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.

Better Chaplain Series - Be Exhausted

Early in my career a senior chaplain told me, “A chaplain can do nothing and get away with it, or a chaplain can work themselves to death and (pause for effect) get away with it.” Finding the balance where you’re serving Christ but not thinking everything depends on you requires constant consideration. Feeling refreshed is definitely more comfortable than being stretched until you say like Bilbo Baggins, I feel like too little butter scraped over too much bread. But is comfort your most fruitful course of action?

There is far too much ministry to do on this terrestrial ball for you or I to accomplish even a fraction of it, but that is why God is employing his church all over the world. Knowing this, he has entrusted to you a few acres, a few sheep, and a few years to steward. What are your priorities in life and ministry? If you succeed in everything except what God has called you to, will he be pleased?

A chaplain who has been at the gospel work all day (at work, at church, and at home) will have no trouble sleeping because he has been spent for God’s sake (Psalm 127:1-2); a chaplain who has spent the day poorly in his own pursuits may find that sleep eludes him (Ecclesiastes 5:12, Daniel 2:1). On the other side, working so hard on everything that nothing is accomplished, or something important gets missed. The balance is in spreading the right amount of butter over the right amount of bread.

Consider today where you can work to publish the good news that God saves sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son, who has been working from the beginning, and is working still, so that you can rejoice in the good work that he has given you to do!

It’s a father’s job to be exhausted. ~ Matt Chandler

Key Verse: In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that or whether both alike will be good. ~ Ecclesiastes 11:6

More

1. If we knew which events would be remembered, which conversations would be meaningful, which briefings would bear fruit, and which risks would be rewarded it would cut a lot of our exhaustion because we’d only do things that matter. I heard someone say that if they could turn back time three hours their life would be radically different. But we don’t know what will be formative or meaningful, so our call is to run and not grow weary (Isaiah 40:31)!

2. As we eagerly await the hour of Christ’s return and the consummation of history, we must remember that the blessed worker is found at work when his master returns (Matthew 24:45-51). If Christ returned today, would he find you in the work he left you?

3. It’s tempting to view your home and family as a sanctuary space away from work, but your family ought to be your first priority in your God-given work; in fact if you fail at your family, your faith is null and you’ll be counted an infidel (1 Timothy 5:8). Many chaplains have determined not to bring work home, but to be fully present. Maybe it's helpful to have a landmark that work cannot cross, such as a telephone pole, or an intersection, or an off-ramp. Would it be helpful for you to set a boundary like that? You'll have to consider things like duty phones, TDYs, and places where work blends with your family, such as at worship, but imperfect boundaries are better than no boundaries.

4. Further Resources:

Hamilton, James M. Work and Our Labor in the Lord. Wheaton: Crossway, 2017.

York, Hershael. “Tanya York on Marriage, Family, and Ministry.” Pastor Well – Episode 5. SBTS, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8907fTzVWR4

Better Chaplain Series - Stare Out the Window

In our reactionary world I often wonder what someone was thinking when they made a major decision that is not just counterintuitive to God’s kingdom, but their own wellbeing and beliefs. Total depravity is sometimes skewed as to think that people are evil, know they are evil, and are consciously making the most evil choice possible. But most, if not all, people don’t know they are totally depraved, are only acting in their own self-interest, and they genuinely think that they are making right choices (confer Proverbs 20:6, 1 Corinthians 2:8).

Chaplain, what keeps you from making the same mistakes (and/or sins)? Why are your decisions more righteous in your eyes than the bad decisions you see made every day? In one sense it’s because good trees make good fruit (Matthew 7:17-19, Galatians 5:22-24), but we ought not presume that just because the Holy Spirit lives in us we will always make good decisions (Romans 7:21-8:1).

Jared Wilson says, “Pastors are paid to stare out the window.” An obvious play on words, he doesn’t want us to mindlessly watch what’s outside our study, but to engage in deep thought about what matters most. Our stakes are too high to play fast and loose with decisions that have eternal consequences, so much as it is in our control we must be right in our words and actions. This requires deep thought, intentional research, and prayer to ensure we’re acting in accordance with what Christ has commanded us in his Word.

We are prepared to make many of those decisions because we’ve had to think deeply about seminary topics, but becoming a chaplain confronts you with things you probably never saw in the classroom. What can you anticipate in your future, chaplain? How can you think now about hard topics so that when they arise you will be ready to share the hope that is in you, Christ in you, the hope of glory?

            We cannot play at preaching, we preach for eternity. ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Key Verse: Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ~ Philippians 4:8

More:

1. President Teddy Roosevelt was known for concerning his cabinet with what seemed like brash and rushed decisions on topics of huge importance. However, it became apparent that he had already thought through many of those decisions and only had to give his decision at the time of presentation. He said, “Make preparations in advance. You’ll never have trouble if you are prepared for it.” At another time he said, “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” Chaplain, the best way to do nothing is to be caught unawares, unprepared to offer wisdom or action. How do you prepare for action? You ready yourself.

2. Aesop tells of a boar observed by a fox in the forest. The boar is sharpening his tusks, which worries the fox; the fox soon realizes that there is no immediate danger and ridicules the boar. The boar announces that when danger is present, he won’t have time to sharpen his tusks. How can you sharpen your tusks now before you need them? What do you need to think deeply about?

4. Chaplains, when they arrive on station, are given an office. What a chaplain needs is not an office, but a study. How can you change your office into a study? Is the space you’ve been given conducive to stare out the window (figurative or literal) and think? How can you make it more-so?

5. Further Resources:

A topic that you can’t wait to happen before you find answers:
Shearer, Canyon R. "Hope in the Loss of a Baby." Trust and Obey. April 4, 2020. https://trustobey.blogspot.com/2020/04/hope-in-loss-of-baby.html

Wilson, Jared C. “Pastors Are Paid to Stare Out the Window.” For the Church. April 3, 2023. Accessed 26 March, 2025. https://ftc.co/resource-library/blog-entries/pastors-are-paid-to-stare-out-the-window/

Broadus, John A. On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1944.

Comfort, Ray. Think on These Things: Wisdom for Life from Proverbs. Savage, MN: Broadstreet Publishing, 2017.

Better Chaplain Series - Make Great Tents

In the civilian world it’s not uncommon to be a bi-vocational pastor, someone who works during the week and pastors on weeknights and weekends. These pastors are in good company, as the Apostle Paul pastored full-time while making tents. This is how he met Priscilla and Aquila who were doing likewise (Acts 18:3).

I’ve previously said that “the Chaplain is the most overpaid minister in the world.” This is partly true when you look at the compensation, but it is not entirely true when you consider the chaplain’s duties. The chaplain should be a pastor first, but they are still an officer and have diverse and important roles to accomplish in this role. Some examples are supervising other chaplains or team members, overseeing budgets and spending, assisting with reports, running special events, and chairing meetings. As a chaplain reading this, you can probably add several items that you’re personally responsible for.

Maybe you can draw a direct line between pastoring and these additional duties, like developing a great Christmas event, or maybe you can’t, like sitting on a court-martial. Regardless, you’re being paid to accomplish diverse tasks by your employer, and these tasks are funding your gospel work. While I’m not making literal tents, I am supervising volunteers, coordinating funds, and writing reports which in essence is my tent-making profession.

While your highest and best usefulness should be in the pulpit, counseling room, commander’s office, and inspiring excellence, you should be equally great in your tent-making trade. Your spreadsheets should be world-class, your volunteers should be exceptionally well cared for, your handling of money should be above reproach, your briefings should be outstanding, your legal compliance should be impeccable, everything you are responsible for should shine, and it should be delivered on-time or early.

A chaplain who is not faithful in his small tasks ought never to be put in charge of large tasks. Show me the quality of your tents, and I’ll show you the quality of your chaplaincy.

He that had so much excellent work to do with his mind, yet, when there was occasion, did not think it below him to work with his hands. ~ Matthew Henry

Key Verse: You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ~ Acts 20:34-35

More:

1. A popular question in chaplain circles is, “Are you a chaplain or officer first?” Well, which is it? Do you ever expect to retire either title? When asked this question I declared that I was a minister before I became an officer, I intend to be a minister afterwards, but I will never cease to be a minister. Do you agree?

2. Are your bi-vocational duties a hindrance or an extension to your ministry? Do you think that anyone has ever judged or blessed Jesus based on the quality of your work in his name?

3. Chaplains—as highly paid ministers of the gospel—have more money to share than their civilian counterparts. Take a moment today to consider if you are spending your money well to help the weak and sow blessings through your giving.

4. The word "vocation" has direct etymological roots to God's voice/call in your career. What has God called you to?

5. Resources:

Crowe, Brandon D. Every Day Matters: A Biblical Approach to Productivity. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020.

Piper, John. “Tentmakers in Minneapolis.” Desiring God. Minneapolis, 1981. Accessed 25 March 2025 from https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/tentmakers-in-minneapolis

Wilson, Doug. Ploductivity: A Practical Guide to Consistent Productivity. Moscow, ID: Canon Press, 2018.

Better Chaplain Series - Jewels in Your Crown

Without reading ahead or peeking at the verse, what is your hope or joy or crown of boasting before the Lord Jesus at his coming?

a. Jesus

b. Your disciples

c. The number of Bible Verses You’ve memorized

d. Your fruit of repentance

e. Your suffering

f. The Holy Spirit

g. Your pastor

h. All of the above

The answer is actually b. your disciples, and this is a theme found all through the New Testament. John said he had no greater joy than to hear his children were walking in the truth (3 John 4), Paul said the only thing that would keep him on earth was the sake of his disciples (Philippians 1:24-25), the author of Hebrews calls pastors to watch over the souls entrusted to them with joy (Hebrews 13:17), and Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him (Hebrews 12:2), an inheritance of nations (Revelation 21:26).

How does this apply to the chaplaincy? What’s your hope, joy, and/or crown of boasting (chaplain edition)?

a. Your promotion 

b. Your stratification

c. Your paycheck

None of the above! Jesus told you to store up your treasure in Heaven, none of those things are worth boasting about and none of them will last long in comparison to eternity. What is the only treasure that lasts forever? Souls. Human souls are how you store up treasure in Heaven, you help them towards the Saviour and exhort them to be born again.

As you make disciples, may you be storing up an imperishable reward in Heaven, a crown ready to be presented to the king who saved you, called you, employed you, and used you for his glory and the good of many.

With all her faults he loves the Church of England still, he loves the souls of men much more, and most of all the gospel of their salvation. ~ Charles Haddon Spurgeon on JC Ryle

Key Verse: What is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy. ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

More:

1. Paul unapologetically takes possession of his converts/disciples; he is invested in their salvation, sanctification, and glorification (Philemon 10, 1 Corinthians 4:14-15, Galatians 4:19, Philippians 4:1, 2 Timothy 2:12, Titus 1:4, 2 Corinthians 11:28, etc.). Do you have any “children” in the faith? What do you think about calling them yours? Are you ready to give an account for their growth (or lack thereof)?

2. What sort of things have you heard people boast about that seem impressive on earth (to some) but have no weight in Heaven? A couple I’ve heard are pitching a no-hitter in baseball, paying off a mortgage, titles at work and church, achievements of children, and the amount of alcohol that can be consumed in one sitting (Isaiah 5:22). What would you add? What sorts of things will your disciples boast about you (2 Corinthians 1:14)?

3. Read 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 and consider: who is the ultimate example of disciple maker who finds infinite joy in his disciples? Are you imitating him?

4. Further Resources:

Shearer, Canyon R. "Crown of Boasting." Trust and Obey. March 23, 2012. https://trustobey.blogspot.com/2012/03/crown-of-boasting.html

Henry, Matthew. “1 Thessalonians 2 Commentary: Effects of the Christian Ministry.” Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary of the Bible. Accessed March 17, 2025. https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/1-thessalonians/2.html

Better Chaplain Series - Give Truth: Give Joy

As a chaplain you’ll visit a lot of different churches. The dynamics of different churches are listed in Revelation 2-3, and constant practice trains your discernment to quickly identify what type of church you’re walking into. My favorite church to walk into is one full of joy and love. I wish every church were that way, but some are cold and dead, others are doctrinally sound but are too busy learning about how to help people that they don’t have time to help people. Then there is the energetic church that is trying to manufacture joy but are in fact producing a poor counterfeit.

Oh that every church could be filled with the joy of the Lord. Indeed, I believe the Ezra when he says, “The joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) I’ve yet to meet a joyful church that wasn’t walking in the strength of the Lord. Conversely, I’ve seen many weak churches that are devoid of joy.

I often say, “If I could shake you and make you believe the truth and make you obey the gospel, you’d better believe you’d be getting shaken right now.” The joy of the Lord is so valuable and wonderful that if I could give it to you through any means, you’d better believe I’d go through those means. If you could give the gift of joy to the world, free without measure, without diminishing your own joy one iota, would you?

The key is found in Acts 8; in fact verses 6 and 8 revived the idea of the Study Bible when a friend of Cyrus Scofield drew a line between verse 6 and 8 to show the connection. Scofield originally objected to writing in a Bible but quickly saw the value in it.

Verse 6 says the people paid attention to the Word of God. There were other things going on too, but they were being effectively counterfeited by Simon the Magician, so it could not have been those things that caused what happened next. The people paid attention to the Word of God and what happened? Verse 8, there was much joy in that city.

Want to inject joy into a church, city, state, nation, and world? Preach the whole counsel of God with Jesus as the main point and encourage people to pay attention! Joy will come, and it’s contagious.

Key Verse: The crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip…so there was much joy in that city. ~ Acts 8:6,8

More:

1. How many classes have you taken on preaching? How many classes have you taken on listening? Would you guess that the Bible says more about preaching or listening? How can you help your church to listen better?

2. What sort of things can rob joy? Why do you think so many churches are joyless places and nobody seems to notice? Have they seen true joy? How can you show it to them?

3. What is the difference between excitement, happiness, and joy? Read Hebrews 10:34 and consider how they accepted such abuse and remained joyful. Could excitement and happiness endure such trials?

4. Further Resources:

Shearer, Canyon. Honing the Congregation to Be Attentive to Expository Preaching at First Baptist Church New Lebanon, Ohio. Louisville: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2020. https://repository.sbts.edu/handle/10392/6133 (Read specifically Chapter 3 starting on page 38, and download the “Listening Helps”)

Ramey, Ken. Expository Listening: A Practical Handbook for Hearing and Doing God’s Word. The Woodlands, TX: Kress Biblical Resources, 2010.

Beeke, Joel R. The Family at Church: Listening to Sermons and Attending Prayer Meetings. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2004.

Better Chaplain Series - Stay In Your Lane

A poem makes its rounds every year claiming that the American Soldier is why the United States is great. It relegates the pastor to this role, “The soldier, not the minister, has given freedom of religion.” But there is a major fallacy with this: many nations have soldiers without freedom. Often soldiers, unchecked, can lead to exponentially less freedom (Uganda in the 1970s comes instantly to mind, but unfortunately is not an isolated case).

The poem also attempts to relegate ministers only to the realm of religion. But, if you’ve spent any time at all in the Bible, you know that it speaks definitively on every topic it touches. Granted, it doesn’t speak on every topic directly, but a direct application can be applied to every topic from the Bible. I defy you to find a single matter of life and godliness that can't be answered by the Bible.

It’s popular to hear chaplains directed to “stay in their lane”, to speak only about matters directly related to the chapel, and to leave everything else to others. In essence, the chaplain is told to retreat from spiritual battlefields which they are supposedly unqualified to speak.

I hope I have impressed on you this far in this devotional that I have high expectations for the chaplain because God has high expectations for the chaplain. When they tell you stay in your lane, perhaps its time to state that the world is your lane!

            The world is now my parish. ~ George Whitefield

Music, do you say, belongs to the devil? Does it? Well, if it did I would plunder him for it, for he has no right to a single note of the whole seven. Every note, and every strain, and every harmony is divine, and belongs to us. ~ William Booth

Key Verse: His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence… ~ 2 Peter 1:3

More:

1. Building from the chapter on training our replacements, there is a very real temptation to build a “cult of personality” where we become the most important personality in our disciples’ lives. Beloved chaplain, this ought not to be. Luke 6:40 tells us that a disciple cannot exceed his teacher, therefore we must stay in our lane of being a disciple who makes disciples, always pointing at the true master and teacher: Jesus Christ. Have you or someone you know ever fallen into a cult of personality? Would you recommend it, or flee from it?

2. Ambassadors represent their kings and their governments. An ambassador who usurps this authority, fails to deliver the whole message, or acts as the king or government and makes decisions antithetical to their wishes is likely to be fired, if not executed as a traitor. According to Deuteronomy 13:5 the punishment in God’s kingdom for falsely representing his decrees and will is death. How should you, as a good ambassador for Christ, stay in your lane?

3. Where do you draw the boundaries of your lane? Can you speak definitively on finances even though the chapel is not your branch’s comptroller? Can you speak on mental health from a biblical worldview? Should you speak on just war despite you not being a lawyer? Should you fly airplanes or drive tanks or lead SEAL teams? There are boundaries and lanes you must stay in, where does God want you to serve? Could a Christian have different boundaries and lanes than a chaplain?

4. Further Resources:

Ham, Ken. "Genesis: The Foundation of Christianity." Answers in Genesis. December 29, 2016. https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/12/29/genesis-foundation-of-christianity

Struecker, Jeff and Dean Merrill. The Road to Unafraid: How the Army's Top Ranger Faced Fear and Found Courage through "Black Hawk Down" and Beyond. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006.

Shearer, Canyon R. "Promising Freedom." Trust and Obey. July 3, 2011. https://trustobey.blogspot.com/2011/07/promising-freedom.html

Kidd, Thomas S. George Whitefield: America’s Spiritual Founding Father. New Haven CT: Yale University Press, 2016.

Sempangi, Kefa. A Distant Grief: The Real Story Behind the Martyrdom of Christians in Uganda. Wipf and Stock, 2006.

Better Chaplain Series - Train Your Replacement

Our modern military is in constant motion. Commanders change stations on average every two years, chaplains every four years, and enlisted members every four years. Not only that, but a twenty-year retirement means that after five or so moves, a chaplain is likely to leave the service. There are outliers, but the statistics show that chaplaincy is motion: our time at any duty station surrounded by the same people has an expiration date.

God—in his infinite wisdom—has written an expiration date on every human body (Psalm 90:3-4,9-10). The wisdom we gain, the Bible verses we believe and memorize, the illustrations we use, and the skills we acquire will all be swallowed by the grave.

If Enoch had not been carried off to Heaven, if Elisha were still teaching in Jericho, if JC Ryle were still bishop of Liverpool, if Preston Taylor were still the Air Force Chief of Chaplains, then we would have no need to train their replacements, and for us younger men (than them) we would have no audience for the advanced wisdom of centuries of pastoral elites available, nor would we want anyone to listen to us over those living, breathing, time-tested faithful pillars of Christianity.

But God has created in this world and in his church a constant need for discipleship and regeneration and replacement and replenishment. Wisdom is constantly lost when great saints die. Muscles and mind are returned to dust. Important information is sealed in silence. And, chaplain, it will happen to you much sooner than you probably expect.

If we want the name of Christ to persist among our followers and in our world, if we want to be found as faithful watchmen on the day of Judgment, if we desire to bless our progeny, then we must be training our replacements. Share the story, teach how to know God’s will from his Word, show the future generation how to continue in the dominion of the earth and church of which we are stewards over, and especially make known the way to the Father through Christ's life, death, and resurrection. How will they hear without someone preaching to them? "Where there is no vision, the people perish." (Proverbs 29:18) "My contention is with you, O Priest...my people perish for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:4-6)

Do you know that you neither can keep your teachers forever nor do you have infinite time to invest in your disciples?

Yes, I know. Hush. ~ Elisha (2 Kings 2:1-15)

Key Verse: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you… ~ Matthew 28:19-20

More:

1. Many great teachers have held to a sort of baptismal progression all the way back to John the Baptist. In essence, the person who baptized you was baptized by someone else, they were baptized by someone else, and so on and so forth until we get all the way to John in the Jordan River. The Swiss Brethren complicated that when they could not find a faithful minister to baptize them so they baptized each other (which I believe was legitimate), but the principle is still mostly sound. More importantly, most Christians would be able to draw a direct line in their gospel hearing to the Apostles. The call to make disciples is to continue that tradition. Will Christ find faith on the earth when he returns? If he doesn't, let it not be because you didn’t train (disciple) your replacement. If he does, woe to the minister who did not preach the gospel so that the rocks were forced to cry out.

2. What would the world look like if Moses had not trained Joshua? Or if Elijah had not trained Elisha? Or Jesus had not trained the Apostles? Of if Paul had not trained Timothy and Titus? Or if your mentors had not trained you? Consider that everyone who got off the Ark knew the power of God's terrible wrath and the joy of his salvation; for millions of people living today someone in their lineage from here to the Ark did not think that discipling their replacement with that information was necessary. Are you willing to subject the world to a future where the knowledge of God's favor (Genesis 6:8) died with you?

3. Attributed to Abraham Lincoln is the quote, “Surely God would not have created such a being as man, with an ability to grasp the infinite, to exist only for a day! No, no, man was made for immortality.” Godliness is of great value forever in the world to come, but for those on this earth we only have a finite amount of time to impart it to others. Isaac Newton made famous the idea that if we have seen farther, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. How can you help someone onto the shoulders of giants?

4. If you knew you were dying, how would you live differently? I have to break it to you: Bad news, you’re dying. At best you’ve got 100 years left, at worst you might not survive today (Psalm 90:12, Psalm 39:4, Luke 12:19-20). Let the short nature of military chaplaincy train you to equip someone now and so long as you have breath in your lungs, so that they may carry on the work when you’re gone. (Confer Philippians 1:22-26)

5. Resources:

MacArthur, John. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2002.

Wiersbe, Warren. 50 People Every Christian Should Know: Learning from Spiritual Giants of the Faith. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2009.

Friel, Todd. On the Shoulders of Giants. DVD. Newnan, GA: Burning Bush Communications, 2012.

Better Chaplain Series - Be Perfect

Until we are glorified in Heaven, none of us will be sinless, but we should increasingly sin-less until that day. None of us will have perfect wisdom, but we should be growing and conforming and applying God’s Word to our lives and growing incrementally if not exponentially.

Paul writes to Timothy, “All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) When something is complete, it is lacking nothing and is ready for the purpose for which it was made, and this is Paul’s goal for Timothy and God’s goal for you, “those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” (Romans 8:29)

Chaplain, your calling is to grow in the grace of Jesus Christ, to be the best chaplain, pastor, man, husband, father, account manager, supervisor, counselor, advisor, evangelist, author, communicator, etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum, you can be.

What more can he say than to you he has said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled? Fear not! and be not dismayed, for I am thy god, and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand. ~ John Rippon, How Firm a Foundation

Key Verse: Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus made me his own. ~ Philippians 3:12

More:

1. It’s common in the military to meet people who have no idea how to do laundry, how to keep up with their finances, or how to interact with others. The easy option, which far too many people do, is to ridicule them, but the chaplain option is to realize that they are NOT perfect because they are lacking every good thing that Christ has promised to those who trust in him. Chaplain, don’t just strive for perfection yourself, help others to see the measure of perfection in Jesus Christ, then help them towards him, so that he may present them perfect on the last day. Do you know any such people?

2. Sometimes you’ll get those big questions: How do I become a minister? How do I love my wife better? How to I become a better father? How do I redeem this pile of rubble that is my life? But don’t despise the day of small things! Helping someone learn how to tie their shoes, or create an excel spreadsheet, or say a biblical name, or use a circular saw, or run a meeting are all ways you are ensuring that we are not lacking in anything, but equipped for every good work. The temptation is to think that we are just as bad off as everyone around us, but that negates the grace that has been given to you already to be conformed to Christ. What has he equipped you with so that you can you teach someone today?

3. The adage said, “Jack of all trades, master of none.” The truth is that the chaplain should be a “jack of all trades, master of one (pointing people to Christ, midwifes in the rebirthing process), well on his way to master of all.” Hudson Taylor said, “A small thing is a small thing, but faithfulness in a small thing is a great thing.” What is a trade that would be useful for your ministry that you struggle with? How can you fulfill what is lacking so that you can be closer to perfection? Can you start it now?

4. References:

Begg, Alistair. Made for His Pleasure. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2018.

Benge, Janet and Geoff Benge. Eric Liddell: Something Greater than Gold. Seattle: YWAM Publishing, 2015.