Christians in the Military

** This is a guest post by a very close friend of mine, Joe Byker. Joe graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2006 and went on to get a masters degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. He is currently serving in Kabul along with me and I am very thankful for that! This is not the last you will hear from Joe..

The United States military has long been celebrated as one of the top, if not the premiere fighting force in the world – and with good reason.  It consistently turns out high caliber leaders, skilled tactical operators, and quite frankly, it produces very good end results.  Now, one may take exception to the use of “good” here, but in general, the military does an outstanding job of protecting our country and advancing the national security policies of the United States globally.

When reading about David’s army, we realize that many of the traits of a good soldier are universal.  In 1 Chronicles 12, we are told that the soldiers “joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as gazelles on the mountains.”  Clearly, courage and strength – both mental and physical – are important characteristics to an effective army.  But, must these virtues be tainted with other less admirable traits in order to be effective?

One of the biggest issues that a Christian faces in the military is the constant barrage of vulgar language and crude humor.  Obviously, this issue is not unique to the military, but it certainly is more prevalent in the ranks than other places.  Some casual observers of military culture – via movies, TV shows, and other magazines – may think that a place which cultivates this kind of behavior would somehow benefit men preparing to go to war and possibly take another man’s life.  However, I would argue just the opposite.  Offensive language, crude jokes at the expense of another (be it a soldier, a family member, or simply a person passing by on the street) is incredibly detrimental to cohesion and an individual’s feeling of self worth.  If people are talking about others with no regard when they are not present to defend themselves (or simply hear the things being said), what might they be saying about me?  And does the f-word really add anything to a conversation (especially when it’s used every 3^rd word) or does it just show a deficient vocabulary and lack of consideration for others?

I have found this issue even with my Christian friends and acquaintances in the military – we get so caught up in feeling like a part of the group that we fall into a similar trap.  We laugh at things that we know are actually harmful and hurtful.  I personally have struggled with these same issues for all 8+ years that I have been associated with the military.  However, in the past couple of years, through much prayer and asking God to illuminate the areas of my life that need to be restored to Him, I have come to realize the toxic nature that this aspect of the military culture can have on a Christian.  Currently, due to a deployment to Afghanistan with the Army, this issue has hit me head-on once again and this time with much more force as the Army’s culture seems far cruder than the Air Force’s.

Another huge issue for military men (and women, I am sure) is sexuality.  The same crude behavior and language encountered in everyday life carries over to many military members’ view of sex and relationships.  Sadly, abstinence and fidelity in marriage are almost unheard of and CERTAINLY not encouraged by the rank and file.  I’ve personally heard of many organizations within the military that glorify philandering and infidelity.  A friend who is in an elite special ops unit is encouraged (and is only one of few who decline) to participate in “games” where the men of the unit try to get with the hottest girl at a bar or other nonsense.  And to be a virgin in the military?  You may as well be a fictional creature like a unicorn or a dragon! Though to be fair, I have met a few dragons in my day; they do exist!

So how does a Christian cope with these issues in the military, as a valued member of the unit, while still holding true to God’s promises (which matter far more at the end of the day than any feeling of esprit de corps, accolades, or honor that the military may be able to bestow)? This is a difficult question that I surely cannot answer – but trusting God is how we start.  I have been incredibly blessed to have several Christian friends in the military that have been a huge part of my daily walk.   I know that I can always count on them to lend me their ears when I am struggling with something and help keep me on the straight and narrow when I might be tempted to veer off.  Surely the brotherhood and camaraderie that I have experienced in the military has been phenomenal.  However, as I have matured, I’ve found that true brotherhood can only come through a bond in Christ.

**I would add – this is Nate speaking – that speaking up about your beliefs from the start is critical, and this goes for all social circles, not just the military. If you try to downplay your faith in the beginning and your peers see you act a certain way even one time, it will be easier for them to convince you to do it a second time. Yes the desire to fit in is great in any new organization, but you never know, your courage may embolden some other formerly unnoticed Christian to stand beside you. Then it will be much easier to live according to your values.