The Military Chaplain

Acts 10:8-28

Intro: Law of first mention: marriage, blessing of firstborn, all to be interpreted in the light of the first mention. God's firsts are important.

In Acts ch. 10, God was about to accept the first recorded Gentile into His fold. He first had to prepare Peter to bring the message. And the one to whom Peter would bring that message was Cornelius, a Centurion, a military man. The first recorded Gentile to receive the Holy Spirit was a soldier. God's first.

1. v. 8 Soldiers are looking for direction

-Blind skiers (252)

-Divorce/suicide up 20% from civ.

-Paul McGinnett saved under Air Force Chaplain and now a missionary to Bolivia

-Height of Vietnam War--15% of soldiers were married; Present--65% soldiers married or single parent

2. v. 15 Soldiers are important to God

-Soldiers are sometimes referred to as "second-class citizens."

-God has prepared the way by "cleansing."

3. v. 28 My calling is to witness/disciple (represent CSBC in the military)

-"another nation", meaning "uncircumcised Philistine"

-No civilian pastors in Haiti; civilian clergy did not go into combat in Vietnam

-Help protect the country that provides the world with thousands of missionaries; as the family goes, so goes the nation

-Learn new language: The BICC requested ROE for the CTC before he secured A2C2 for JTF6.

-Services, Baptisms, Funerals, Memorials, Weddings, Bible Studies, Prayer Breakfasts, Retreats, Counseling--from Abnormal Psychology to Marriage/Family, Visitation in the home, hospital, confinement, and at work, Evangelism, Discipleship, Classes in Ethics, Suicide Awareness, and Stress Management, and Humanitarian Projects.

Concl.: Soldiers are looking for direction. Soldiers are important to God. My calling is to witness/disciple (represent CSBC in the military). God's firsts are important.

1. Establishment ( 2-1)

-DT 20:2-4

-Second oldest branch, next to infantry

-George Washington: Chaplains should be men of "Good character and good conversation . . . who will influence the manners of the Corps both by precept and example." (Israel Drazin and Cecil B. Currey, For God and Country (Hoboken, N.J.: KTAV Publishing House, Inc., 1995), p. 12.)

-GEN George C. Marshall: "I am deeply concerned as to the type of chaplain we get into the Army. For I Iook upon the spiritual life of the soldier as even more important than his physical equipment . . . the soldier's heart, the soldier's spirit, the soldier's soul are everything." (Joint Pub 1-05, "Religious Ministry Support for Joint Operations", 26 August 1996, p. II-3.)

2. Calling:

-Negatively--

-Not a calling to a pastorate.

-Missionaries plant churches.

-Positively--

-To witness

-To disciple

-To correct: Nathan-2 Sam. 12; the Army benefits from my devotion to God

3. Education:

-Four year accredited college degree

-Three year accredited graduate degree in Theology

4. Experience:

-Ordained

-Air Force requires two years pastoral experience

-Endorsing agents may require pastoral experience

-Chaplain Candidates require none

5. Age:

-Commissioned before age 40

-RC--50

-Physically qualified

6. Security Clearance

7. Endorsement:

-Required to be a Chaplain

-May come from one of over 90 Denominations

8. Direct Commission

9. Chaplain School

10. Duties ( 4-5-b-2; 4-5-c-2)

-Deployed 1/3 of time

-World-wide assignments

-Protect First Amendment ( 2-3)

-Preach

-Teach

-Counsel (Privileged Communications)

-Weddings

-Funerals

-Visitation

-Evangelism

-Ordinances

-Troop Unit

-Post

-Hospital

-Prison

-Active Duty

-Reserves

-National Guard

-Non-combatants

-No command authority

11. Chaplain Assistants