Video for November 13th November, 2025
Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s video.
I had the privilege of preaching at the Remembrance Sunday service for a well-known regiment near Hereford last Sunday. With a thousand or so people there, many of whom were active servicemen and women, it was quite an intimidating gig. The armed forces today act in ways more akin to policing than classical soldiering, although they are trained for that as well. Their role is peace-making and defence rather than aggressive warfare. The fact that they put themselves in harm’s way on a regular basis has contributed to many years of peace. I remember a former Special forces General at the Hay Festival a few years ago saying, “the art of soldiering is as much about who you don’t kill as who you do”! He was referring to the complicated situation in the Middle East at the time of his active service. There was no clear distinction between the opposite forces. Families were divided. Judicious restraint led to better outcomes than gung-ho violence.
There is a strong Christian pacifist tradition, which can easily be discerned from Jesus’ teaching. In major conflicts in our history standing by those convictions took a tremendous amount of courage. However, Jesus’ interaction with soldiers was fascinating, and gives an alternative slant. Peter also has encounters in Acts. Both were victims of judicial violence at various points, but their conversations were illuminating.
In Matthew 8 a centurion comes to Jesus asking for help. Bear in mind he was a member of an occupying army that had no compunction in using horrible violence to enforce their authority. Although the soldier in question was highly regarded by the community, none the less he was a part of such an organisation. Jesus uses him as an example of faith and humility. “I have not encountered such faith, even in Israel,” says Jesus. Jesus responds to his request for the healing of his daughter who he discovers completely recovered when he returns home. What he doesn’t do is question the centurions career choice!
In Luke 3 some soldiers come to Jesus for ethical advice. Jesus replies, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely – be content with your pay.” Again, no question about career choice! As with any profession, Jesus calls them to act with integrity and not to exploit their power for personal gain.
In Jesus day as with ours, there are people who seek to impose their will on others through force, or to terrorise for a political or religious cause. Even nations can become corrupted with a toxic ideology, be that racist nationalism in the case of the nazis, or nationalism based on historic myth as with the current regime in Russia. Such corruption leads to wars of conquest. In such situations the use of military force to resist is I believe entirely legitimate. A credible standing military acts as a deterrent. Despite its cost, it is an investment that may eventually save much worse costs. The Kingdom of God is one of justice and peace where swords are beaten into ploughshares. Although there are signs of that kingdom breaking into this world, we are still some way from its full realisation in a new heaven and earth. The world is corrupted by sin which affects all our motives. In such a mixed and corrupted space, I am thankful that courageous people are prepared to put themselves in harms way for the sake of others.
However, even if we agree with this perspective, we must never forget the potential price others have to pay on our behalf. Names on memorial boards fade into history. At a recent remembrance service, I saw a young boy wearing his dad’s regimental cap as he laid a simple posy of flowers to remember his dad, killed in active service comparatively recently. The emotions were still raw for him. Remembrance is a communal discipline that prevents the naïve nationalism so prevalent before World War 1. A wise person once said that those who do not learn the mistakes of history are condemned to repeat them. We are wise to take that on board.
+Richard