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Language of Liberty- Some Veterans Day and Biblical Connections

By Dan | November 11, 2008

When I saw this video on Godtube, it made me think a little about the language we use in both the church and the civic realm, especially as we speak of our military. In the video it highlights freedom, liberty, and sacrifice. All of these words have applications in both realms. And there are some neat connections. For instance, freedom is not free, it requires sacrifice.

But as I was thinking about this, other words and metaphors popped into my mind. Other strange parallels exist. Soldiers speak of duty, of following orders, of loyalty. There is a sense of listening and trusting orders because that’s what saves lives in the midst of the craziness of war. In the same sense, we as Christians listen to our God. We obey. We have duties here on earth. And sometimes we have to listen even when what God seems to be moving us to do doesn’t quite make sense here on earth.

You can keep pushing the tension though. Soldiers voluntarily place themselves within this duty, this trusting relationship that often requires they subordinate themselves, and why do they do it- to preserve liberty and freedom.

These are tensions we too understand as Christians. We too are freed by Christ, free from being under the law, and yet, in our freedom we choose to serve, to put others before ourselves.

Just a few thoughts. I’m sure one could run more parallels, but as you listen to this language today and in the future, I think it’s nice to remember the God who’s behind all language, who chooses to reveal himself as The Word.