Civil War

Jon (the youth minister) preached today, and I liked his sermon. It made me think. He talked about how when he went on furlough, that he spent it in a historical area, so he learned about some of the stuff that went on there. Basically it was big in the civil war, I don't remember any of the actual names and such, but it was in Maryland. The south had decided that they had to stop fighting on home turf, and that if they ever wanted England or the north to take them seriously they would have to push the war onto the norther territory. So Lee wrote up his battle plans and sent them to all of his generals, all but one of these plans made it to his generals, the other one however found its way into the hands of a great strategist northern general. Now he knew exactly his enemy's battle plans.

This general was considered one of the best, if not the best at training troops, and getting them ready for war. So the south invaded Maryland, and the north was ready for them, led by one of their best generals, knowing their exact battle plans, and out numbering them 2:1, or 3:1 depending on who you ask. Obviously they were utterly crushed by the northern forces, right? thats what i should say. But they weren't. You see though the northern general knew their exact plans, he believed that the southern forces numbered in the 120 thousands. You see the south was putting all their chips on this fight, a victory wouldn't win just the battle for the north, but the entire war.

But an army who was trained by the best general, and who at many points with a small push forward would have won, yet the general was quoted as saying advancing at this time would not be prudent. He was held back by fear, as a matter of fact he had set a third of his forces to the side, and would not have them fight, because it would have been a bad idea.

In this battle someone died every 2 seconds. It is considered the single most bloody day in our nations history, and no one won. This town in Maryland that was neutral before the battle was still neutral, each side lost many men, and the south eventual retreated. The northern general declared victory, for repelling the southern advance, but when you consider he had many opportunity to win the entire war, well he didn't win anything.

This was compared to us and our spiritual battle. We read in the Bible that Isaiah asks God to open his servants eyes to see the hosts of heaven ready to fight the battle for them. And we think that is a awesome story if only it happened for us. Ignoring the fact that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The enemy army is much to large and we are to small. We know the battle plan, but we hold back because it wouldn't be prudent. We hear, to not go to bed on our anger, confess our sins etc. but we hold back, because now wouldn't be a good time. We know the out come of this war and out of fear, we stretch it on much further than it needs to go. Causing many more hurt feelings, and needless suffering. I thought I was a very impact full point. And of course with my very non linear thinking my mind put the examples into a different light.

You see I personally consider the Civil War the only war that 100% without a doubt the United States lost. Not because I think the south should have won, as you know I'm a Yankee. But because we weren't fighting an enemy we were fighting ourselves, the body of the United States as you will. And a few days ago I was reading about how the Catholic church was trying to usher the Anglican church back into its flock. And it reminded me how much time God's warriors spend fighting themselves. Much like states, the south was fighting for states rights, and how the constitution was drawn up they were absolutely right. The north was fighting to keep the states unified, and they were also absolutely right. But instead of meeting on this, they caused a rift and a huge chunk broke away.

I think in some ways we do the same thing, sometimes we are both right, we just have different ways of achieving the same goal, and instead of admitting to a difference of opinion we split apart. I of course don't think all churches and we shouldn't just except everything, but sometimes we get hung up on some dumb stuff. And wouldn't time be better spent fighting against the forces of the world then among ourselves. Instead we squabble, brother against brother, while the world watches on cheering us on as we do their job for them.