Christians sometimes see only roadblocks to their efforts be Christians in a secular world. We can’t pray in schools. Our neighbors increasingly don’t go to church. Most Americas see Sunday as a time to sleep in.
One significant open door that invites the spiritual into the secular is the chaplaincy. The United States military, almost every hospital and an increasing number of businesses employ chaplains to address the spiritual issues in their institutions. Here are some chaplains I know about:
* Dr. John Wood, now from Dayton, who has taught at OVU, was one on of the highest ranking members of the Churches of Christ in the Air Force Chaplaincy
* My good friend Jesse Stroup serves as a hospital chaplain in Dallas
* Don Taylor and I went to school together. Don served many years in the military as a chaplain
* After preaching for most of his life, Harve Smeltzer works as a chaplain in a group of Kansas City hospitals
* An OVU graduate, Dorn Muscar, recently qualified a a military chaplain
In each case, these men bring a spiritual influence into a secular world. They serve out of a deep commitment to God. Dorn recently told me,
“When I hear people in the world who hate our country, it caused me to reflect on my real attitude toward being a citizen of the U.S. I realized that I have enjoyed the blessings of the freedom and prosperity of our country that others had to make sacrifices to secure. I consider what could I do? If our country is also like the body in I Cor. 12 with many parts, what part should I play in its well-being? Since my gifts and strengths are in ministry, then I began to explore reserve chaplaincy. I knew I was called to serve in the local congregation at this point, but also was developing a burden to serve our country.”
People such as Dorn saw an open door and then made preparations to enter. It’s not easy. The physical requirements and the degree qualifications are significant. But the opportunities of bringing a spiritual word into our secular world are not easy to pass by. Chaplains find themselves next to people who need a spiritual word. It’s a call to a life time of service, serving in places where many of us cannot go.
Thank God for those who serve as chaplains. May others prepare themselves to do the same.