Thank God For Our Veterans

November 11, 2026

Leadership Notes

     As followers of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, we have an interesting understanding of the military. While I am not a pacifist, I understand that war is, at times, a necessary option of last resort for restraining evil and protecting innocent life. It should neither be looked at lightly, nor entered into carelessly.

     Charles Spurgeon, it appears, had an uneasy relationship with wars and rumors of war. Here are two pertinent observations about Spurgeon:

> He did not universally reject every single concept of armed conflict in

all imaginable scenarios. For instance, he justified the American Civil

War because of his passionate opposition to slavery and his belief in

the moral necessity of freeing enslaved people.

> He was deeply skeptical of Just War. While he wasn't a strict

dogmatic pacifist, he viewed the moral justification for war as

extremely rare, repeatedly teaching that war was a curse and a tragic

failure of human society.

     No doubt Spurgeon would have believed the same way about WW2 that he did about the Civil War. The problem with all that is, how far down the rabbit hole of Just War Theory do we go? Regardless of the answer, war is sin. At the very least, it represents a breakdown in human relationships resulting in the tragic loss of life. Some are the direct result of warfare, while others are euphemistically referred to as “collateral damage.”

     Listen to what Paul says in Romans 12:18:

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

That’s wise counsel. It mediates between naïve pacifism and hawkishness. That sits well with me.

     Meanwhile, it is good and right to honor our military veterans. Today is the day we recognize them, giving thanks to God for their willingness to protect and defend this great country of ours. I love President Reagan’s Veterans Day Proclamation from 1986:

“Veterans Day gives all Americans a special opportunity to pay

tribute to all those men and women who, throughout our history,

have left their homes and loved ones to serve their country.

Their willingness to give freely and unselfishly of themselves,

even their lives, in defense of our democratic principles has given

our great country the security we enjoy today…Through war and

peace, valiant, patriotic Americans have answered the call,

serving with honor and fidelity.

On this special day, our hearts and thoughts turn to all the

Nation's veterans. Let us reflect on the great achievements of

those whose sacrifices preserved our freedom and our way of life.

With a spirit of pride and gratitude, let us recall their heroic

accomplishments and thank them for their unselfish devotion to

duty. They are indeed worthy of the solemn tribute of a grateful

Nation.”

     With Much Love and Affection,

                       Richard