Better Chaplain Series - Train Your Discernment

Small children, of whom I have a few, are notorious for their lack of judgement between what is healthy and what is harmful. They’ll eat food (and other things) off the floor, take ridiculous risks, ignore what is clearly (to me) the best option, and think only in terms of immediate results. On the spiritual side, if it mentions God or Jesus or gives them a coloring sheet, they are sure it's great, no matter where it's coming from (Consider 2 Corinthians 11:4).

John MacArthur puts it this way, “A small child will stick almost anything into his mouth, touch anything he can reach, go anywhere he can manage to crawl—with no concept of what is good for him and what is bad, what is helpful and what is dangerous. The mature adult, on the other hand, has developed considerable discernment. He is careful about what he eats, what he does, where he goes. The same principle operates in the spiritual realm.”

Chaplains will encounter all sorts of people who believe all sorts of lies. Some lies are well veiled and you maybe will understand why someone would fall for them, others are so obvious that they’d be laughable if not so tragic. I’ll never forget one young Airman who readily admitted his life was a disaster, then rattled off five known heretics (some dead, some retired, and some active) who he was listening to and reading, and wondering why God wasn’t blessing his circumstances.

Ask these questions:

1. Is it true? By what standard?
2. Is it Christ honoring?
3. Is it helpful? Is it building up the church?
4. What is the logical end of this path?
5. Is there a better way?
6. Does the Bible speak directly or indirectly to this topic?

Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right. ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Key Verse: Solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. ~ Hebrews 5:14

More:

1. The Bible teaches us that discernment is not a “one-and-done” proposition. You don’t gain it by taking a Sunday School class or earning your degree or reading one devotional. It requires new effort and new considerations every day and in every circumstance. It’s easy to point out Sabellianism, Pelagianism, Marxism, and Aryanism in the past, but how do we get good at pointing out Driscollism, Shrirerism, Marxism, and NARism when it’s found its way through the doors of our chapels or churches?

2. If someone served you a full cup of poison, your senses would scream at you not to drink it. Your eyes would water, your nose would revolt, and your gag-reflex would ensure the poison could not find its way anywhere near your digestive system. But if they dilute that poison with something pleasant, meter it in a smaller quantity, and cover those warning signs, then it would be easier to get you to drink it. Consider Proverbs 5:3-11 for one case study on how poison can be dressed up to look and taste sweet as it leads many straight to ruin and Hell.

3. People will bring you all sorts of questionable teachers, books, music, and movies that they like for a variety of reasons. The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart: they like having their ears tickled. I would too if I didn’t know the danger of such poison. Many genuine believers can be deceived, so our call is to help them out of the fire, but we hate the sin that got them there (Jude 22-23). Life is too short and eternity is too long for us to entertain false teachers even for a moment. We cannot be soft on false doctrine, because it "comforts no one, sanctifies no one, elevates no one, helps no one towards heaven." ~ JC Ryle

4. Further Resources

Baucham, Voddie T. Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe. Washington: Salem Books, 2021.

MacArthur, John. The Truth War: Fight for Certainty in an Age of Deception. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007.

Papa, Matt. Stay Away from Jesus. YouTube video, 4:33. Posted by Matt Papa, February 7, 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jXfWW2U5bI

Better Chaplain Series - Holiness Over Happiness

In premarital counseling I lead with, “What’s the purpose of marriage?” I hear the usual cliches such as “someone to do life with,” or “because we love each other,” or “to start a family”, and even “for the legal and financial benefits.” There is truth in all of these, but what is the ultimate purpose of marriage? The purpose of marriage is not to make you happy, but to make you holy (compare Ephesians 5:22-33, especially vv. 25-27). This is why the vows include faithfulness in horrible (worse) unions, instances of sickness, times of scarcity (poorer – Habakkuk 3:17-19), till death does you part; because marriage shows us how to sacrifice for someone else, to love an unlovable bride (you get to be like Christ!), and to reveal our deep-seeded selfishness and sinfulness.

Given this introduction, what do you think the purpose of chaplaincy is? If you’re paying attention, you know that the purpose of chaplaincy is to make you holy. You’ll be faced with challenges, impossible bosses, long hours, conflicting priorities, and unlovable people (whom you’re called to love). Each of these is to conform you to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29).

If you became a chaplain to find fulfilment, or a paycheck, or a title, or a missions field, or to see the world, or any such thing, you may find those things to some degree (like a marriage can fulfil worldly promises for a moment), but you’ll miss God’s will and plan for your ministry. God is doing a great sanctifying work in his saints (those he has made holy) through many means, using all things to conform them to the image of his Son.

Holiness is not the way to Christ. Christ is the way to holiness. ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Key Verse: This is the will of God: your sanctification (holiness). ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:3

More:

1. Many of our military members have never thought deeply about the purpose of life. Their expectation is that if they just do their best, good things will happen. We understand that God creates things for a purpose, and when we don’t fulfil that purpose we’re likely to misuse and abuse God’s good design. What would happen if we tried to turn an MQ-9 into a passenger plane, a C-5 into a fighter jet, and M1-A1 tank into a Surface to Air Missile (SAM) site, or an aircraft carrier into a low-earth-orbit reconnaissance satellite? Not only would they hopelessly fail their missions, but they would despair of their purpose completely. Helping our people to understand their purpose is paramount in the chaplain’s duties; we have to help them first to be image bearers of God, second to be trophies of his grace, and third to serve faithfully in their calling. This will help all of our disciples to not just know their purpose, but to fulfil it, and to understand their purpose is to be set apart from the world to magnify Christ in all they do.

2. Chaplaincy, like marriage, may lead to happiness, and I pray it does for you. But if you had to choose between happiness and holiness, which would it be? Which will matter most in the life to come?

3. The goal of Christianity is to look like Christ, the way to look like Christ is to walk with Christ, and the way to walk with Christ is to be saved by Christ. We say, “I was saved, I am being saved, I will be saved.” Do you look more like Christ today than you did yesterday? Than the day you were saved? Saintly chaplain, this is the will of God: your sanctification.

4. Further Resources:

MacArthur, John. Strang Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2013.

DeYoung, Kevin. Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009.

Better Chaplain Series - Float Boats

When you leave a meeting, do you leave anything behind? Do you think people noticed that you were there or that you left? How about bigger: when you leave a base, a church, a city or state, the military, or the earth? Are people better for you being in close proximity to them?

David said that goodness and mercy followed him all the days of his life. The chaplain ought to be a source of hope in every situation with encouragement, love, and life pouring into every person as God gives opportunity. In their wake should be people who were faced to think on eternity because of the christian's witness.

Being indwelt with the Holy Spirit means that you’re going to bear much fruit in love, joy, patience, self-control, calmness (not a named fruit of the Spirit, but I often say that a chaplain should be the calmest person in the room), etc. because the chaplain ought to be an ever-present encouragement to those he ministers to. They may not have the same beliefs but one of your jobs is to make them jealous of how God is blessing you, so that they may be saved (Romans 11:13-14).

There is no such thing as neutrality, we are either for Christ or against Christ. Everyone you meet will be better or worse for having you in their life. You’ll either push them towards the Kingdom of Heaven or inoculate them against the truth. Richard Wurmbrand is an extreme case, but he spent years in a Romanian prison and found a ministry in which he was able to lead several prisoners and at least one guard to Christ. He summarizes his ministry like this, “It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their terms. We were happy preaching, they were happy beating us, so everyone was happy.”

Chaplain, how can you be spreading love and hope? Is it true of you that goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life?

I pray that when I die, all of Hell will rejoice that I am no longer in the fight. ~ C.T. Studd (When I paraphrase this I say, "I pray that you will live your life and so order your faith that when you die, all of Hell will rejoice that a great saint has stepped off the field of battle.")

Key Verse: Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. ~ 2 Corinthians 2:14

More:

1. I tell new servicemembers that if they are running low on hope to visit a chaplain, because we have an overabundance of hope and we’re happy to give some away. The adage says, “Hope floats all boats!” Are you ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you, that is, Christ in you, the hope of glory? If you don’t have any hope to give away, how can you, as Heath Lambert declares, “Go nuts in the hope department!”?

2. As a chaplain I regularly have people miss appointments or fail to do something optional that they said they were going to do. Often because of the rank disparity they ask if I’m going to report them. My response, “I’m here to alleviate stress, would reporting this alleviate stress or add stress?” Granted, there is room for accountability and the blessings thereof, but would you say you’re better at stressing people out or bolstering their hope? What would they say about you?

3. An anecdote from the Soviet Union says that soldiers despondently said they were having an “average” day. When asked what was average about it, they said it was “worse than yesterday, but better than tomorrow.” That's a sad “average”; are you making people’s day worse or better than yesterday? My prayer for you, dear reader, is that you’ll have an average day: better than yesterday, but worse than tomorrow, and that you'll do likewise for those God has put you in close proximity to. Only in Christ can this prayer be answered.

4. Further Resources:

Burroughs, Jeremiah. The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. Reprint, Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1964.

Wurmbrand, Richard. Tortured for Christ. Washington Depot CT: Spire Books, 1971.

Wurmbrand, Sabina. The Pastor’s Wife. Bartlesville, OK: Living Sacrifice Book Co, 2005.

Better Chaplain Series - Understand Justice

When the world only does what is right in its own eyes we see a pandemic of interpretations of what is right and wrong. This results in victimhood and false accusations running rampant, and complex judgments falling to opinion and anecdotal evidence rather than authority and factual evidence. As chaplains we often fall into a defensive posture, one where we’re only waiting for people to come to us and when they do, we rely on their knowledge or faith to find an answer that suits them, something right in their eyes. Because of this, we’re already back on our heals when we hear of injustice.

Have we forgotten that as followers of the Truth (John 1:17, 14:6, 18:36, Revelation 19:11), we have a monopoly on truth (Romans 1:18, 1:25, 2:8)? The world won’t agree with that statement, but the question is: Is it true?

As one entrusted with the truth it is our responsibility to speak the truth. A convenient lie or agreeing with someone in sin may lead to a quick and painless conversation, but help comes from directing people to the truth which can set them free (John 8:31-32). When we enable someone in their belief that they are not thriving because of something that happened to them (or their ancestors) in the past, we lock them up in that abuse (or perceived abuse) and cut them off from the gospel that is able to transform and redeem. When we don’t stand up to a commander who is using an Airman as a scapegoat to a larger injustice, we silently give credence. When we leave a complex legal problem up to historical precedence, we deny that the Word of God speaks to every nuance and manner of justice. And especially when we don’t press into the idea that forgiveness is an option (a mandatory option), we might as well not even be chaplains.

As salt and light in this world, we have a duty to our commission from God to be men of sincerity, speak in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:17), and injecting his truth into the world so that they may know him and live life according to his precepts. You’ll look like an abomination to many (Proverbs 29:27), but your call remains to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

God’s law has been written on all of our consciences, but only in Christ is it written on our hearts. ~ Alistair Begg

Key Verse: Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely. ~ Proverbs 28:5

More:

1. Proverbs 17:15 sets up an incredible dichotomy that is hard to reconcile with who God is. The summary is that God is furious with people who curse the innocent and who bless the wicked. But what happened on the cross of Christ? Wasn’t an innocent and righteous man cursed? Weren’t we the chief of sinners and yet we’ve received all of God’s blessings and heaven too? How is it that God is not the abomination in this story? Attempt to answer yourself first, then look at Isaiah 25:21, Romans 3:25, 5:8, and Psalm 85:10-13 for a hint.

2. As chaplains we hear heartbreaking stories. Within the span of a few days I had two young Airmen in my office with extremely similar trauma. Both had been horribly abused and their abusers never brought to justice. One was as bitter, emotionally hurt, angry, and scared as the day they were abused; in essence still under the control of their abuser. The other was joyful, forgiving, thriving, and loving; their question was, “Is there something wrong with me that I’m doing so well?” These were nearly identical situations, with practically exact opposite responses. The discernable difference was the first had no expectation of God’s justice being shown to their abuser, the second knew that God would mete out perfect justice either in eternal conscious torment, or on the cross of Christ, and amazingly their prayer was that their abuser would find the same redemption that they had found in Christ’s grace. How did understanding justice help? Can you think of similar testimonies?

3. Further Resources:

Edwards, Jonathan. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. 1741. Reprint, Carlisle PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 1995.

Ryle, John Charles. Holiness: It’s Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots. Reprint, Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2014.