Category Archives: Christian Living

Can a Christian Serve in the US Military?

Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. –Psalm 144:1

Can a Christian serve in combat?  Is war inconsistent with the commands of Jesus Christ?

Recent events have given new life to the age old discussion about whether “Christian” and “military” are mutually exclusive (never mind being a “Christian Fighter Pilot”).  Particularly for new Christians, or Christians who grew up in peaceful times and areas, the concepts of a “warring Christian” who is a child of the loving God can seem contradictory.

(There are also many non-Christians who try to find an apparent contradiction in military Christian service.  The intent here is to address those with a Christian worldview.)

There are many books and pamphlets written on this topic, and most categorize their analysis in two categories. The “anti-war” division centers on the “pacifist teachings” of Jesus. The “pro-war” division centers on the Just War doctrine supported with Biblical citations. Well-researched books quote Augustine and Thomas Aquinas Read more

You Can Talk Like a Fighter Pilot, but Should You?

It seems everybody wants to be a fighter pilot, or at least pretend to be one.  Many people seem to quote fighter pilot movies without knowing what they’re actually saying.  Some quotes are accurate (pilots do say “Fox 3” when firing AMRAAMs and “Fox 2” when firing Sidewinders, a la Will Smith in Independence Day); others, not so much (pretty much everything in Top Gun).  While most fighter pilot-sounding quotes may just sound cool, quite a bit of real fighter pilot lingo is laced with sexual innuendo through the use of “clever” linguistic games.

Are you sure you want to play?  Read more

Finding a Church, Part 3: Leaving a Church

Being a Christian in the military sometimes creates challenges in situations civilians take for granted.  For example, how do you find a church?  The concept of a “home church” and steady lifelong attendance takes on a whole new meaning when you move every two to four years.

This is the third article in a series of suggestions and guidance on finding a church as you move about in your military career.  The first, Part 1: The Military Chapel, discussed the various perspectives and thoughts on attending services at the base/post military chapel.  The second, Part 2: Worshipping at Local Churches, addressed the topic of local/community churches a military Christian might choose to visit.  This final article discusses the sometimes controversial topic of “leaving” a church.

There used to be an old military Academy gripe that cadets were judged unfairly:  Read more

Finding a Church, Part 2: Worshipping at Local Churches

Being a Christian in the military sometimes creates challenges in situations civilians take for granted.  For example, how do you find a church?  The concept of a “home church” and steady lifelong attendance takes on a whole new meaning when you move every two to four years.

This is the second article in a series of suggestions and guidance on finding a church as you move about in your military career.  The first, Part 1: The Military Chapel, discussed the various perspectives and thoughts on attending services at the base/post military chapel.  The topic of Part 2 is local/community churches a military Christian might choose to visit at a new or temporary assignment.

Attending a Local Church  Read more

Biblical Perspectives on a Christian’s Service in War

The Journal of Faith and War has a long and interesting treatise on the Biblical perspective on Christians serving during wartime.

The article covers pacifism, the Bible’s take on military service, and other angles on what is sometimes a controversial topic.

Even if you don’t find a conflict between your faith and your profession, you should still be able to articulate why you do not feel there is a conflict.  The JFW article provides an excellent starting point.

Finding a Church, Part 1: The Military Chapel

Being a Christian in the military sometimes creates challenges in situations civilians take for granted.  For example, how do you find a church?  The concept of a “home church” and steady lifelong attendance takes on a whole new meaning when you move every two to four years.

As a military Christian, the single most important thing you can do when you arrive at a new assignment is establish your spiritual support, and finding a church is crucial to that end.  There are many options and no single correct answer.  Some people prefer the locale and access of the military chapel; others, the non-military feel of community churches.  Each option has its positives and negatives — the only ‘bad’ choice is to do nothing.

The Base Chapel

As a military Christian, when you arrive at a new assignment your  Read more

The Faith of Champion TCU Football Quarterback Dalton

In the pattern of Tim Tebow, a local article documents the faith of Andy Dalton, the long-running quarterback of the TCU Horned Frogs.  After an already championship season (including a handy defeat of Air Force), Dalton’s finale was leading TCU to win the Rose Bowl on New Years Day — but, Dalton’s “legacy” is more than football.

But Dalton will not only leave a massive football legacy behind at TCU, he’ll leave a spiritual mark as well.  Read more

Military Christian Stewardship: Ready for Your Pay Raise?

The New Year has begun, and along with resolutions of daily Bible reading and hitting the gym to improve your fitness score, you’ve got another burning question:

What are you going to do with all that money?

The Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress includes a 1.4% pay raise for active duty military members.  Combined with the New Year it provides an excellent opportunity to review your financial stewardship, whether you’re a brand new Lieutenant or a “seasoned” senior officer.

Of course, it is difficult to be wise about your finances when you don’t even know where your money goes.  If you don’t have one already, it’s time…for a budget. 

While that may make some cringe or scoff, realize that a budget — even a very basic one — will help you be a good steward of the resources God has given you.  While the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 actually goes beyond money, its truth is applicable:  Read more

1 … 5 6 7 8 9 … 15