Military – Chris Linzey

Life in the Marine Corps is extremely challenging. From the moment you step onto the yellow footprints at recruit training you are tested physically, mentally, and emotionally. There are days, maybe even weeks, when you feel overwhelmed. Exhaustion threatens to consume you and doubt whispers in your ear, urging you to quit. It’s not any different in the Fleet. Sure, the particulars and details change, but life still has difficulties and challenges. There are times when we think it would just be easier to throw in the towel and quit. In these moments, it is crucial to remember why you started this journey in the first place. Holding on to your “why”—your personal sense of purpose—will give you the strength to press forward when the road ahead seems impossible.

In the Bible, Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” This verse speaks directly to the importance of faith and perseverance. There will be times when your understanding fails, when you can’t see the finish line, and when the hardships of life in the military seem too great. But if you hold onto your purpose and trust that you have been placed on this path for a reason, you can find the strength to keep going.

Your “why” is personal. Maybe you joined to serve your country, to challenge yourself, or to provide a better future for your family. Maybe you felt a calling to be part of something greater than yourself. Whatever your reason, it is what gives meaning to your sacrifices. When you are standing in the rain during a tough field exercise, when you are struggling to master a difficult skill, or when the weight of leadership feels too heavy, your purpose will be your anchor. It can be that higher purpose that gives you inner strength. This is what spiritual fitness looks like.

At times, life will feel like a battlefield, both physically and spiritually. But hardship is not meant to break you—it is meant to shape you. In my faith tradition, Saint Paul writes in Romans 5:3-4, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” The struggles you endure now are forging you into a stronger, wiser, and more resilient person.

So when you feel overwhelmed, take a moment to remind yourself of your “why.” Write it down. Speak it out loud. Perhaps even pray about it. Remember that your purpose is greater than any single obstacle you face. And above all, trust in your higher purpose to guide you and give you inner strength. Keep moving forward, one step at a time, knowing that perseverance will lead to victory.

Let me begin by pointing out (yet again) that I speak for myself. These are my opinions soldier-708711_1280 and reflections. I do not speak for the military or the government. Okay, ready?

This week I read an article saying that Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, is once again up in arms about a Christian in the military expressing his faith. This time his furor is directed against an Army Colonel who shared a story about his grandfather’s faith and encouraged Service Members to work on spiritual fitness through prayer. Weinstein’s statement says:

Apparently, Colonel Thomas Hundley can’t figure out whether he’s an active duty senior Army officer or an evangelical Christian missionary? Further, DoD can’t seem to, likewise, decipher whether they are paying him to be one or the other. Where the hell is the adult supervision for senior, active duty officer, Constitutional compliance at DoD?….

Colonel Hundley has absolutely no business or authority under American law to be conflating his Army officer rank, title and position with his professed evangelical Christian faith.

Let’s break down what’s really happening, okay?

1. The military recognizes that spiritual fitness is an important component in overall health. The Army defines spirituality:

Spirituality, as defined by Comprehensive Soldier Fitness, is strengthening a set of beliefs, principles or values that sustain a person beyond family, institutional, and societal sources of strength.

Did you see the part in there that defines spirituality as Christian faith? No? Because it isn’t there. What we’re talking about is the general concept that healthy and fit Service Members have a healthy spirituality WHATEVER THEIR PARTICULAR EXPRESSION LOOKS LIKE.

For the Colonel, his spirituality takes the shape of Christianity.

2. The Colonel did not tell people that his background needed to be everyone’s background. He related a story about his grandfather to share about his own journey, but there was no proselytizing – he wasn’t trying to convert anyone. Sharing personal stories isn’t the same thing as actively trying to convert others.

And finally,

3. Calling people to prayer is really the least offensive way of talking about spiritual growth. All the major religions have a form of prayer and/or meditation. I can encourage Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Wiccans, Atheists, EVERYONE to engage in spiritual behavior through prayer/meditation. It’s not a behavior unique to Christianity.

Let me give you some personal examples from my own ministry as a military chaplain. My job as a chaplain is NOT to walk around finding people to whack on the head with my Bible and yell, “YOU NEED JESUS!” No, my job is to see to the free exercise of religion for ALL of the Service Members I come across.

Not too long ago I was asked about facilitating a need for Islamic prayer. Easy day! I kid-1077793_1920 acquired a Muslim prayer rug for the Religious Ministry Team (RMT) and gave the Service Member space for prayer. I have also given out copies of the Koran, the Book of Morman, Jewish prayer books, and yes, even Bibles, when Service Members let me know they have a need.

So no, the Chaplain Corps is not about making converts. Christians in the military are not hell-bent on making converts. Yes, it is perfectly acceptable for senior leadership to suggest Service Members engage in some form of prayer/meditation as a means to strengthen their spirituality.

On a final note, it is possible for us to hold to our own beliefs while still supporting the rights of others to have their beliefs. This is where we get to the biblical behavior lesson for the day. As Christians we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are also called to treat people the way we wish to be treated. We don’t have to argue the rightness/wrongness of faith. We can be faithful to our own spirituality and still respect the faith and religions of those who disagree with us.

As the Apostle Paul writes in Colossians: