1Peter 2:13-17 Then be in obedience to every creation of men because of the Lord; whether to a king, as being supreme; or to governors, as through Him having indeed being sent for vengeance on evildoers, but praise on well doers, because so is the will of God, doing good to silence the ignorance of foolish men; as free, and not having freedom as a cover of evil, but as slaves of God; honor all, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
I've asked Pastor Dan Darrikhuma, who has been a close friend of mine for many years, to write his story. It is a perfect example of showing submission and respect to our Government, while at the same time standing up for our beliefs. Here is his story.
It was my first Sunday during basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia when I was
given two choices. I could either go to church, or I could stay back in my company
area and help clean the latrines. Since I knew that the latrines had been cleaned
once already that morning, I opted to go to church. The church service was a very
liturgical one with written prayers, responses and traditional hymn singing. At
the end of the service I was invited to stay for a Bible study.
I saw this as an excellent opportunity to get out of all the busy work I knew would
take place once we got back to the company area, so I volunteered to stay. The Bible
study was only thirty minutes long, and I knew if I didn't do something soon I would
be back in the company area with my toothbrush scrubbing the non-removable
ring around the toilet.
Having grown up as a Seventh-day Adventist and going through their school system
I already knew a few things I could ask that would keep the Bible study conversation
going. It was rather ironic since I had not been a practicing Adventist, or Christian
for that matter, for quite some time. The Bible study easily went over and when
it got close to supper time we were dismissed and sent back to our company area.
This scenario went on the whole time I was in basic training. However, the Holy
Spirit really impressed me through those Bible studies. By the end of basic training
I decided I would give my heart to back to the Lord. I remember it was while rodding
out my M-16 and reading my little green Gideon's Bible that I went through the steps
to give one's heart to Jesus.
After completing basic training I went on to infantry school. Towards the end of
infantry school I became convicted I should begin keeping the 7th day Sabbath like
the Bible taught. Having grown up a Seventh-day Adventist I had become very discouraged
with the judgmental approach of my church family and had witnessed first hand the
hypocrisy of many of my own church leaders. Even though I was now claiming to be
a Christian, I knew I didn't want anything to do with my former denomination. At
the same time, I knew I needed to keep the Sabbath holy just as the Bible taught.
On Friday evening I approached my drill sergeant and requested to have the whole
Sabbath off from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. He told me that the Saturday
I wanted off was the day we were to be tested on the bayonet assault course and
that it was mandatory training that couldn't be made up if I missed it. He then
ordered me to report for duty or else he would have me charged with refusing to
obey a lawful order.
I prayed about it all night long and asked God for wisdom on how to approach the
situation. By morning I was impressed to go on out to the training site, but refuse
to go through the training. This way, some of the more technical aspects of the
charges I knew would be placed against me would be less. Besides, Jesus had said,
"Where two or three are gathered in my name, there will I be also." I
also asked God to give me a sign. I was committed to keeping the Sabbath no matter
what. However, if God would work out a miracle and I got to keep the Sabbath without
getting into trouble I would take that as a sign that he wanted to me make amends
with the Adventist church.
The morning came and my company went to breakfast and then through the arms room
line to draw our weapons and bayonets. We then marched out to the training area
to begin the training. Up until that time, my drill sergeant had not noticed that
I didn't have my rifle or bayonet to go through the training. Immediately after
we arrived at the training site, my drill sergeant addressed my platoon and asked
if anyone didn't have their equipment. I raised my hand and he then dismissed the
rest of my platoon to start the training.
I went up to my drill sergeant and addressed him with proper military courtesy.
He, however, refused to look at me and spoke with his back turned to me. He began
firing questions at me one after another. Why didn't I draw my rifle and bayonet?
Why did I refuse to obey a lawful order? Would I have to have every Saturday off?
What would I do if we had to go to war on Saturday? I answered his questions as
best as I could expecting him to turn around and have me arrested. Instead he turned
around and told me that from now on, every Saturday, no matter what training we
had scheduled, I would go to church. There would be no exceptions and that would
be my place of duty. He then ordered me to report to the company area and phone
the chaplain and he would make arrangements for me to go off post to the church
in Columbus, Georgia. For the last three weeks of infantry school on Sabbath I reported
to "duty" in my dress greens and had a vehicle drive me to church.
Pastor Daniel V. Darrikhuma