There is a real temptation in the military to only bond in cliques. Aircraft maintainers hang out with aircraft maintainers, personnelists connect with personnelists, pilots gravitate to pilots, officers congregate with officers, commanders associate with commanders, and every other clique you can imagine. There is a very real temptation for the chaplain to do likewise, finding others of a similar rank or education to flock to, a comfortable place amongst people that look like us, while neglecting those who don’t look quite like us.
As always, our example to follow in this is Jesus of
Nazareth. Not only did he step out of the perfection of heaven to live among
sinful people, but in so doing he met with Pharisees (John 3:1), Tax Collectors
(Luke 19:5-7), children (Matthew 19:13-15), and those considered much lower
(Luke 7:37-38).
We see Paul investing in individuals, churches, and kings;
he was willing and ready to speak to anyone who would listen. Joseph had been ministering
amongst prisoners when he was summoned to Pharaoh, at which time he shaved and
changed his clothes, then ministered to the highest-ranking person in Egypt
(Genesis 41:14). George Whitefield started many sermons, “I am come to speak to
you about your souls!” He preached to Ben Franklin as well as unnamed children,
declaring even, “It may be, children, that your parents will not come to
Christ; but, blessed be God, you may come without them! If your parents won’t
come to Christ, you come now, and go to heaven without them!” All the while writing precious notes to aristocrats, friends, and acquaintances imploring them to be born again.
Chaplains ought to be the least cliquish people in the
world, like God, not showing partiality, or looking on the outside, or worrying
what others will think, but becoming all things to all people so that by all means
we may win some.
Go for sinners, and go for the worst! ~ William Booth
Key Verse: Here there is not Greek and Jew,
circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is
all and in all. ~ Colossians 3:11
More:
1. The chaplain is in a unique position to foster cross-career-field
networking. Few people on the base have as much access to people and offices as
a chaplain, and the importance of introducing people to one another with similar interests and
needs cannot be overstated. I had one young Airman state that he couldn’t
believe his best friend worked in such a different career-field as he did. When
we stick to cliques we’ll never understand the diversity of God’s kingdom. Do
you find yourself engaging the same people everyday? How can you connect with someone
who doesn’t look, sound, or think like you do?
2. John Stroup, a tattooed, on-fire for Jesus, ex-convict was asked by his pastor to help bring in "more people who look like you." Stroup is not your stereotypical church-goer, but he brings people to Jesus and church in droves. After bringing in a lot of people who didn't "look" like they belonged in church, his pastor declared that he wasn't as ready as he thought he was to see those people in church, but he wouldn't change a thing! Are you ready for the church to have a better demographic-representation of the population?
3. On a TDY I had the privilege of attending a church service
in a different nation and language. While I couldn’t tell what was being said,
I could see the joy in my brothers and sisters, and I was able to garner just
enough clues to believe that they loved the same Jesus I love. If we’ll worship
with every nation, tribe, and tongue in heaven, why not start now?
4. While the chaplain cannot fraternize, they are in the place
to befriend and edify everyone from E-1 to O-10. Each one of those ranks has a
unique set of needs, but one thing is for certain, they all need Jesus. How can
they see Jesus in you, and how can you tell them about Jesus?
5. Further Resources:
Stroup, John. From the Pit to the Pulpit. Springfield, MO: Freeway Ministries, 2018.
MacArthur, John. The Impartiality of God. June 17,
2025. Accessed July 8, 2025. https://sermons-online.org/john-macarthur/devo/the-impartiality-of-god
Laurie, Greg, and Ellen Vaughn. Jesus Revolution: How God
Transformed an Unlikely Generation and How He Can Do It Again Today. Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2018.
Erwin, Jon, Brent McCorkle, dir. Jesus Revolution.
Kingdom Story Company and Lionsgate, 2023. Film.
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