I have long wondered about the propriety of military chaplains. Mind you, I know some military chaplains and even have them for friends. But the complications to jure divino Presbyterianism that come from ministering as an agent of the state pale in comparison to the sort of ministerial promiscuity that goes on among the denominations (both liberal and non-Protestant) represented in the chaplaincy.
And sometimes you find support for your views in the oddest of places. I was reading John Frame’s book, Evangelical Reunion, recently and came across this:
A fellow minister in my presbytery is a navy chaplain. He is a pretty strict Calvinist, zealous to maintain doctrinal purity in the church. He would, I have no doubt, strongly oppose any candidate for the Presbyterian ministry who was charismatic in his theology.
Yet, in a recent report of his work as a chaplain, he told the presbytery that God had given him a fellow worker who was a member of the Assemblies of God. The chaplain rejoiced, for this worker was a real evangelial believer who proclaimed the gospel. There was little if any conflict between them; the theological difference seemed small compared with the great gap between the Christian and the non-Christian servicemen.
I could not help but remark (mentally!) that my fellow Presbyterian was rejoicing in a kind of alliance that he would certainly repudiate within his denomination.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Of course, Frame was using this as an argument for greater unity and cooperation among Presbyterians and evangelicals. But can’t it also be used to pull the plug on ordaining men as military chaplains?
57 Comments
You don’t think it is funny that two-kingdom advocates, like yourself, have a quasi-Roman Catholic view of a Confession written by theologians who were most definitely not two-kingdom proponents? I think it’s hilarious …
I love the WCF, but I wouldn’t waste $1 on Clark’s book.
And, what is your thinking about Confessionalism? Oh yeah, “promoting a distinctive modern idiosyncratic American form of confessional Presbyterianism which does not actually enjoy quite the deep historical genetic precedents and antithetical categories which the authors claim for it.”
Trueman couldn’t have been more right!
My daughter loves humus, btw.
But would you waste $14 on Clark’s book? Badop bop.
Which is more idiosyncratic? Adjusting the claims of the confession and church power to the realities of a post-Constantinian world? Or thumping one’s chest about how confessionalists have abandoned Owen and Cromwell while paying deference to modern liberal-democratic nation states and being content with inspirational writings from Banner of Truth? I know which is funnier.
Smecty,
Greetings from Prov 26:5! Your Christian Charity is overwhelming, providing such a solid witness for Christ that I’m just dying to emulate your views simply because they’re yours.
Echo_ohcE
Say on, dgh!
Echo, I thought you were a Marine. Isn’t it “Semper Fi”?
“were” being the key word. I’m no longer faithful.
I thought of your military chaplains post today when I read the USAToday Religion blog:
Can military chaplains bless demise of ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell?’
“You can see why military chaplains have long been the subject of church-state conflicts, for the perfectly logical reason that these pastors work for, and answer to, both the church and the state.”
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