A Moment With Pastor Fred

Tomorrow is Memorial Day when we honor those who died in the armed services defending our nation. Did you know this holiday originated back during the Civil War?  It was at first called Decorations Day in memory of fallen Union soldiers. The Confederacy had similar traditions but eventually both were combined. Observance of the day has diminished over the years. For many Memorial Day is simply the beginning of summer. It was emotional for me to see the unending white grave markers at Arlington when I visited there years ago. Let us pause and give thanks to the men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. The holiday has morphed as a time we honor all those who have served. If you did that – thank you. We appreciate your service.

While we do not diminish the memory of these brave souls on this special day – let us not forget another army, the untold million soldiers of the cross. Our patriotism should not eclipse our loyalty to the gospel. Courageous men and women – boys and girls for that matter who have laid down their lives for the cause of Christ. We think such martyrdom to have occurred in biblical days or in centuries gone by, but according to statistics more Christians died for the faith in the last century than all the past centuries combined. And those numbers increase today. Believers all over the world are persecuted for their faith. 

Yes, we want to honor America’s dead, but we want to use this holiday redemptively too. Let us use it to recommit ourselves to be bold in our faith and faithful to Christ.