we do end up being the last soul
standing. We should stand our ground when necessary and show mercy when appropriate,
striving to take the narrow high road at all costs.
Praise God for our military
personnel, and may we desire to see them all come to know Jesus Christ as their
Lord and Savior. While they are sometimes called upon to give the ultimate
sacrifice for our country (ultimately for each one of us), likewise should we
give all that we have to ensure they receive the gospel call to repentance and
salvation. We are soldiers. We need to act like it.
