No Greater Love

I haven’t read the Bible in a while. Unless you count the few times a week that I read the daily scripture sent to my phone from the Bible app. Usually, I don’t think much about them. I read them in passing, say “hmm” and go about my day unaffected. I’m a horrible Christian I suppose. In my defense, I will say I’ve read the Bible multiple times cover to cover. I studied theology pretty extensively in college and spent several years writing sermons to preach to strangers all over the Southeast. I’ve lived many lives. I digress.

Usually, when that scripture is digitally sent to me by technological magic, the verse is in the New International Version. There’s no real reason why I chose that translation, it’s just the version I initially picked up. It’s what makes sense to me. When I study, I usually compare scripture with no less than three other translations, sometimes many more. None of this matters. Scholars and lay preachers will debate breathlessly on their version of choice. They’ll die on translation hills I’m not willing to die on. I just don’t care.

I got a semi-negative comment on last week’s post. It got under my skin a bit if I’m being honest. But it got me thinking. The comment was in response to my article about Imposter Syndrome in the Global War on Terror veterans. The article spoke to the fact that many of us don’t like to be thanked for our service for various reasons. Often, we’ve been treated as show ponies to be paraded around by organizations using veterans as social clout.

The comment I received on that article—almost a week later—was “Have no interest in war, fear, military, guns.... I’ll never say thanks for your service... Nope. Not from me. If you want to discuss peace, love, and compassion, yes please sign me up.” I responded the best way I knew how with the following reply: “Lol, well ironically, you have the right to that opinion because people with guns in prior wars who were probably really scared and loved their country defended your freedom of expression.”

This brings me to one of my favorite scriptures. It comes from a translation of the Bible I often don’t read. John 15:13 in the New Living Translation says, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his disciples and alluding to his coming sacrifice. He considers them friends, no longer slaves or servants but equals. They were co-laborers in the same cause. A cause, mind you, that resulted in the violent death of Jesus. They picked up His mission to carry the burden of peace. A peace that sometimes requires sacrifice. A sacrifice that may incur violence, and fear, culminating in a compassion we have yet to understand.

See, Jesus didn’t just die for his friends. He died for all of us. That was his stated mission. None of us deserve that compassionate act of war against our sinfulness. Yet, he took up our shame and wore it as righteousness. We can all agree that war, fear, and violence are bad things. That’s an easy position to take. Soldiers at war often don’t agree with one another politically. They don’t share the same religious beliefs. They come from different socio-economic backgrounds, upbringings, cultures, races, etc. Yet, they are unified in purpose. They are bonded by a mission greater than themselves. They are bonded by blood thicker than familial ties. A love worth dying for. A love few can understand.

They are brothers (or sisters) and would lay their lives down accordingly. That’s beautiful. That’s real love. Perhaps that’s something only a soldier who’s put their life on the line—In community with others in those same crosshairs—can truly understand. This is why sometimes comments like the one I received equally enrage and sadden me. People are all too often willing to assert their biased opinions and do not consider the cost. They can’t see the big picture. Conversely, I am eternally thankful to live in a country where we can state our opinions—even dumb ones—freely and without fear of political retribution. We are truly living in the land of the great.

No one who has ever been to war wishes for more of that anguish. Yet, soldiers often miss the bonds made in those violent times. “Love covers a multitude of sins” Saint Peter once said. So, to my misguided commenter—who will never thank a service member—that is your right. I’m glad you chose to flex that freedom. Someone still confronted violence on your behalf, whether you wanted them to or not. They rose to a greater calling. They were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice because of a love you may have yet to understand. I’ll thank them for you.

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