Christian defenders of war and the military

Christian defenders of war and the military, and especially those who practically elevate military “service” to the level of the Christian ministry, ought to pay more attention to the words of those who have been in the military instead of disqualifying me from criticizing the military because I have never “served.” Here is a recent “insider’s view” from one of my readers:

“I just read your piece from today’s Lew Rockwell. Well put. I find it hard to believe that so many nominal ‘Christians’ think that the military is some kind of enclave of virtue. I was in the Army for 4 years (’84 -’88). Let us forget, for a moment, that the purpose of the military is to kill and destroy property — as if that is not bad enough. How does the military hold up when it comes to instilling what Christians call ‘values’? Well, I was shocked at the pervasiveness of drunkenness and sexual immorality among my fellow soldiers. A half-hearted review of the divorce and unwed pregnancy statistics of military personnel would give one an outline for a book on military culture. Go to a VA hospital and see which department is the busiest — it will be the alcohol and drug treatment program. Military culture is rotten to the core (despite the clean-shaven, spit-shined facade), and it corrupts those who enter therein.”