mgpcpastor's blog

Another of the privileges in serving a local church in a small community is the opportunity to be involved in events such as the Remembrance Day service which is conducted each year by our local R.S.L.
Each ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day there are opportunities to help the community express their respect for those who have served our nation in the armed forces and to speak to them about the eternal promises of God.
Amusingly to me our local paper and television cover the services and usually mention everyone who takes part, but never mention clergy involvement, let alone whoever from among us is officiating. Even today the camera was rolling throughout until it was my turn to deliver my address, at which point it was switched off. There you go.
Anyway, as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, there is a matter of great concern to our community, a matter which has the potential to adversely affect the future of our region. The government wants to sell the output from our local forests for the next 110 years or so. Community opinion is that it is a short-sighted decision that will decimate the industry and our local economy. Speaking to some pastoral colleagues yesterday encouraged me that my perception of the link between what is marked by Remembrance Day and how we should view the present challenge was valid.
For all that, what’s written below is all mine. Those of you who know me, probably know that I pretty much never prepare a full manuscript or read from one. But this time I did.
Here it is:

Friends, as we gather here today in this simple, but profound action of remembrance we have opportunity to reflect on the themes of sacrifice and care for others.
I’m sure you’ve heard members of clergy point out the similarity of the sacrifice made by members of the armed forces and that of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are some differences though.
The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus was once for all, receiving the just punishment for our sin so that we could enjoy eternal peace with God. Because of Him no further sacrifice needs to be made for us to be right with God, our conflict with Him can be at an end by receiving His gift of salvation and peace in Jesus.
The sacrifices of the members of our armed forces bring lasting effects, but have to be repeated again and again, in arena after arena, by generation after generation. While we remember with thanks sacrifices made in past generations, in many cases before we were even born, we also stand here today remembering those who have lost their lives in Afghanistan during this past year. We don’t have to look back to see sacrifice, we also look around us.
Each generation must be prepared to join with those before it in making the sacrifice necessary to preserve peace. For one generation to falter, it is to put at risk the dream of freedom and security that previous generations have fought for.
So, how does that relate to our present situation?
I offer two observations:
It means that as we gather to give thanks for the sacrifice that our armed forces make, to defend and secure freedom and hope for the future that we affirm that we will support those among us who offer themselves to serve in this generation. We will also honour and care for all those who served and remain among us, honouring them alongside those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
I think it also means that when we affirm our appreciation for the way of life and the future opportunities which have been defended for us by these folk that we also play our part in striving to preserve our way of life and a future for our community, our children and their children after them.
The future of our town and region, our families and their hopes for the future, is under threat by a proposal which we are told by our community leaders, and those who have experience in this matter, is ill-advised and would mean that those who follow after us in this region will have less opportunity for advancement than we presently enjoy.
Hear me when I say that it is not a threat anything like the magnitude which our armed services have faced. Nor are the sacrifices we would be called to make in opposing it comparable to those of our defenders.
But that is the point. If we come and pay our respect to their sacrifice, simply happy to enjoy what they have given us, without in any measure striving and sacrificing to preserve it ourselves, doesn’t that actually diminish the reality of the respect we say we’re giving.
True respect not only pays honour by marking services such as this, but demonstrates itself in an everyday defence of that which so many have sacrificed so much, not for us alone to enjoy, but for us to protect, preserve and pass on to the future.

I did add a few comments about the need to make our words and deeds daily a wreath of honour laid in appreciation of the sacrifice of armed personnel. I wanted to ensure that the conclusion of the comments made certain that I had not departed from the central theme of remembering the sacrifice of others. That’s why I also refrained from mentioning actual activities planned to oppose the forward sale.
No one voiced dissent. I would have only expected a question about whether it was an appropriate occasion to mention such an issue.
There were actually a few appreciative comments. That never really happens after these situations, so there you go.