If the President of the USA asks for a parade, the military has to deliver. Last I read there were a few Generals on staff?
Military personnel die for this country or become disabled so we can continue to speak English and express freedom of speech, and, while war should be a last option, in the Bible, Jesus commended one Roman commander (Centurion) for having more faith than anyone He had met in Israel that claimed to belong to the Jewish faith tradition. Another Roman commander who was guarding the Cross said when the earthquake occurred at the moment of His death: "truly He is the Son of God."
"Jesus said to him, "Shall I come and heal him?" The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour." (Luke 7:1-10; TNIV)
This world is considered the "Church Militant," and battles with forces of evil are everywhere. The military is symbolic of spiritual warfare. In the Bible, there are accounts of God's angels who fight forces of evil. And there are examples of individuals who have fought their own spiritual battles, including the Apostle Paul. A strong military is necessary to protect nations, although the Lord did give examples also of trying to negotiate peace with enemies: [As Christians, we should not try to fight the battles that Jesus already won-- that's why the battle for becoming a son or daughter of God must be surrendered, and received as a free-gift] (this is taught in spiritual freedom ministries), since both the battle for self-justification, and entitlement, are both enticed by the devil and his hoard of fallen pride. Unnecessary battles in court, or on the battlefield, or frantic battles in the mind, are discouraged by Christ, and also the Apostle Paul who told Timothy to "stir up his faith" (not an exact quote), not whip it up with our own words, but, to steadily quote scriptures and ask for God's help, and the help of angels, like Jesus did when He confronted the devil in the desert, His first spiritual battle after He was baptized, by quoting scriptures three times--powerful weapons of truth-- to counter the spiritual lying attacks of the devil. Pastors always teach that the truth, guided by the Holy Spirit, is the most powerful weapon against the lies and deception of the attacks of evil.
"Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace." (Luke:31-32).
So, it's ok to celebrate victories in battle--especially one that comes from avoiding war.
Military personnel die for this country or become disabled so we can continue to speak English and express freedom of speech, and, while war should be a last option, in the Bible, Jesus commended one Roman commander (Centurion) for having more faith than anyone He had met in Israel that claimed to belong to the Jewish faith tradition. Another Roman commander who was guarding the Cross said when the earthquake occurred at the moment of His death: "truly He is the Son of God."
"Jesus said to him, "Shall I come and heal him?" The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour." (Luke 7:1-10; TNIV)
This world is considered the "Church Militant," and battles with forces of evil are everywhere. The military is symbolic of spiritual warfare. In the Bible, there are accounts of God's angels who fight forces of evil. And there are examples of individuals who have fought their own spiritual battles, including the Apostle Paul. A strong military is necessary to protect nations, although the Lord did give examples also of trying to negotiate peace with enemies: [As Christians, we should not try to fight the battles that Jesus already won-- that's why the battle for becoming a son or daughter of God must be surrendered, and received as a free-gift] (this is taught in spiritual freedom ministries), since both the battle for self-justification, and entitlement, are both enticed by the devil and his hoard of fallen pride. Unnecessary battles in court, or on the battlefield, or frantic battles in the mind, are discouraged by Christ, and also the Apostle Paul who told Timothy to "stir up his faith" (not an exact quote), not whip it up with our own words, but, to steadily quote scriptures and ask for God's help, and the help of angels, like Jesus did when He confronted the devil in the desert, His first spiritual battle after He was baptized, by quoting scriptures three times--powerful weapons of truth-- to counter the spiritual lying attacks of the devil. Pastors always teach that the truth, guided by the Holy Spirit, is the most powerful weapon against the lies and deception of the attacks of evil.
"Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace." (Luke:31-32).
So, it's ok to celebrate victories in battle--especially one that comes from avoiding war.