September 23 - Along the Way ...

I recently returned from 6 weeks of Air Force chaplain training.   My journey to becoming a Christian military chaplain has been a long one.  Through the process God has formed and shaped me to prepare me for this unique calling.   So I thought I would take some time to share with you some of the things I have learned, and give some perspective on being a Christian Military Chaplain.

Christian military chaplains are often misunderstood.  Some people think a Christian military chaplain is a pastor serving in the military.   While that might be part of who we are and what we do, it certainly does not capture the full picture. 

First, military chaplains, in general, are “inherently governmental”.   There are actually very few jobs in the military that are “inherently governmental”, but a chaplain is one.   We are “inherently governmental” because we provide and provide for the free exercise of religion for all Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines as guaranteed in the First Amendment of the US Constitution.   Therefore, our role is not one the military can choose to do without because we help Military Commanders provide and provide for a constitutional right for every one of his or her troops. 

Second, military chaplains are military officers who possess rank without command authority because we are “noncombatants”.   As noncombatants, our role is a support role.  Still we are military officers, and are held to the same standards as our counterparts in the combatant world.   We train the same, wear the same uniform, and require the same respect for the service we perform.   In the past, both chaplains and others have misunderstood this dimension.  The phrase, “He or she is just a chaplain” was used often.  This phrase dismissed us, and caused us to lose respect among the troops, thus losing a bit of our voice.   Yet, as visible reminders of the holy, our voice is critical, and we cannot let anything take that voice away.   It is up to us to maintain the standard, and change the perceptions of others.   We must meet the standards and similarly hold others accountable in order to fulfill our role as military officers.  We must uphold the standard because we not only speak pastorally to the Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, but we also advise leadership.   Leadership will not listen if we do not command their respect, therefore we must take our role as military officers seriously.

Third, military chaplains, in particular Christian military chaplains, are invited to represent Jesus in a pluralistic environment.   In that environment, there are certain rules of engagement we must observe in order to continue to engage.   We must respect others and provide for the free exercise of all religions, while also not seeking to establish any particular religion.   Therefore, when we pray in public forums, where members of many different faith groups are present, we are mindful to pray in such a way that respects everyone.   Also, because Christian military chaplains represent Jesus, in my opinion, we should not do anything that might hinder an opportunity for meaningful engagement with those we are called to serve.  Ultimately, I believe God is in control, and as I trust Him and pray for opportunities, God will open doors and bring people to Christ, as I bring Christ to people through the Holy Spirit who lives within me. 

I hope this helps you understand the unique calling of a Christian military chaplain, and encourages you to pray for us as we seek to serve those who serve.  If you have questions or comments, I invite you to share them in a post or send me a personal message.   I will do all I can to respond to every inquiry I receive.   

Thank you for reading my thoughts, and for your partnership in the gospel, as we journey together along the way ...

August 5, 2014 - Along the way ...

This past week I have been thinking a lot about matters of life and death.   I attended a suicide intervention training event last week, listened to a presentation on prosecuting perpetrators of sexual assault, and participated in a hospital ethics committee discussion on Elective Termination.

It really is overwhelming.   Emotionally it is all very sad.  Mentally it is taxing to try to live into the experience of another in order to make good, wise choices.  Spiritually it takes a toll on your soul to grapple with the brokenness of this world in such a tangible way.

In the end, however, it all comes down to one thing: Human life is valuable!

We seek to help people considering suicide because we believe that their life has inherent value as well as value to those around them.  It is not just their life.  Our lives belong to God and are shared with the people around us.  Suicide is tragic because it affects so much more than just one life.

Similarly, we prosecute offenders who abuse others for their own pleasure because every human being is precious and deserves proper treatment.   We cannot use others for own purposes without violating their unique personhood.   This is also why prostitution and sex trafficking are so damaging to the soul of our society and must be stopped.

Finally, because life is valuable, elective termination is wrong.   We don't get to decide who lives and who dies; that is God's territory.   Our lives are in God's hands.   It is one thing to choose to care for the mother more than the child during pregnancy because it is a matter of life and death.  Yet it is quite another thing to act to purposely take the life of another.  Every human life is valuable and precious and deserves every right to flourish.

I know this gets back to some of the things I said a few weeks ago, but I feel I must keep this conversation going.   What do you think?  I am interested to hear your thoughts, so I invite you to share them openly or privately at joekamphuis@comcast.net.  

I look forward to greater understanding and appreciation as we journey together along the way ...

July 22, 2013 - Along the way ...

I wonder about the ways in which God reveals Himself.   I know that He reveals Himself through His Word, His world and His Spirit, and most poignantly through Jesus, but I wonder what that looks like on a day to day basis.

We are often told how important it is to read the Bible regularly, but for what purpose?   If reading the  Bible is just something on my daily "to do" list, or is something I do to merely confirm that which I already know, then I think we are missing the real reason for reading in the first place.

We read the Bible because in its pages we meet the living God.   We see what He is like.  We learn what He desires.  We also hear His voice calling us to the obedience which comes from faith.

Reading the Bible is not a chore or a daily task, it is an invitation to sit at Jesus' feet and be fed, nourished, and refreshed; to be called out and sent; to join Him in His great kingdom venture; and to be reminded that my greatest identity is found in who I am in relation to Him.

But what about some of the other ways God reveals Himself to us?

In creation, we see God's power displayed, we learn about His providential care, and we wonder at the beauty of His imagination that could conjure up the diversity we experience in so many ways.
Creation reveals God to us as well.  It leaves us in awe and wonder.  Not so that we will worship the creation but that we will stand in awe and wonder and fall in worship at the majesty of the Creator.

God also reveals Himself through Jesus.  In Jesus, we see most clearly what God is like.  If we wonder how God might treat a person caught in sin, we look at Jesus.  If we wonder what God might do for those we meet on the streets, who are hungry or in need, we look to Jesus.  If we wonder about God's purpose for suffering and evil in the world as we experience it, we look to Jesus.   Jesus shows us Who God is.   In Jesus, we see God's heart and witness His being, His character, and His perfect image.

Moreover, God reveals Himself through other people.   In our relationships, we see God, though imperfectly, because each of us bears God's image - some clearer than others - but God's image is visible in everyone.

I remember how God revealed Himself through a University of Maryland professor at Misawa Air Base in Japan in a Speech class.   The professor was an avowed atheist, and challenged us to think critically about our faith.  He sent me on a journey of discovery, which ultimately led me to a greater understanding and appreciation for Who God is.   God used Dr. Ruffino in a way that Dr. Ruffino was not even aware, and God revealed His glory through a self-avowed atheist.   That is the power of God!

Finally, all of God's revelation is mediated by the Holy Spirit.   It is the Holy Spirit who gives us the eyes of faith by which we can see what is unseen and eternal.  It is the Holy Spirit who shows us Who God is, What He is like, and What great things He has done, is doing, and will continue to do.   It is the Holy Spirit Who gives us hope and draws us ever closer to the living God.

So I wonder about the ways in which God reveals Himself.  Do you?  How does God reveal Himself to you?  Can you share a time where you saw God in an unexpected way, and it brought you closer to Him?  Together we can share what God is saying to each of us, and together we will see God a little more clearly, as we journey together along the way ...

July 16, 2014 - Along the way ...

Lately, I have been reflecting on what a consistent Christian life ethic might look like, and I would invite your responses as well.

This question comes up from time to time, especially in political debates.   Ordinarily, Republicans focus on protecting the unborn and preventing euthanasia, whereas Democrats tend to promote care from the cradle to the grave with social programs, including health care, welfare, etc.  The only problem is that both parties have glaring inconsistencies.   I believe a consistent Christian ethic needs to cover all of life, not just the ones that are convenient to further one's own agenda.

That's why it is time for us to think of a consistent Christian life ethic; one that truly values human life in all of its phases and offers care when it is needed.

So what does that look like?

I do not propose to be an expert in these matters at all, so I hope to open up some dialogue through this post.  However, to get the wheels turning I will offer a few of my own ideas.

First, a consistent Christian life ethic will embrace the truth that all people are created in the image of God, and therefore all people have intrinsic value and require our respect.   We must concern ourselves with the needs of each person, as we consider what is best.  No one is expendable, no one gets left behind.  A consistent Christian life ethic will value relationships over labels, and seek to see people as God sees them.

Second, a consistent Christian life ethic will not seek first what is most convenient or self-serving, but will seek first to serve the needs of others rather than to be served in furthering our own agendas.   I want to argue that a consistent Christian life ethic cares for children (whether or not they are born in the US or not), offers encouragement to those who are hurting, stands up for those with no voice (whether they reside inside or outside of their mother's womb), and extends grace to anyone who needs it.  Not because people deserve it, but because that is what Jesus did, and that is what Christians are called to do.

Third, a consistent Christian life ethic seeks justice for the oppressed, marginalized, and victimized.
Justice means to set right what is wrong.  Now, unfortunately, as human beings we are limited in righting every wrong.   Sometimes we just don't know what it will take to make things right.  Yet we must try.  Seeking justice means holding people accountable for their actions, especially criminal behavior, because when one person's actions harm another person accountability is required so that the victim is valued, whether the victim is dead or alive.  Seeking justice also means working to provide truly equal opportunity to every person, so that each person can use the gifts God has given them to care for themselves, their family, and contribute to the betterment of their community.

In short, a consistent Christian life ethic will take seriously Jesus' command "to love your neighbor as yourself".   To really love our neighbors well will require us to get to know our neighbors, listen to them, empathize with them (really trying our best to walk a mile in their shoes), seek to understand them, and work together toward a God-glorifying result.

It will not be easy.  Developing a consistent Christian life ethic will require a lot from us.  Still we must remember that the One we serve is the same one Who gave His all for us, and He has called us to in turn take up our crosses and follow Him.  

So what about you?  What do you think is involved in a consistent Christian life ethic?  How can we take steps to embody that ethic?   I invite you to share your own thoughts as we journey together along the way ...

June 24, 2014 - Along the way ...

I have been reflecting a lot on identity, lately.   Who we are is who we are in Christ, and who we are becoming is also in Christ.   This is our identity as followers of Jesus.

So what does that mean for our everyday lives?

Understanding our identity is very important because we are the ones people meet and interact with on a daily basis.   As we go, where we go, and with whom we go, any interaction is an interaction with us, as people, as we are, being who we are.

For example, understanding my identity has helped me immensely in understanding my role as a chaplain in the US Air Force.

People say to me, so what restrictions are they placing on you as a chaplain?  My answer is always the same.  In worship, I lead worship in the same way I lead worship at Chelwood Church.   I pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.   We worship the triune God, and point people to Jesus as the only hope for salvation.  

However, when I am not leading worship, I fill a crucial role as an officer in the US Air Force.   As a chaplain, I am everyone's chaplain, regardless of their faith background or lack of faith.   I serve a professional role in being a safe place for people to share their troubles with complete confidentiality, to provide invocations for all types of ceremonies and formations, to advise commanders with respect to ethical decision-making and matters of morale, as well as be "a visible reminder of the holy".   I do that from who I am and because who I am is who I am in Christ, so everyone I interact with meets Jesus.

The same is true everywhere I go, whether serving as a chaplain or not.   As I meet people at Little
League baseball games, Cub Scout meetings, Boy Scout troop events, prayer gatherings, etc.   I am who I am in Christ, so when people meet me they meet Jesus in me through the Holy Spirit's power.

And the same is true for you.   Who you are, as a follower of Jesus, is who you are in Christ.  

So how is that realization helping you understand the opportunity for kingdom service involved in every personal interaction you have each day?   I invite you to share your thoughts and stories.  I am becoming more convinced that this is God's plan for us as we journey together along the way ...

June 17, 2014 - Along the way ...

Father's Day 2014 was very different for me.  

First, my daughter is out of town, so I missed getting a hug from her.   Second, my dad died last October, so I missed getting the chance to chat with him and share how much I appreciate him and all he taught me.  Third, I was particularly struck by the wonder of knowing my heavenly Father and celebrating Him on Father's Day.

I vividly remember the day after my dad died.   I was in Air Force Commissioned Officer's Training, and we were about to take the first of two written exams, which would account for about half our grade.   I took a deep breath and prayed silently, "Lord, You are my only Father now."  Praying those words was difficult.  I had to choke back the tears, but it was also life-giving.  Knowing God as my faithful, loving Father, who promises to never leave or forsake me is an amazing privilege!

My dad understood the blessing of knowing God as His Father as well.   His dad died when I was in high school.   He had an interesting relationship with his own father, but he maintained a deep respect and appreciation for him.   Their relationship was strained at times, and not nearly as close as the friendship I shared with my father.  So my dad understood the privilege of knowing God as his heavenly Father as well.  He often talked about God and His goodness, and he had faith that God would always watch over him and protect him no matter the circumstances.

This Sunday I was particularly struck by the words from a teaching document known as the Heidelberg Catechism.  The Heidelberg Catechism is a document we use in the Christian Reformed Church to teach the Christian faith.  In the document, the Apostles' Creed is named as a summary of true Christian faith, and it is explained in question and answer format.

Question 26 states, "What do you believe when you say, 'I believe in God, the Father almighty, 
                                creator of heaven and earth'?"
And it answers, "That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ... is my God and Father because of 
                          Christ the Son.  I trust God so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I    
                          need for body and soul, and will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends upon 
                          me in this sad world.
                          God is able to do this because he is almighty God
                          and desires to do this because he is a faithful Father."  

To know that the same almighty God who created the heavens and the earth is my faithful Father brings me great comfort and enables me to celebrate Father's Day in a whole new way!

So what about you?   What does Father's day mean to you?   I invite you to share your thoughts as we journey together along the way ...

June 10, 2014 - Along the way ...

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

In Ephesians 4, Paul writes about unity as a reality and something that requires maintenance.

The unity of the Spirit is something we have through faith in Jesus.   Paul says, "There is one body and one Spirit".   This is the truth.  It is what is, and it cannot be changed.  

Yet there is also the need to "keep" that unity "through the bond of peace".   It takes effort.  It requires each one of us to learn to see the body of Christ the way God sees it.  It means we need to set aside our differences and embrace unity.   It means making a commitment, as I sang in a song this morning at a pastor's prayer gathering, to not harm another with my mouth.  It means we do not speak ill of one another, we do not cut down, unfairly compare, or judge in a way that does not fit with the bond of peace.

"There is one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one God and father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."  (Ephesians 4:5)

This is a challenge for the church today.  Too often we make divisions where God does not, and our man-made divisions (see I Corinthians 1:12-13) hurt our witness in the world.   What will it take for the church to stand as a united witness to Jesus in the world?  How can we begin to obey the command: "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace"?

I invite you to share your thoughts, as we journey together along the way ...