We've been to others in the area. There's some
French and Indian War (Seven Years War) history near here and since my own
family was involved in that conflict it is of interest and we went this spring
and watched a re-enacted battle and visited the encampment.
I'm not going to glorify or venerate...but I do
acknowledge it's part of the story of history. And like it or not, war is a big
part of history.
This World War II battle is trying to re-create
the American advance into Germany with a local bridge pretending to span the
Rhine. Anyway, we live in a rural area, there's not much to do, and so we go.
I'm fascinated by World War II and talk to my kids
about it quite a bit. Again, I don't glorify it, but I'm in awe of its scope
and the superlative grandiosity of what was happening. The key players are more
than a little intriguing. The World Wars shaped the modern world.
There is something obscene about watching a bunch
of obese Americans follow the battle with big smiles on their faces. It's also
rather shocking to hear so many people talk who know nothing of what the war
was about or the players involved...or the years for that matter.
What's particularly striking is the volume and the
chaos. I'm sure it's almost nothing like what it really was to be there, but
it's a little more stark (just a little) than a Hollywood film. All the old
equipment is pretty interesting too, and there some impressive pyrotechnics as
they pretend to blow up the bridge. They fail of course as they did in the real
battle. The Americans did get across.
Agree or not, we go. Today as we were waiting for
the American advance, standing just behind the Nazi lines, a local Charismatic
guy was passing out camouflage Bibles, New Testaments to remember the veterans
he said...and, there's a salvation message in the back in case you haven't
received Christ as Saviour. It's just the Romans Road with a prayer. Many of
you know what I'm talking about.
I have several of these and you probably do as
well. The Gideon organization has disseminated these and they're easy to find.
I've got one old beat up one that I've been carrying around for about fifteen
years and has been a lot of places with me.
Aside from the Cheap Grace/Easy Believism, just
sign your name and repeat the mantra to get saved message, I was just appalled
at what was happening.
Camouflage Bibles. I don't even know what to say.
What do you say to someone like that? I think he figured we weren't interested
and moved on, but sometimes...I just don't even know where to begin. I guess my
scowl was enough for him.
War is historical, but wow...it's shocking to see
people glorify it in the name of Christ. Can you even imagine in the 2nd
century Christians passing out Roman Legion Bibles...to honour the veterans?
It's inconceivable.
The fact that this poor man doesn't see what he's
doing is no different...well, that's one of the primary themes of Church
History isn't it?
Is it Christianity?
Cheap Grace with Civil Religion...Pull yourself up
by your own bootstraps and be a great American...that seems to be their gospel.
What will they do when this Babel collapses? In
desperation and despair will they take up guns and start shooting the
traitors...those who reject their Monism...the Manichaeans of today? The
operative derogatory term today is Liberal. In their circles, nothing can be
more insulting and judgmental. Because if you're Liberal, it means you don't
accept the Monism, the sacral unified society. You're as bad as a Muslim, but
if you profess to be a Christian you're even worse...you're a Liberal, a traitor,
a Plural-ist instead of a Monist.
Of course I make a distinction between Theological
Pluralism which is to be rejected and Social Pluralism which is to be
encouraged and is absolutely Biblical.
They can't make the distinction. It's all the same
thing.
I won't run and hide, but thanks anyway, I don't
want the camouflage Bible.