They came in low and fast. Three military helicopters in close formation. The crowd on the ground looked up at the sudden thickness and noise, but they were soon gone again. The respectful silence of the worshippers had been shattered. The hard-earned peace we were thankful for also shattered by the powerful reminder of the reality of war today.
As our church gathered with over 1,000 people on Sunday at a local open air remembrance service, the flypast from RAF Brize Norton symbolised not only those who serve today in violent conflicts around the world, but also reminded me of the ethical conflicts many Christians may face on Remembrance Day.
First, I'm not sure Christ's name was even mentioned during our 30 minute service, and to be honest the whole event seemed aimed more at honouring the dead than honouring God, despite the inclusion of prayers and hymns. To attend as a local church community and have no Christian input was difficult to swallow. But to avoid it would seem like ducking out of the public life of the community we seek to serve in Christ's name.
Second, a lot of people are nervous about the link between religion and violence. Aggressive atheists charge religion with being the cause of conflict in our world, and with ISIS and Boko Haram making regular headlines for their atrocities it is not difficult to find sympathy for these views. But the fact that the majority of those fleeing ISIS in Syria are Muslim seems to have escaped the critics. Conflicts are often not about the finer points of theology, but most typically about political ideology with religion used as a handy tool to unify an army and demonise an enemy. Music is not inherently the cause of global conflict, yet has been commandeered by ISIS in their recruitment videos as well as utilised by the US to help motivate its troops. You can apply the same logic to religious affiliation.
For many people, an annual town service to honour the fallen in war is the nearest they will come to visiting a church. While I may bemoan the lack of biblical content in the service, I can appreciate that this may in fact be an opportunity to link faith not with violence, but with the Christian truth that death is not meaningless, nor is it the end.
Third, Christians have long been concerned that the Christ who calls his followers to love their enemies, turn the other cheek and make peace should not be conscripted to support nationalistic violence. It has led some Christian traditions to oppose any military intervention and to take up the position of 'conscientious objector'. Others, while sympathetic to this view, argue that there is such a thing as a just war and that sometimes the lesser of two evils is to take up arms to protect the vulnerable. It's a tricky line to walk, particularly on Remembrance Sunday and the commemoration at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month. This is a dangerous thing to get wrong in our culture at the moment. Whether you are Jeremy Corbyn choosing not to sing the national anthem as a republican atheist and apparently offering too slight a bow while laying a wreath at the Cenotaph, or Sienna Miller whose dress made it difficult to attach a poppy during a television interview, the wrong side of public opinion is a difficult place to be. The kind of reaction on social media to even the slightest non-conformity is quickly seized upon with vitriolic savagery.
So is it possible to be deeply respectful to those who gave their lives in the protection of the vulnerable and the pursuit of peace without celebrating war? Is it possible to honour God while also honouring the sacrifice of the fallen soldiers? Is it possible to passionately seek the welfare of our communities without becoming a full-blooded nationalist? Is it possible to be ashamed of some of the decisions our government has had to make throughout history in both war and peace and yet be profoundly committed to being good citizens and politically involved? Is it possible to love and pray for those who serve in our military and also for citizens of some of the countries where our military serve?
I believe it is, though it may sometimes feel like we're caught in no-man's land between conflicting views. For those 120 seconds of silence on November 11th, lets not get caught up in the theological and political dilemmas, but let us pray to the God who holds nations in His hands.
Dear Father God and Saviour of the world.
Thank you for our liberty. Thank you for those who sacrificed limb and life to make it possible for us to live in peace and security. Thank you for those things we value most about life in a peaceful democracy owing to Christianity's influence on our culture. For rule of law, democracy, and freedom of conscience. And above all, thank you for the one who modelled self-sacrificial love to make life possible; for your son who laid down "his life as a ransom for many."
I pray for peace. I pray for those who make the kinds of decisions that could lead a country to war or peace. I pray for peace so that Christians can get on and humbly live their lives taking those opportunities to share and live out the gospel. I pray for "kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth," (1 Timothy 2:1-3).
I pray for resolve. As I read the Bible, let me not be ashamed of those military metaphors that encourage radical discipleship. Help me to "fight the good fight like Paul, and to "please our commanding officer" like Timothy. Enable me to live a life of discipline and loyalty offered up in service to our God.
Amen.
