The announcement by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta today has been viewed by many women in the armed forces as a “duh” moment. Women have been serving in combat roles for a while now, but they just haven’t been officially recognized as such.
However, the public acknowledgement of this phenomenon is one more step in a society that reminds me of Israel from days gone by. It was a time when men were wicked and cowardly, and women like Deborah and Jael had to do what needed to be done. When Deborah confronted Barak (Judges 4), the general of the armies of Israel, about facing Sisera’s army, this was his response:
Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” And she said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.”
Deborah’s words to Barak were meant to shame him. He was unwilling to stand up as a man and take action. In an America where women see their husbands vegging out on the couch night after night with a beer in their hands laughing at mindless television, while they tirelessly care for the children and the important duties of the home, why on earth would they want to entrust the future and protection of our nation in the hands of such imbeciles?
I believe women shouldn’t be serving in the military, but it’s not because I think they are incapable–I bet half of the men in America today are less physically capable than their wives. I believe men should serve in the military out of a sense of duty to protect (and I praise God for those men and women who are willing to serve this country in this way–many of whom are members at our church). It is a privilege that the men of our nation should afford all women that they be spared the gore and harsh realities of the battle field. I understand that many will disagree. My opinion stems from my understanding of 1 Peter 3:7. The obligations of war are incumbent upon the oafs of the male race and shouldn’t mar the graceful and beautiful creature that is called “woman”.
Hey, you may vehemently disagree. I’ll tell you one thing, however. Those who wish to argue that men and women ought to be treated equally in every way have no foot to lean on to insist women shouldn’t be drafted into the armed services. My fear is that one day my daughter (when we have one) will be forced by our egalitarian society to leave her husband and children to fight a foreign war.
How can we prevent this? It starts at home. Men have lost any last bit of respect from this society, and we have to start leading at home first. Our wives and children have to know that we are willing to be self-controlled protectors. They have to know that we are there to fight for their good, not to be a lump on the couch.
