Each fourth Monday in the month of May is set
aside by our nation to honor citizens who died defending our beloved
country. This observance includes visits to cemeteries, parades,
and honorary services in churches and other public places. Indeed,
it is fitting that citizens of the United States should honor,
remember, and reflect on the great sacrifices that have been made
for our freedom. Freedom is not free.
While those honored on Memorial Day are honored
for their participation in physical wars, there are those who
have fought in a war that is greater in every detail: the war
between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of Satan. The apostle
Paul wrote of such a comparison to Timothy, "You therefore,
my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the
things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit
these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You
therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of
this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier."
(2 Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV.) While those being honored on Memorial
Day are worthy of such, there is another group that I fear is
often overlooked: the spiritual soldiers who have laid their armor
down and wait for the resurrection.
Recently, this writer made a trip to the city
cemetery in Anderson, Indiana, and was honored to visit the grave
of a different type of veteran soldier. The "name" of
the person is famous; however, the "name" often is associated
with another more prominently known figure in history. This person
was the great nephew of Benjamin Franklin. More often than not,
when the name "Benjamin Franklin" is mentioned in connection
with the church, people look puzzled and wonder what the kite-flying
revolutionary patriot had to do with the churches of Christ. Many
fail to realize that there was a man named Benjamin Franklin (1812-1878)
who was probably the most popular leader among churches of Christ
after the death of Alexander Campbell. Benjamin Franklin fought
extensively against the introduction of mechanical instruments
in worship, and he was in the middle of the battle over the missionary
society. Indeed, Earl West's biography about him is well titled,
Eye of the Storm A Story of Elder Benjamin Franklin. (Lord
willing, this writer is planning a lecture on the life of Benjamin
Franklin for the 2008 West Virginia Christian Lectureship.) The
biography of this great restoration soldier will deal with the
period when the issues of instrumental music, missionary societies,
and slavery were tearing the brotherhood and nation apart. It
chronicles the events that led to a faction that broke away from
churches of Christ, taking land and property with its digression.
How many of us are surprised to learn that there
was a key figure in church restoration history named Benjamin
Franklin? Of course, God remembers the sacrifices that this Christian
and others made for the cause of Christ (Revelation 14:13), but
do we owe these soldiers any less? Often there is a comment made
about those hypercritics who know nothing about the military:
"they are not worthy to lace the boots of the ones they criticize."
Tragically, we have those among us who berate the spiritual soldiers
of yesterday with false assertions of "they never preached
Christ" or "they never preached on God's grace."
Indeed, those who make these false assertions are "not worthy
to lace the boots of the ones they criticize." Even more
tragic is that an uninformed brotherhood is ill equipped to rebuff
these false assertions. Some attempt to excuse their willful ignorance
with "well, they were not inspired ... they made mistakes."
Indeed, all men have sinned except the one Man. We do not allow
our children to exempt themselves from the study of history because
of the imperfections and mistakes of the people involved. Do we?
Why not make the commitment to learn more about
the men and women who fought on the battlefield of good versus
evil? As my father often says, "we are standing on the shoulders
of giants." Hugo McCord wrote in a letter that the examples
of good preachers and defenders of the faith show us how to be
good ourselves. With a look at the confusion and defections from
the truth around us, the expression of George Santayana rings
clear and true, "Those who ignore the lessons of history
are condemned to repeat them." This writer has been greatly
enriched by those who have devoted time to research and writing
along these lines, especially those who can make history seemingly
"come alive." -29 Flora Dr. Bedford, OH 44146-2011.
DRKenney@email.com