Soldier’s Bibles Destroyed

It’s official. The U.S. military has confirmed that they destroyed a stack of Bibles that were the personal property of a soldier serving at an Air Force base in Kabul. Maj. Jennifer Willis stated that the Bibles, written in the Pashto and Dari languages, were in fact eliminated and never distributed. The military supposedly forbids its members on active duty from trying to convert people to another religion. According to officials, the Bibles were sent through private mail to an evangelical Christian soldier by his church back home.

What the U.S. Military has done here is troubling on a variety of levels. Obviously there is no reason for causing any extra friction in a country that already has some armed conflict being waged on their own soil. But for the armed forces to muzzle the personal faith of its volunteers seems less than necessary. To allow weapons of war to fly while stifling words of faith seems somehow off base. An it seems odd to prevent a soldier from gently sharing a personal, private, and peaceful Christian testimony especially considering how those on the ‘other side’ are known for forcing conversions, outlawing opposing religions, and persecuting those who don’t adhere to their beliefs.

It would have been interesting to see what course of action would have occurred had it been a U.S. Muslim soldier receiving English versions of the Qur’an for personal use. And it can only be imagined what would have occurred if English versions of the Qur’an were confiscated or desecrated in any way, much less torn to pieces or burned. An invasion of religious privacy on that side of the spiritual aisle would be world news.

For a committed Christian believer in the U.S. military, there is more than one set of marching orders. Mark 16:15-16 summarizes the spiritual side. ”And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

The logical extension for every disciple of Jesus Christ is to then attempt to reproduce others of his own spiritual kind. Paul shares how this is peacefully and effectively achieved. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) There is never any reference or reason for badgering, force, or threats – but rather a gentle sharing of the reality of the faith and the blessings it brings.

But what happens when earthly orders conflict with a direct initiative from heaven? Who has the upper hand? This exact thing took place during the early days of the church and is described at length in Acts 5. The apostles had been locked up for ‘filling Jerusalem with their doctrine’ – meaning their sharing the good news and teachings of Jesus Christ. But their words were as foreign and illogical to the Jewish populace back then as it might be to any Muslim living today. It was revolutionary, perhaps scary, and was largely ignored as 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 contends. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. “

But after being miraculously freed from their brief imprisonment, the apostles again began speaking out their faith. They were again arrested and again forbidden to speak about Christ. But this time around, when the order to cease came down, it was met with the uncompromising worlds in verse 29: “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.” It was settled. Christ’s followers would not be silenced despite even the most dire of earthly consequences. And some would ultimately suffer just that by forfeiting their lives for the propagation their precious new faith.

There is an eternal battle being waged today that is far greater than the current ‘war on terror’. Ironically it began in the Garden of Eden and right where American forces fight and die today. The duty of every U.S. soldier is to obey his superiors and fight in a fashion that meets his nation’s standards. And it is the duty of every Christian believer in the military to accept the call of his heavenly commander and blend his service in both realms together as best he or she can.

And perhaps it would serve the U.S. military better to realize the value of having Christian soldiers who are blessed with a unique dual role. And it might help, too, if those in authority would follow the pattern of a wise man named Gamaliel who recognized reality and his responsibility in that early confrontation of kingdoms.

“And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it — lest you even be found to fight against God." (Acts 5:38-39)

Bill Breckenridge