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Let me set the stage for why this issue is important to me by telling you a little bit about myself, the organization I serve and exactly what it is that we’re up to – I think an understanding of my life-setting will help you better track with where I’m coming from.
I am, among other things, an ambassador of sorts from Colorado Springs, standing in the gap between fundamentalist Christians on one hand and a very large military contingency on the other. And we would be remiss if we thought the presence of these two groups in the same city was in any way something that should be glossed over or taken lightly – as if one does not influence the other.
On the religious side of the equation, Colorado Springs is now home to more ministries and para-church organizations than any other city in the U.S. It has jokingly been referred to as “The Vatican City of American Evangelicalism.”
On the military side of the equation, we are also home to ‘The United States Air Force Academy’ and ‘Peterson Air Force Base’ as well as a large Army installation known as ‘Ft. Carson.’ Taken together, both of these groups have played, and continue to play, a significant role in creating the world you and I presently find ourselves attempting to influence and reshape.
As CEO of The David Group International, I am deeply involved in both ‘inner’ and ‘inter’ faith dialogue at home and abroad. Specifically, on the international front, The David Group is opting to serve as the U.S. Secretariat for an organization known as The Global Forum – a peace and reconciliation initiative co-hosted by Prince Hassan of Jordan and Monash and RMIT Universities in Melbourne Australia.
At home in the States, we have recently entered into a long-term relationship with Harvard University graduate student Tracy Howe in establishing a New Earth Fellowship Program where we will sponsor graduate students to conduct research on many of our peace and reconciliation projects in places such as the Middle East, Africa, Ireland and South America.
The issue of peace in our time is foremost in my mind and heart. Helping others frame the Jesus narrative as one about a Prince of Peace launching a clarion call to avoid violence or suffer the consequences is principal in my teaching. So you can probably guess what I thought as I walked through a Christian bookstore in search of a new Bible and happened across one being marketed to teens – with its cover and page-edging all in camouflage!
It blatantly and unapologetically represented the essence of ‘the Word goes military,’ ‘counter-ops,’ ‘stealth,’ and ‘take no prisoners’! And it visibly embodied the idea of a cosmic war. I immediately wondered how we’d feel if it were a camouflaged version of the Qur’an for kids. I imagine the bookstore might even be picketed in protest.
It was this same merging of religion and military aspirations that brought the warnings of Jesus (and earlier, of the Hebrew prophets) to reality in the sacking of Jerusalem a generation after Jesus’ era. The thought of his people opting to dress their divine revelation in the garb of a military option, of violence and revolt, caused Jesus to weep over the city and its people, affirming how often he wanted to lovingly gather them under his arms. The thought of such an unholy alliance made him visibly ill.
And I’m thinking that the thought of marketing camouflage Bibles to our youth should produce no less a reaction within us.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
11 comments to “Camouflage Bible for Kids? Really??”
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It will be a beautiful thing when our country chooses peace over control.
(Blessed are the cheese makers
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Yes, Kelley. And when our world chooses joy over righteousness.
I feel like singing Imagine by John Lennon and proclaiming that The War is Over. Because that’s what Christ did. He proclaimed the Peace of peace, of All understanding. And the prophets said also that we would beat our spears into plowshares. Let’s eat and forget about being right and waging war. Bread was broken for us at the Last Supper, and I want to be in that Wedding at the feast now.
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Hi Tim, Good post. I to am beside myself when Confronted with folks who see war and conflict as something we should embrace!!. And worse yet that God embraces!!. But I am hopeful that with the change of the Gaurd in Washington we have someone who is not afraid to shake the hand with one who may oppose us. It surely is a nice change from what we have had in the past, hopefully it will catch on and Love will prevail!!…………….Blessings, Andy
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This hits home for me in many ways … my father is retired from the military — was a JAG officer in the Army for 30 years (is now a circuit court judge) … so my first 22 years were spent as a “military brat” (now just a generic brat…!). My father had a powerful conversion experience in the mid-70′s (Jesus Movement) … spending time being counseled by Merlin Carouthers (“Prison to Praise”). The combination of military and religion was a strong one for me …
On one hand, I loved the opportunity to live all over the planet … not just around the USA, but Japan, and Europe … many wonderful experiences, meeting various people, and seeing incredible places! I also thrilled to the patriotic displays … military bands … parades with horses and soldiers in impeccable precision … hearing soaring music, feeling pride in our country… and I had amazing experiences in our inter-denominational youth group … Catholics, Evangelicals, Orthodox … all flavors in one loving, other-accepting group (we did “Godspell” together — during which Jesus became real for me). Another blessing was that I didn’t sense denominational differences … and racial differences were non-existent for me as well (whether or not your father was an officer was my big “line in the sand”).
On the other hand, I feel manipulated … I was taught, no coerced, to see myself as “better than” because I was from this country … to think in terms of “us vs. them” … to accept false divisions as real … to believe that might makes right … to think in terms of over-powering … of the haves taking rights over the have-nots (& even requiring that there BE have-nots, in order to have … as if there’s a lack of supply!).
While my father was assigned to the War College (!) in Carlisle Barracks, PA, I was going to Messiah College (AKA “Bob Jones University Lite”). I would pass the sign at the front gate each day as I commuted to school … it read, “Not to promote war, but to preserve peace.”
And they really *believed* that’s what they were doing …! It was the collective, unquestioned, assumption in their foundation.
I know many, many wonderful folks in the military … folks of good conscience caught up in the military machine … and when I think of them (or of me, or of anyone), I remember the words of Jesus … “forgive them for they know not what they do.”
O God, show us the lies we believe, individually and collectively … replace our fears with perfect love … particularly our fear of separation … show us how we are ALL truly One…!
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Thanks for the post, Tim. And Dena, thanks for sharing your story.
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Wow — unbelievable, Tim.
There’s always such a need to hear things from another perspective … doesn’t Proverbs describe one who goes on only one side of a story, a “fool”..?
Our work is cut out for us…!
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I think many of the conflicts around the world are started for one reason and then after a period of time those that are still in the conflict don’t really know what the conflict is all about, all they know is that there is a conflict and the reason behind it is irrelevant. It reminds me of an old Andy Griffin sit-com set back in the early 1960′s. Sheriff Taylor is awakened in the middle of the night to preform a wedding for a young couple and right in the middle of the ceremony the two fathers show up and disrupt the whole thing, well The sheriff sets out to find out why the Carters and wakefeilds are a fueding, he shows up at one of the houses and there is Mr. Wakefeild just taking pot shots out into the forest, well before long the sheriff asks what the fued is about and to his surprise Mr. Wakefield doesn’t know, well then he heads over to the other guys house and asks him why he is fueding and to his surprise he doesn’t know either, Very funny, but when I think about it this is probably how it is with most folks that are in a conflict, they just know there is a conflict and the reason for the conflict is beside the point, it’s just the way things are done.
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Tim –
This comes as no surprise to me. Ever since I joined the church 17 years ago, I have been appalled at the songs and rhetoric about being “soldiers for the a lord”, “we’re on the battlefield”, talking about the Bible as your weapon against the enemy, etc.I cannot stand the songs that rejoice over the defeating the enemy etc, Unfortuantely we sing some of those songs at Exodus because of tradition even though in the hearts of most of the ministers that is not what our church stands for. We’re still a mixed bag of people who bring a mixed bag of theologies into the church. It would not surprise me to see a camouflage Bible in our congregation. Some see the enemy as the drugs,the lifestyle of destruction, the penitentuary mindset. Some think the enemy is the “devil”. We are very inclusive so we welcome them all and preach a present day gospel about what God can do for YOU right now. Our church is really messy but a lot of good is coming out of it. Keep up the good work. Just keep telling it like it is because you have many who are listening.
Hi Tim,
Thanks for the post.
I often wonder if the “old guard” with fundamentalism (of any religious or spiritual leaning) firmly etched into their being is rapidly dying away or gaining momentum.
I believe some truth to the matter is we begin teaching our children all we are taught to teach them, and then ignore their “childish” thoughts and natural purity because we’re doing what’s best for them, as we’ve been taught we should do. I often times wonder what the world would be like with children leading, and adults carrying out their proclamations.
The old myths are dying, surely. New ones are being created right now, ones that will develop and evolve, and bring humanity into a union all the great master- teachers held at the center of their being. I believe music and song will play an integral part in the evolution of our new myths because there is no need to teach, explain, or translate the essence musical harmony. It just feels right- and there is truth here that upsets any order founded on words or ideas.
Peace, brother. Thank you for your work, your passion and your harmony. Your vibration resonates with the spirit of all that is good and I have no doubt your words in Jordan will find ears ready for change towards a new peace.
Much love!