Today I went to a Remembrance Day church service that was very different from the one's I attended in my last church (Mennville EMC). Remembrance Day fell on a Sunday and our church has recently brought on an associate pastor who is a former police officer and a chaplain for the armed forces. I can honestly say this was the most patriotic church service I have ever been at! Patriotic aspects of this service included:
-Singing "O Canada"
-Reading "In Flander's Fields"
-Watching a video showing names and pictures of all the fallen soldiers who have been killed so far in Afghanistan.
-The congregation being invited to pin a poppy on cross to remember how Christ promised peace in a world filled with turmoil.
-Singing God save the Queen.
-Watching video footage showing images from all 5 of Canada's military conflicts since confederation.
-Listening to a sermon about the sacrifices of men and the sacrifices of God.
Interesting. Yes, definitely different from Remembrance Day Sunday with my pacifist brothers and sisters in Mennville! It seems to me that many true pacifists have difficulty with Remembrance Day and so on that day there is a subtle anxiety. The day just seems . . . uncomfortable. I don't blame them. What do you do with a day remembering a noble sacrifice that you believe was not in it's essence noble (and perhaps sinful if you take engaging in war to it's logical pacifistic conclusion)?
Should we be mixing patriotism with church? I see all of sorts of difficulties to be sure. There is a reason (actually lots of historical reasons) why the idea of separation of church and state arose, but I have to admit it felt good to look at a historical reality (thousands of soldiers dieing for their country) and feel pride about their sacrifice. Do I think that pacifism is unfounded? Not at all. Pacifism has profoundly changed forever in my views of peace. And yet . . . I am inspired by the heroic acts and the willingness of some to fight for their convictions. War is hell and yet it is in war where we sometimes we see the very best that man is capable of. I fear I am off topic. This post isn't so much about arguing for or against pacifism, but sharing about a new church experience. Anyway, hope you had a meaningful time in church this Sunday. . .
May Light increase!
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5 months ago
2 comments:
In concept I think pacifism is great, but unfortunately I don't think it is realistic and sometimes conflict is necessary. It's sad but true. My view is if those men and women hadn't sacrificed their lives we wouldn't even be able to debate about pacificism in the first place.
I admit I thought that there would be a little more Remembrance Day stuff at church yesterday (I've never been to church on Nov 11 before), but as you say, I guess it can be an uncomfortable topic for some. At the risk of raising people's ire, I was a little sad that the Toronto Maple Leafs had a better Remembrance Day ceremony than our church did.
JBo
Mark,
The service at your church last Sunday was probably the best Nov. 11th service I've ever been at (we go to one every year here in Medicine Hat) and I was impressed that they would devote a Sunday morning service to those who have given their lives and those who continue to serve our country.
I think many more would serve our country in this way if they had it to do all over again.
By the way....Jobina said very nice things about us on her blog so I quickly checked your entries too.................hmmmmm.
See you soon!
Mom G.
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