On the second of May 2011, the United States military conducted “Operation Neptune Spear” in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Under the leadership of the Obama Administration and the scalpel-like precision of SEAL Team Six, the operation successfully resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden. The death of bin Laden, the most wanted terrorist in the world at the time, ushered to a close a chapter of Western history that had begun with the horrors of 9/11 nearly a decade earlier. Upon confirming that bin Laden was successfully killed, SEAL Team Six commander radioed in these simple words: “For God and country - Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo.” The sword of the State had swung decisively and without mercy, purging from the face of the earth a great darkness that had long since overshadowed the West.
The saying “for God and country” has taken on an assortment of guises throughout history, Pro aris et focis (“for hearth and home”) and Pro Deo et patria (“for God and country”) among them. These two Latin phrases compose twin poles of a single coin, signifying a heartfelt devotion to those spheres of life that are most important: God, family, and community.
Whenever I hear this phrase, - the more contemporary version being “for King and country” - I cannot help but think of C.S. Lewis’ words from his collection of essays, The Weight of Glory. At one point, Lewis writes what he thinks to be the chief end of a nation’s military (and a good deal of other social institutions). Lewis’ evaluation is rather simple: if the military, politicians, laws, and economy are unable to promote the safety and flourishing of society, the family unit in particular, then they are worse than useless. Indeed, man does not exist for institutions, but institutions for man. He goes on:
“...we must say that the sun looks down on nothing half so good as a household laughing together over a meal, or two friends talking over a pint of beer, or a man alone reading a book that interests him; and that all economics, politics, laws, armies, and institutions, save in so far as they prolong and multiply such scenes, are a mere ploughing the sand and sowing the ocean, a meaningless vanity and vexation of spirit... Great sacrifices of this private happiness by those who have it may be necessary in order that it may be more widely distributed. All may have to be a little hungry in order that none may starve.”
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it can become easy to lose sight of why we do the things we do. I think that, in order to regain a proper Biblical perspective in the midst of the mundane, we must first narrow our focus before broadening it again. That is, before setting our sights to the plethora of issues abroad, let us take stock of our own hearts, homes, families, and church community. There is a real sense in which our pursuit of “God and country” must begin at “hearth and home.” Indeed, does this not line up neatly with the two great commandments:
“‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).
How can we expect to love the world if we fail to love those closest to us, the very ones we rub shoulders with morning and evening? And, how can we possibly expect to love those closest to us if we neglect to love our Lord and Savior with our utmost devotion - the very God “who loved [us] and gave Himself for [us]” (Galatians 2:20)?
Many of my prayers have lately been settled on a relatively simple premise. Whether these prayers are uttered in my morning devotions or on my daily commute, I have often retreated to these few words: “Father, may whatever I do today abound to your glory and the good of others.” In other words, may my existence this day, the only day that I am promised, be a blessing to “God and country.” By God’s grace and good pleasure, may the life of His Son so pulsate in me today that my life brings with it an aroma of eternal significance. Let every intention, motive, shadow of a thought, word, and action abound to the spread of “the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Indeed, this prayer forms the twin purpose behind every word I write; the glory of God and the good of those who read my words. My great desire in all I share is that He would increase and that I would decrease; that by the moving of His gentle hand these words would ripple outwards to each one of you, echoing into eternity.
I write that I may steward this gift faithfully. In all I do, I am ever trusting that His word will return to Him having achieved His eternal purposes; shedding light and scattering salt in my little corner of the internet, dispelling some darkness from therein that had long since overstayed its welcome. How can you this day, wherever you may find yourself, be an instrument for God’s glory and the good of His people?
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).
Photo by Martin Adams, Unsplash
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