The Military-Evangelical Complex
There are evangelical Christians whom I love and respect. Nonetheless, it’s time to face this: The military-evangelical complex is not just politically dangerous; it’s a corruption of the Judeo-Christian tradition and thus of Western Civilization itself.
Definition
Let’s start by defining this clearly: The military-evangelical complex is an intricate partnership between the US government and thousands of churches, typically evangelical. These churches support and glorify government-authorized violence. Their messages to their members are clear: To enforce laws is noble and righteous; to bleed on a foreign battlefield is godly; the US military is a great force of goodness upon Earth; America, manifested especially through military action, is God’s special tool.
Every American past high-school age should recognize this description, but to be clear, here are a few exemplary images:
- It is announced in church that Johnny has joined the military. He is asked to stand and is heartily applauded by all.
- Memorial Day church services (or Veteran’s Day or July 4th) feature dedicated sermons and proud displays of flags and uniforms. There is effusive praise for soldiers, casting them as godly heroes.
- Military-themed ceremonies are held before every major sporting event.
- Children are encouraged to choose “service” as a life plan; if not in war, at least enforcing state laws.
- Enacting violence on behalf of the state is certain to get you public praise and pats on the back.
- Government-ordered violence is prejudged to be good and right.
- Funerals include the ritual touching of flags by military veterans.
- Churches promote slogans like, “Jesus died to save us; soldiers die to keep us free.”
- Rituals of saluting flags, singing anthems, and thanking soldiers for ‘service’ are obligatory.
Now, let’s be honest about this. Military service has become a sacrament in these churches; soldiers are the new missionaries, and wounded soldiers are the new martyrs.
And let’s be honest about something else: If we found records of such things in ancient inscriptions, we’d define them as the rituals of a military cult… and we would not be wrong.
How Did This Happen?
It happened because it was the easiest thing to do.
Christianity, however, was never meant to be easy. Not only did early Christians risk serious persecutions, but Jesus had warned them that “all men will hate you for my sake,” that they would be persecuted, and that they would “suffer for righteousness’s sake.” A follower of Jesus is supposed to lead mankind “into the light,” thus angering those who remain in darkness. (“He that dwells in darkness hates the light….”)
Most Christians, however, don’t want to suffer and don’t want to be hated. On top of that, leading mankind into the light is hard work. Alternatives to such things – easier ways – have always been popular.
And so, joining with the state – the biggest and most powerful entity – is the safest thing to do; once joined, no suffering and no hatred are required. And to gain that position, all you have to do is spin a theology that makes church-state partnership into a righteous thing.
Christians began making such arrangements just a few centuries after Jesus’s time. The Middle Ages had their versions, and modern times have theirs. And right now, among the most vocal advocates of Christianity, we have a military-evangelical complex.
And we all know what has supercharged this process over the past decade and a half: 9/11.
In a single day, people in uniforms were promoted into a new Hero caste. Minds stewing in fear skipped right past contrary facts and the lessons they had learned in the 1970s. (The Pentagon Papers, the Church Committee reports, the Gulf of Tonkin, etc.)
All of this gave Christian leaders an immediate opportunity to fill their pews and keep them full. So they jumped at it. Presently, they are clinging to it. Military leaders jumped at it too and have spent millions of dollars promoting it, notably at sporting events.
We Were Warned
There is a great deal more to say about this, and I am tempted to ramble on about the military-evangelical complex inverting the most fundamental elements of the Judeo-Christian tradition, how it turns government into an agent of sanctification, and how the Scriptures condemn it. But I shall not. I’ve made my point and I will leave it where it stands, adding only this:
As he was stepping down from the US presidency in 1961, Dwight Eisenhower warned about this. He talked about the threats of “an immense military establishment,” that it was “new in the American experience,” and that Americans “must not fail to comprehend [the] grave implications” of this “total influence – economic, political, even spiritual.”
And yes, this was the speech where he warned Americans to “guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence… by the military-industrial complex.”
But, like all the great warnings of history, Eisenhower’s were flatly ignored.
It was the easiest thing to do.
* * * * *
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It begins with an attack that crashes the investment markets, brings down economic systems, and divides the world. One part is dominated by mass surveillance and massive data systems: clean cities and empty minds… where everything is assured and everything is ordered. The other part is abandoned, without services, with limited communications, and shoved 50 years behind the times… but where human minds are left to find their own bearings.
You may never look at life the same way again.
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* * * * *
Paul Rosenberg
[Editor’s Note: Paul Rosenberg is the outside-the-Matrix author of FreemansPerspective.com, a site dedicated to economic freedom, personal independence and privacy. He is also the author of The Great Calendar, a report that breaks down our complex world into an easy-to-understand model. Click here to get your free copy.]
Disclaimer: I have a son who deployed for tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, & Beirut as a member of the Army guard. I didn’t encourage it.
I wonder is all the Christian 9/11 bullshit would evaporate if the parishioners knew their country betrayed them on that day and that 9/11 was an intentional political act to drum up support for invading the Middle East. And that there actually were no Arab “hijackers” involved. Or would they continue to “thank the troops for their service”.
From the essay: “Dwight Eisenhower warned about this. He talked about the threats of “an immense military establishment,” that it was “new in the American experience,” and that Americans “must not fail to comprehend [the] grave implications” of this “total influence – economic, political, even spiritual.”
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Some theologian’s claim the “total influence” of “economic, political and spiritual” speaks directly to Babylon from the Book of Revelation. It is argued to be a forthcoming beast system pervading all walks of life. Maybe so. Time will tell.
In any case, I tend to blame the “power brokers” more than the churches or the soldiers at this time. Soldiers sign up to do their duty. Unfortunately, they may end up serving the agenda of the elite, unknowingly. No one has figured it all out yet. It is a process of which we are all still discerning.
If I had a loved one serving abroad, I would appreciate the prayers (and overall concern) from my church. And yes, I do believe our armed forces, at this time, are, for the most part, deserving of honor and respect.
Not all of those serving in the military are out to “get some” and “God Blessing America” while the “rest of the world be damned”.
Most are in very difficult situations, have the same doubts as all of us and yet, still have to follow orders and have no clue regarding the Military Industrial Complex, deep state or even the worldwide elite and/or thier agenda.
Most are just doing their jobs, serving honorably, suffering under extreme conditions, exhibiting bravery, staying courageous, looking out for those around them and trying to do the best they can do in order to get back home to those whom they love and feel they are protecting, overall.
Maybe the system is fucked.
Regardless, when it comes to our soldiers and those that love them, it is NOT “the easiest thing to do”.
Just two cents…
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Just my two cents, that is…
I espouse similar views to the author and I’m in the clear minority in the 2,000-person suburban evangelical non-denominational church I attend. They love police, military, and government officials since we have many affiliated with the FBI, CIA, Pentagon, etc. in our area (only slightly more than an hour west of DC). When I’ve told my church brethren I supported Ron Paul in 2012 and Rand Paul in 2016 I repeatedly heard “isolationist” bandied about and they dismiss the Pauls without further consideration. Apparently many evangelicals have a different interpretation of the song “Onward Christian Soldier” than I do. And here I was thinking it was about winning souls… How silly of me…
IMHO the majority of volunteers for armed services are
not able to find a career path or a decent job otherwise.
Perhaps these men and women are seeking to help,
do good, protect and so forth. Yet we know, but may
not admit, that what the volunteers find out, is quite
a different experience. There are the innumerable
immunizations, given pretty much all at once. There is
the rampant PC (men in high heels most illustrative) and
these people are witness to corruption, waste, and frauds.
How can this be good for anyone? There is, of course, much more.
What I am sick of is the Judeo-Christian ethos. I am sick of Israel
for sure. It is all a bunch of bologna.
Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Freedom is never free.
Cool Suzanna. Get your burka ready. Allah Akbar.
Suck a dick, Ahab. Not mine, though. I’m not an islamofaggot like you are.
I have attended 3 different Evangelical churches in the last 15 years– 2 considered to be non-denominational. I have never seen any of the flags in the sanctuary, no special mention to honor soldiers other than as personal prayer requests during that part of the service–never a special Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day or Fourth of July Service.
I’m sure these things occur but it is a VERY wide brush the author uses–all inclusive in his terms actually.
Maybe the problem started once we identified as a CHRISTIAN nation. Once it is established that da Lawd himself loves and blesses this nation — almost always more than other nations — then the road to religious malfeasance has been already paved … starting with Jesus’ peaceful teachings taking a back seat, or twisted beyond recognition to mean what the State and Religious Authorities want it to mean.
Laurence Vance writes extensively on this topic.
Articles on Lew Rockwell —– http://www.vancepublications.com/articles%20by%20lmv%20lrc.htm
Articles on Anti-War.com —– http://www.vancepublications.com/articles%20by%20lmv%20awc%20blog.htm
Rosenberg says, “Now, let’s be honest about this. Military service has become a sacrament in these churches; soldiers are the new missionaries, and wounded soldiers are the new martyrs”
I don’t know where you get this crap–never seen any of it in 40+ years of regular church attendance, visiting other churches with friends or family and even visiting random churches when out of state–NEVER.
Never heard this slogan, ” “Jesus died to save us; soldiers die to keep us free.” until this article.
I don’t know what sporting event salutes to soldiers or color guard holding a flag during the Star Spangled Banner has to do with evangelicals–but somehow you use national ceremonies to prove some broad brush point about those who follow Jesus Christ.
As for believing there is honor in service– that is the core of what Christ taught, First to love God and secondly to love each other. My wife is an RN, I have my specialty in Nero/Muscular pathology, my daughter teaches special needs kids and my other daughter is in nursing school ( 2 sisters are LPN’s and 1 is an emergency room RN)–so my family holds service to our fellow man as a high priority- and hopefully our lives honor and can bring glory to God in some small way.
Though shall not kill. Unless you have a fancy uniform.
“As for believing there is honor in service– that is the core of what Christ taught,” —- Javelin
NOT military service! Not THIS military, at any rate —- the ones who bomb, kill, and maim the fuck out of whomever their superiors tell them to. “Just following orders, sir!”. No, I just can’t believe that’s the kind of “service” Jesus had in mind.
Also, don’t get your panties all tied up. Stop taking it personally. I’ve been to plenty of churches that do exactly as the author states. Your experience isn’t the end-all of the conversation.
Happened TO me. After the Air Force, moved back to NJ, joined the Northwood Baptist Church in North Plainfield. Every Memorial Day the pastor would ask active and ex-servicemen to wear their uniforms to church — if they still fit. haha Mine did, having just gotten out. His sermon was always militaristic … taken directly from the Old Testament, and some battle. At the end he would ask all the servicemen to stand …. which was followed by a rousing ovation. I was even uncomfortable with that back then. Now it utterly disgusts me.
I’m curious, when was the last time you asked the pastor at your church if he and his wife would like to join you at the shooting range, so that he can be prepared to explain to the congregants next week that they all need to encourage their children to practice now to be prepared to actively fight evil..
The ritualistic worship of cops and military Rosenberg describes make me sick to my stomach and I couldn’t agree with him more. I posted his article on SLL. with a few caustic comments of my own:
Use a state-sanctioned gun, go to heaven. Perhaps soldiers are to be pitied because they’re young when they sign up and they don’t know what they’re getting into when they become instruments of the US’s disastrous interventionist foreign policy. Pity them if you will, but don’t lionize them.
Churches become organs off the state when they accept tax – free status. As such they must do the bidding of their master. A REAL Christian church would have neither tax – free status or pay tax, as per the teachings of Jesus. That is, after all, what got Him crucified. To think Jesus would have joined Caesar’s army is laughable.
“And let’s be honest about something else: If we found records of such things in ancient inscriptions, we’d define them as the rituals of a military cult… and we would not be wrong.”
Members swear total allegiance to an all-powerful leader who they believe to be the Messiah.
Rational thought is discouraged or forbidden.
The cult’s recruitment techniques are often deceptive.
The cult weakens the follower psychologically by making him or her depend upon the group to solve his or her problems.
The cults manipulate guilt to their advantage.
The cult leader makes all the career and life decision of the members.
Cults exist only for their own material survival and make false promises to work to improve society.
Cult members often work fulltime for the group for little or no pay.
Cult members are isolated from the outside world and any reality testing it could provide.
Many cults follow an “ends justify the means” philosophy.
Cults, particularly in regard to their finances, are shrouded in secrecy.
There is frequently an aura of or potential for violence around cults.
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It’s all a cult now, does the above not sound like the political mobocracy that runs the country ?
Fuck those fucking evangelicals. You can add the term evangelical to the list of new-speak words such as cultural appropriation.
Stop trying to separate fly shit from pepper. You can split hairs about when you can call a slut a whore. Let’s just call these assholes another interest group.
I said before that evangelical ‘Christians’ are a more of a political group than a religious group.
If your main focus is to influence government and you fucking set a bald eagle loose in church while shouting USA USA USA, your a fucking NGO with a tinge of religion.
It is a shame that it it has come to this, but the church is not the problem. I wish everything was perfect in the world but that is wishful on my part. We deny God and the goodness that is done by the church and only focus on the negatives, what measures up to the perfect run nation state. Are they the godless nations? Are they the God fearing nations? There is no perfection, but without Christian moral guidelines what kind of evil and chaos is to be expected. Yes, history repeats itself and life is a struggle. Bible believers are derided as the problem in America and have been persecuted much lately. Like it or not, man is not omnipotent, there is a master plan in play and it is unfolding because it has to. We shall see what happens!
don’t forget the 87 virgins, or whatever–
Screw you Stucky–I will get my panties in a bunch–Rosenberg sounds just like Obama in this article. Accusing Christians-many of whom serve their fellow man by putting others ahead of themselves and “loving their neighbors as themselves” with acts of daily kindness and compassion-“Doing For the Least of These”—yet how does the author paint a picture of these people? The same as barak hussein does–with ” a bible in one hand and a gun in the other”.
I for one despise the neo-cons an all attempts at western hegemony. I don’t even agree that we should have military intervention/warfare in a foreign land because of “national interests.’ I’m saddened by the masses of youth who feel they have no options in life other than to become pawns of the military industrial complex–( and yes, even angry at the dolts who knowingly join with desire to go kill some “ragheads/commies/fill-in-the-blank).
MY ISSUE was this thin correlation between those who follow the teachings of Jesus Christ ( evangelical) and the filthy Neo-cons whose goal is to form some globalist society under the iron fist of a military and/or police state…..so again, screw you, screw Obama and screw Rosenberg–sometimes indignation is a justifiable response…..