Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
The text for this meditation is written in the 13th Chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans; Verses 1—10:
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbour as yourself." 10Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.
Let us pray: Father guide the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts that we hear your message to us and serve you according to your will. Amen
This very day, ANZAC Day, has its’ origins on the beaches and rugged unforgiving mountainous terrain of Gallipoli in far off Turkey. This was a military campaign that was dammed by poor strategic planning, incompetent leadership at the highest level and an obsessive determination by those allied leaders in power to ‘win at all costs’. This was a military campaign that cost the lives of 7,954 young men and inflicted 26,000 causalities among the original force of 60,000 Australian and New Zealand troops. In short 56% ANZAC causalities and not an inch of territory gained. In fact, a futile action which ended in the only way it could, with an allied tactical withdrawal.
Within the Christian churches in Australia, and indeed across the world, it is common Biblical terminology to proclaim Jesus as the ‘Prince of Peace’. In light of that, there are a number of more fundamental biblical scholars who subsequently contend that Christians should be ‘Peacemakers’ who reject battlefield solutions when facing aggressive oppression. It is true that Jesus teaches us “to pray for and love our enemies and even those who persecute us”, which, as in all Bible passages, must be read in the context of the occasion. But armed with such ‘one liners’, and fuelled by such statistics as those of the Gallipoli Campaign, there are those who challenge the legitimacy of a ‘just war’. That is a war that can be fought in good Christian conscience.
In theological forums this has been, and still is, an issue of intense debate with little ground given. Whilst I respect the individual’s right to hold an opinion, I also observe the dissenters of military conflict enjoying the great benefits our democratic way of life.
So where do we stand as Christians on ANZAC Day, do we feel some guilt, are we paying homage to the gods of war, feeling a little proud that “After all we were the winners?”. Are we hero worshipping our conquering gladiators?
It is important here that we get some context as to the Australian and New Zealand involvement in military conflicts over the 20th and 21st Centuries. Our involvement in the first and second world wars was initiated by an announcement by the Prime Ministers of the day that as a result of military invasion of allied territory by warring countries ‘we are at war with the aggressors’. In other conflicts such as Korea, Malaya, South Vietnam, The Solomon Islands, Timor, Iraq, and Afghanistan, Australia’s and New Zealand’s role have been that of ‘peacekeepers’ defending poor and ill equipped allied nations and territories from the onslaught of aggressive armies seeking to conquer territory and in so doing presenting as a threat to world stability and peace. We were, and are, indeed at war, but under no circumstances were we the one’s who ‘declared war or initiated it’.
Right from the fall of mankind in the Garden, as humans left to our own devices, we were void of principle. We read in Books 2 to 5 in the Old testament, God handed down laws, beginning with the Ten Commandments, that clearly laid out the rule of ethical, moral and disciplinary standards that He required of us if we were to be His people. In short God, the ultimate authority, had spoken and He had put in place a hierarchy for world order. In Paul’s words, Romans (13: 1–2) “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves”.
In my opinion, probably one of the greatest theologians of all time was St Augustine of the 5th century AD. He had great influence in the development of Western Christianity as we know it. St Augustine believed that the only just reason to go to war was the desire for peace. We do not seek peace in order to be at war, but we go to war that we may have peace. He went on to write “Be peaceful, therefore, in warring, so that you may vanquish those whom you war against, and bring them to the prosperity of peace”.
It follows then if we, as a peaceful, God ordered democracy, come under threat from potentially invading nations or forces; a threat that if successful would destroy the peace and good order as established by God’s command, then we, as a nation have the authority established by God to become (Rom 13-4) “God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer”. In good Christian conscience, we go to war that we may eventually be at peace.
This day is unique, in Australia and New Zealand it can be said for the majority of the population that ANZAC Day is sacred, it holds a special place in people’s hearts and minds.
This is demonstrated by the large attendance at public parades and ceremonies. But, last year, 2020, ANZAC Day public celebrations were cancelled due to COVID19 – but the honour and respect and the need to pay homage spilled into the streets of each suburb of each town and city in each state. People stood in their driveways, flags were flown, the last post was sounded. You see, there is, as in public ceremonies and parades, a realisation that a huge debt had been paid for the democratic freedom that we enjoy, and in all genuineness the people of Australia want to acknowledge that with heartfelt sincerity.
Here in Australia, across our modern history, we have been confronted with times when we were obligated to take up arms and defend our democracy, our way of life, our right to worship as we choose, our right to reasonable freedom. In these times our Government had the authority of our Great triune God to form a defence force proportionate to the task at hand. History demonstrates that the call to arms fell on very willing ears. Men and women of all ages willingly came forward to defend their country, their families, their way of life. I am sure you have heard of the marathon recruitment marches where men in the country walked to the enlistment centres picking up more and more volunteers in each town through which they passed.
During the time of the Vietnam war, the Government of the day felt the need to introduce conscription. I personally consider this an unnecessary action that displayed a lack of faith in the people of our nation. I have served on active service with many, many National Servicemen, and each and every one were keen professional soldiers who were willing and proud to fight under the Australian flag. They were proud then and to this day still wear their combat medals with pride.
History pays tribute to the Australian and New Zealand forces. A visit to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra will reveal just how effective the Australian and new Zealand forces were in the field of combat. The charge of the Light Horse Brigade, the Battle of Tobruk, the battle of Kapyong in Korea, the Battle of Long tan; The incredible number of Victoria Crosses awarded. All these and much, much more, are testimony to the devotion to duty and tenacity of the Australian serviceman.
But, you see, to me this day, ANZAC Day, is not really about leaders, battles, honours and awards, winning or losing. Today we pay tribute to the men and women who served selflessly that others may live and enjoy freedom. What is it that drives men over the top of a trench into certain death? what is it that keeps men flying in slow moving bomber aircraft on missions with a 50% chance of being shot down? What is it that drives people out into the ocean in ships that are vulnerable to air and sea attacks. What was it driving the 39thBattalion, a poorly trained group of Citizen Military Force soldiers from Victoria, that gave them the courage, strength and tenacity to repel the advancing Japanese Army on the Kokoda Trail, thereby saving Australia from invasion? What is it that leads women such as Nancy Wake (The White Mouse), a New Zealand born nurse to cause such havoc to the Nazi Forces whilst working in the French underground movement, that she became the most wanted on the Nazi list? ……..It’s the compelling, deeply cultural, Spirit of ANZAC, the love of country, the love of family, the deep seated cultural commitment to do your best to help out your mates in times of trouble. (John 15:13) “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”.
To this day, during national disasters, this spirit lives on right here in the county and cities alike.
When I went to South Vietnam, I proudly served in an Infantry unit 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment / New Zealand ANZAC (6 RAR/NZ ANZAC). I was sent over in the advance party, and our task was to work with the battalion we were replacing and so understand the ‘on ground procedure’ thereby allowing a smooth transition when the main body arrived. Up to that time, I had trained for two years with my unit and they were my ‘brothers in arms’. My other family…… Within 18 hours of arriving at my base camp, I was instructed to “saddle up” (equip for action) and join the ‘Ready Reaction Platoon’ in the back of Armoured Personnel Carriers. Our task was to seek out and repel a group of some 50 Viet Cong moving through the rubber toward our position. 20 hours after I arrived in South Vietnam I was jumping out of the back of a moving APC in a rubber plantation ready to engage in combat.
The point of the story is that up until that time I was a member of 6 RAR/NZ and these were the brothers I was dedicated to. Suddenly, I realised that these men I was with in the rubber plantation with were also my brothers in arms. I did not know them, I had never trained with them, but now I was shoulder to shoulder with them and that we, as a group, were each other’s keepers, locked in a common bond of purpose under the Australian flag. This is the mantra of ANZAC Day; a nation standing shoulder to shoulder against all odds, paying homage to those who served. And in so doing making a personal commitment to carry this tradition into the future regardless of cost.
Often, especially on ANZAC Day, I hear the word ‘heroes’ being used. For the majority of veterans from all fields of conflict, this word does not sit well. You see it gives the connotation of being without fear. It is true, that many remarkably heroic feats were performed, but may I say that in most cases, they were instinctive actions driven by fear and the will to survive and protect. ….I can honestly say that good training, experience, teamwork and instinct keeps a combatant alive; …but it’s the love of family, friends and country and the desire for peace that keeps him going.
It can be said then of all whom we commemorate today; those who have paid the supreme sacrifice, or those who continue to suffer as a result of their service in conflict, that they are the ones who have acted out either wittingly or unwittingly, (Romans 10: 8-10) “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbour as yourself." 10Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law”. Lest we forget. Amen
The love and peace of our Great Triune God that is beyond all human understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen
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