Honoring Four WW2 Chaplains

On February 3, 1943, four chaplains aboard the US transport ship Dorchester provided one of the most inspiring stories in American military history.

On February 3, 1943, US transport ship Dorchester sank in the icy waters above Greenland and four World War II chaplains became not only heroes that night, but legends. The four chaplains were: Rev. George Fox (Protestant), Rabbi Alexander Goode (Jewish), Rev. Clark Poling (Protestant), and Father John Washington (Catholic).

Tomorrow morning, Sligo Baptist Church - the local church in Wilmington, Ohio that I have the honor of pastoring - will co-sponsor a patriotic ceremony with the local American Legion post to commemorate the courageous and inspiring story of the four chaplains.

Of course, such a ceremony doesn't sit well with some Independent Baptists. There are many in the fundamentalist community that object to anything that approaches ecumenicalism or seemingly honors non-Christian faiths.

The reasons that Sligo Baptist Church is hosting this tribute are:

• We are commanded repeatedly in Scripture to serve and honor our national institutions. A patriotic ceremony honoring the courage and heroism of our veterans, including our veteran chaplains, is altogether appropriate in this context.
• The Apostle Paul tells us that we are to focus on whatever things are pure, lovely, and wholesome. Patriotism, courage, self-sacrifice and heroism all qualify -- especially in a culture that is obsessed with dysfunctional celebrities and destructive behavior.
• A ceremony honoring the selfless sacrifice of four men laying down their lives so others might live is the perfect example of what God did through His Son, Jesus Christ, providing a compelling opportunity to share the Gospel

Are you familiar with the story? If not, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Usually, the best stories are true stories. This is certainly a case in point.