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Honoring those who are being deployed

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by JoeKan, Dec 3, 2006.

  1. JoeKan

    JoeKan Member

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    Here's a situation I'm sure some of you have faced or will face in the near future. We have a soldier in our church that will be deployed to the Middle East in a short while.
    We're wanting to do something special for him his last Sunday with us. Can anyone give some ideas as to what we could do to honor him?
    I thought of maybe having a potluck dinner, have his family to come up to the pulpit and the deacons and I pray for him.
    Any suggestions or ideas will be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks,
    Joe

    Preach the Word!
     
  2. Humblesmith

    Humblesmith Member

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    Have him stand in the midst of the congregation and have the leaders and the congregation stand all around him, and touch him while you pray. This is not being showy, but is a physical sign of how the congregation will keep him in prayer. He will remember it, as will those in the congregation.

    He should be able to get mail, so send him letters and photos regularly. He might can get email also.
    Give him a small object that he can carry in his pocket to remind him of the church and Jesus Christ.
    A pocket new testament would be good, with a note from home.
     
  3. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    Have all the members who are veteran's wear their uniforms and encircle him and 'pass the torch' so to speak.
     
  4. StraightAndNarrow

    StraightAndNarrow Active Member

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    PERSONALLY, IHAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH BRINGING THE ARMY INTO THE CHURCH. You can support a war in the "render into Caesar" part of your life if you chose to do so but I don't think it has any part in the God part of your life.
     
  5. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    Why not? They're just as much a part of the 'Family of God' as you and I.
     
  6. StraightAndNarrow

    StraightAndNarrow Active Member

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    Of course they are as individuals. But we're talking about celebrating their role as soldiers. They can join the army and fight in wars if they want to or the government forces them to but I don't think the church should get involved. Of course it has, in the recent past, but I don't believe that it's Biblical. Support the individual, of course. But leave war out of the church.
     
  7. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    I could see your point if they were canceling 11:00 service to have a going away ceremony for the guy but to take 5 or 10 minutes to say we have you in our prayers is far less than holding a funeral in the Church.
     
  8. StraightAndNarrow

    StraightAndNarrow Active Member

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    I don't care if they're taking 30 seconds. The state doesn't belong in the church. I take this stance from a biblical perspective not a political one although you could argue that as well.
     
  9. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    So since a young man who is also a brother in Christ, and was raised in the church all his life, and was prayed over for various things over the years - joins the Army and now belongs (physically) to the 'state'; he should not be allowed in church and to be prayed over before he is deployed???

    How much since does that make?
     
  10. StraightAndNarrow

    StraightAndNarrow Active Member

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    You didn't read what I posted previously. Yes, I believe the individual who is going into a dangerous situation should be prayed for. Firemen and policemen should be prayed for. Individuals who have serious illnesses should be prayed for as should those who are straying from the faith. I just don't believe that the military and the church should merge together into the "army of God." The American army is not the army of God. Christians make up the army of God not those who fly the red, white, and blue.
     
  11. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    The young men in our church who are in the military are in the American army and also the army of God.

    I don't see any difference in praying for them before they are deployed and praying for them if they were going to have surgery.
     
  12. StraightAndNarrow

    StraightAndNarrow Active Member

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    You didn't read what I posted previously. Yes, I believe the individual who is going into a dangerous situation should be prayed for. Firemen and policemen should be prayed for. Individuals who have serious illnesses should be prayed for as should those who are straying from the faith. I just don't believe that the military and the church should merge together into the "army of God." The American army is not the army of God. Christians make up the army of God not those who fly the red, white, and blue.
     
  13. El_Guero

    El_Guero New Member

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    Sounds great.

    If you have veterans in the congragation, you can ask them to stand for recognition . . . and then maybe encourage them to come down and pray or shake hands with the family


    God bless

    Wayne

     
  14. El_Guero

    El_Guero New Member

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    I would check with the 'V' (local VFW) and find out the correct attire - veterans are not allowed to just wear their uniforms - that is 'impersonation' of a soldier. I doubt that anyone other than snn would care enough to report ya' . . .

     
  15. El_Guero

    El_Guero New Member

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    I read what you wrote - and I was insulted by what you wrote.

    As a veteran I was insulted.

    As a Christian I was insulted.

    As a servant of God, I assure you that your stance did not sound like it was motivated by a love of God and His family. You yourself said that it could be read as a political motivation, as well. I would expect churches to pray for the protection of brothers and sisters going to war for any and every government. If we, God's people, cannot pray for God's protection of His people than WHO CAN?

    Christians served in Caesar's body guard . . . and they died showing their love for God.

    And when you state that the Army, that I proudly served in, is less deserving of God, His people, and our respect then the pagan government that Jesus & Paul commanded us to respect - then I am insulted.



     
  16. Ed Edwards

    Ed Edwards <img src=/Ed.gif>

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    Right before the Iraq deployment, some locals were being
    depolyed to the Sinai. Seems the UN keeps a buffer there betwen
    Egypt and Israel (evidently to protect Egypt from invasion ;) )
     
  17. StraightAndNarrow

    StraightAndNarrow Active Member

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    So basically, you're saying that America is special. That the U.S. is more godly than was Rome. There is only one nation that is singled out as special in the Bible and it isn't America. Christ said that He came to establish a heavenly kingdom not a worldly one. Are you siding with Judas in saying that it was the other way around? There is nothing sacred about the U.S. army or the British or French armies either. They stand for Caesar and have no place alongside the army of God.
     
  18. DodgeRamFanatic

    DodgeRamFanatic New Member

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    But what if said army is fighting for something that's right according to the Bible--like in the War Between the States? Part of the reason the War came about was because of slavery, and the North wanted to eliminate that. Were they wrong in fighting for the freedom of fellow human beings?
    DRF
     
  19. StraightAndNarrow

    StraightAndNarrow Active Member

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    I'm not saying that the U.S. military is never fighting for a worthy cause. Certainly keeping Hitler from reaching his goal of world domination in WW2 was right. I'm simply saying that it doesn't ALWAYS get it right. If it did it would be perfect. Who or what in the secular world is perfect? Besides, our faith and our nationalism are two separate things. Jesus said that we are to be in this world but not of this world. Christians are supposed to be separate.
     
  20. JoeKan

    JoeKan Member

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    Thanks for the replies everyone, but StraightandArrow, although I appreciate your opinion, I didn't ask whether you thought it was good idea or not.
    What we're doing here has already been decided, and I decided that we're going honor our servicemen and women.

    Sincerly,
    Joe
     
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