LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

MODULE #1 PAPER Theological Justification

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of the course,

CHPL 600 Theological Perspectives in Military Chaplaincy

by

DH March 25, 2012

DH Theological Justification The United State military actively recruits men and women to serve as chaplains in the various services. This is a tradition which has existed in one form or another since the Revolutionary War. In fact, The Army chaplaincy has been serving soldiers since it was established by the Second Continental Congress in 1775 (US Army 2011, Army Chaplain

Corps). However, before a Christian can accept or support any tradition or practice such as this, one must examine the reasons behind it and the biblical and theological justification for it. Although this writer does not find much in the Bible to specifically support a military chaplaincy, there are incidents indicating the priests accompanied the army in the Old Testament. Moses instructs the priests, before battle, to address the people with words of encouragement and assurance that God is with them (Deut. 20:2-4). Aaron is found assisting in a military setting as he holds up the arm of Moses, ensuring success in battle (Exod.17:8-12). Eleazar, the priest, addresses the men of war before battle (Num. 21:31). The priests assisted at the battle of Jericho as they blew the trumpets (Josh. 6). In some cases, seeking justification in Scripture and theology is an exercise of looking for something that excludes, rather than specifically includes the tradition. There is nothing in the Bible or theology that prevents a Christian from serving his government. Government is in place because God so wills it (Rom. 13:1-2). In fact, if governing authorities are doing good (Rom. 13:1-7) and their orders do not conflict with Gods will (Acts 4:19-20; 5:29), Christians are to pray for their officials (1 Tim. 2:1-3) and to render to Caesar what is Caesar (Mark 12:17). Consequently, nothing in the Bible or theology prevents a Christian serving the government as a chaplain.

DH There is nothing in the Bible or theology that prevents a Christian from being a soldier. In the New Testament soldiers also appear in a favorable light and as an honorable profession. John the Baptist told the soldiers he had baptized to perform their duties without force or

falsehood (Luke 3:14). Jesus commented on the great faith of the Centurion (Matt. 8:5-13). The centurion, Cornelius, was a just man who feared God. When he sent for Paul to come to his house, Peter knew Gentiles as well as Jews could be saved (Acts 10:22-48). Additionally, biblical instruction includes military analogies such as to put on the full armor of God (Eph. 6:11). Persons are referred to as a fellow-soldier (Phil. 2:25; Philem. 1:2) and a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2Tim. 2:3). Paul gave Timothy gave instruction concerning qualifications of pastors. Individual Christian denominations determine whether or not individuals meet the qualifications and should be ordained. Once an individual is ordained, those that meet the requirements of the specific military service may seek to be chaplains in the military. The government of the United States does not determine if a person is qualified to be ordained, as the Romans were in the habit of doing when they selected various High Priests for the Jews, nor does it ordain the individual. Christian chaplains are pastors who serve in the military service of the United States. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians declared that the Lord designated some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers and their purpose is the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. (Eph. 4:11-12). Consequently the purposes of the chaplain are to guide the saints to perfection, prepare them to minister, and the edification of body. There are many ways that may be accomplished as one can tell by reading Scripture describing Jesus acts. A few of the ways they fulfill those purposes are described below.

DH As the military chaplain functions as a pastor to the service members and their families,

their duties include, among other things, functioning as a moral compass. The United States, as a religiously neutral State, refrains from exercising authority in religious matters (Lunze 2004, 71). In order to provide service members with a moral compass and soul care, chaplains must be employed by the military. The guidance of the commanders and soldiers moral and ethical decisions falls under the counseling area. The chaplain serves as a moral compass for all and, although he is responsible for moral leadership training, intentional counseling on an individual basis makes more of an impact. Chaplains lead worship for those of their faith and ensure that necessary space and items are provided for people of other faiths in order that they can worship. They also help worship as they serve communion, marry people, baptize individuals, and bury the dead. In aid of worship, they also establish programs such as Sunday school, youth groups, and retreats for the religious training and worship of soldiers, their families, and Department of the Army civilians. The ministry of presence, abundant in all areas, is extremely important in the area of readiness. As chaplains help people develop their spiritual side and (for Christians) live a Christlike example, soldiers and families see that it can be done. The chaplain is present, wherever soldiers serve, whether it is on the front lines, in the hospital, in the field, or in training sessions. Chaplains, by upholding the right to religious freedom in a pluralistic community, help develop and mature the sense of unity and camaraderie. In performing their ministry of presence, chaplains are continually visiting with the soldiers on the job. However, their work does not end there and they are seen visiting and encouraging soldiers and families in hospitals, prisons, and in homes. As in the Old Testament when the priest provided a ministry of presence, so does the chaplain as he cares for service

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members on the battlefield. In the Army, their official roles are first to serve as religious support and the second is that of a personal staff officer (U. S. Army 2010, AR 165-1; U. S. Army 2003, FM 1-05). Part of providing religious support includes not only holding services, and counseling, but also developing programs and teaching courses to enlisted and officers alike concerning moral issues, and providing a ministry of presence to soldiers in combat zones (Loveland 2004, 235-236). As a military religious support staff advisor chaplains are to provide professional religious counsel to the command on the impact of religion on mission and operations, plan, program, resource, and execute religious support in military operations (U.S. Army 2010, AR 165-1). Former Chaplain James Spivey raises another interesting series of facts justifying the recruitment of military chaplains. When military personnel deploy to war zones or remote sites, there are not civilian pastors available to care for them. Only chaplains can deploy with them and insure their free exercise needs are met, that certain needs are met by chaplains who understand the military system, and can help with problems even the military chain of command cannot resolve. (Spivey 2011). These chaplains are able to establish rapport with service personnel in ways civilian pastors cannot even understand. Chaplains, unarmed noncombatants, in a culture that lives or dies by the temporal sword, are the only soldiers commissioned to bring life by wielding the spiritual sword! (Ibid.). In conclusion, being a military chaplain requires that that one be willing to pour themselves out for others as Christ did. Although the job of a military chaplain is dangerous, sometimes discouraging, fraught with political problems, and stressful, it also provides a way to minister to the children of God and others. There is biblical and theological justification for the

DH recruitment of Christian, military chaplains who understand that the nation is serving Gods purposes, and not God serving the serving the whims of the nation.

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References Loveland, Anne. 2004. "From morale builders to moral advocates: U.S. Army chaplains in the second half of the twentieth century." In Sword of the Lord: Military chaplains from the first to the twenty-first century, edited by Doris Bergin, 231-249. Notre Dame: Notre Dame University Press. Lunze, Stefan. "Serving God and Ceasar." International Review of the Red Cross, March 2004: 69-91. Spivey, James. "God, Country and Military Chaplaincy." August 24, 2011. http://texasbaptists.org/2011/08/god-country-and-military-chaplaincy-2/ (accessed March 22, 2012). U. S. Army. 2011. Army chaplain corps. http://www.goarmy.com/chaplain/corps-careerjobs.html (accessed March 20, 2012). ______. April 18, 2003. "Religious support." Field Manual 1-05. Washington, DC: Department of the Army. ______. Jaunary 3, 2010. "Religious support: Army Chaplain Corp activities." AR-165-1. Washington, DC: Department of the Army. U. S. Army Chaplain Corps. 2011. "Army chaplaincy strategic plan: 2009-2014." US Army Chaplain Corps. http://www.chapnet.army.mil/Documents/StratPlan.pdf (accessed March 22, 2011).