Posted on Apr 14, 2015
How many other servicemembers became Christians after they joined the military?
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I was raised as an agnostic and generally thought I was an atheist. I resisted Christianity, its teachings and its teachers as I searched for the truth. I enlisted in November 1974. Over the years, I served with some believers but mostly unbelievers. I recognized my need for Christ in September 1987 as a Captain at Fort Benning. I did not experience a "foxhole" salvation; but, did come to the end of myself as I realized my desperate need for salvation. I expect I am not alone and others accepted the atoning sacrifice of Christ for their own later in their military service.
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Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
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Sir -
If the definition of Christian is just that I believe in Christ, then I've been a Christian all my life. I was raised a catholic, but could never understand who Christ really was.
I joined the military in 1982 - and I was baptized in 2005.
I say that because being a "Christian" was simply not enough for me - I started a separate topic about what really is a "Christian" since 76% (or more) of the country claims to be "Christian" - and I assure you, if the entire 76% who claim to be "Christian" would follow Christ and the teachings He clearly taught his disciples, we wouldn't have NEAR the amount of troubles we have today in this country (and culture)! :-)
Anyway - I wanted (perhaps needed) more and chose to become a disciple. That's when my life "really" changed.
If the definition of Christian is just that I believe in Christ, then I've been a Christian all my life. I was raised a catholic, but could never understand who Christ really was.
I joined the military in 1982 - and I was baptized in 2005.
I say that because being a "Christian" was simply not enough for me - I started a separate topic about what really is a "Christian" since 76% (or more) of the country claims to be "Christian" - and I assure you, if the entire 76% who claim to be "Christian" would follow Christ and the teachings He clearly taught his disciples, we wouldn't have NEAR the amount of troubles we have today in this country (and culture)! :-)
Anyway - I wanted (perhaps needed) more and chose to become a disciple. That's when my life "really" changed.
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LTC Stephen F.
Mark, thank you providing an excellent summary. I concur with you that just because somebody was raised in a Christian household or a "Christian country" does not necessarily make them a Christian.
God has children and saves people not real estate. The greatest commandment, according to Christ, [paraphrased from Matt 22: 36-39] is to love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind. This the greatest and foremost commandment. The second is like it, we are to love our neighbor as ourselves.
We demonstrate our love to God by loving individual people especially when we like Christ love the unlovable and those who try to despitefully use us and persecute us. If more believers loved the unlovable the world would be a much better place.
My understanding of the definition of being a Christian is somebody who has placed their complete trust [faith] in Christ including that He died on the cross for our sins and has been raised from death to life.
God has children and saves people not real estate. The greatest commandment, according to Christ, [paraphrased from Matt 22: 36-39] is to love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind. This the greatest and foremost commandment. The second is like it, we are to love our neighbor as ourselves.
We demonstrate our love to God by loving individual people especially when we like Christ love the unlovable and those who try to despitefully use us and persecute us. If more believers loved the unlovable the world would be a much better place.
My understanding of the definition of being a Christian is somebody who has placed their complete trust [faith] in Christ including that He died on the cross for our sins and has been raised from death to life.
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SPC Danny Cannon
CMSgt Schubert, I think you really nailed it. Especially in regards to people who claim to be Christians on paper but not in life.
I also noticed a huge change in my life when I started to live my life according to the teachings of Jesus. A huge POSITIVE change. My life is not easier, but the obstacles are not as daunting now. I know that no matter how rough things get, as long as I keep my faith and trust in God, I and my family will be able to overcome whatever comes our way.
I have something that I never had before. Something that can not be taken away, only given up... HOPE.
I also noticed a huge change in my life when I started to live my life according to the teachings of Jesus. A huge POSITIVE change. My life is not easier, but the obstacles are not as daunting now. I know that no matter how rough things get, as long as I keep my faith and trust in God, I and my family will be able to overcome whatever comes our way.
I have something that I never had before. Something that can not be taken away, only given up... HOPE.
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I was raised with a Christian family but by the time I joined the military, I was actively trying to act like I had no idea of who or what God was.
After I left the Army, I self-medicated for over 10 years. One day, I had something close to a revelation. I hated my life. I hated my job even though I was good at it. I hated where I was headed in my life. That day I quit drinking. I realized that I was not in charge of how I acted, alcohol (Jager and Bud Light... I managed a bar and had free access to what I wanted to drink as a perk.) was in charge of how I lived. I was addicted to pills. I smoked pot. I smoked cigs, pipes (tobacco and meth), and regularly did everything except needles. I am still petrified of needles.
I worked in the bar for a year after I quit. I quit two weeks before my 35th birthday. I got a lot of static about it from my drinking buddies who blamed my wife for ruining my life. When I quit the bar I moved out of state (Texas to NW Arkansas). I started attending worship service the second Sunday that we were in town.
I attend regularly now. I quit smoking cigarettes in 2012 on my first ever mission trip for the church. I quit because I realized, again, that cigarettes controlled where I ate and went more than God did.
When I started attending service, I became more self-confident. I started helping in the community instead of hiding in a bar. I changed my own life with the help of God. Before I started acting like the Christian I couldn't figure out why I hated my life. I couldn't figure out why my marriage was on the rocks.
Now that I am trying my best to live like a Christian should, my marriage has improved. My children are not scared to be around me. I found a way to get back in college and go to work in a career that does not require me to break down my body even further.
I recommend every veteran to contact a Vet Success Rep on any college campus around the nation. They are all vets also and not like the county VA Reps or the folks at VA hospitals. They won't just try to get you in college. They will try to help you get started on a path that can help you.
It was not until years after I left the Army that I was able to come back to God. My life has drastically improved now.
After I left the Army, I self-medicated for over 10 years. One day, I had something close to a revelation. I hated my life. I hated my job even though I was good at it. I hated where I was headed in my life. That day I quit drinking. I realized that I was not in charge of how I acted, alcohol (Jager and Bud Light... I managed a bar and had free access to what I wanted to drink as a perk.) was in charge of how I lived. I was addicted to pills. I smoked pot. I smoked cigs, pipes (tobacco and meth), and regularly did everything except needles. I am still petrified of needles.
I worked in the bar for a year after I quit. I quit two weeks before my 35th birthday. I got a lot of static about it from my drinking buddies who blamed my wife for ruining my life. When I quit the bar I moved out of state (Texas to NW Arkansas). I started attending worship service the second Sunday that we were in town.
I attend regularly now. I quit smoking cigarettes in 2012 on my first ever mission trip for the church. I quit because I realized, again, that cigarettes controlled where I ate and went more than God did.
When I started attending service, I became more self-confident. I started helping in the community instead of hiding in a bar. I changed my own life with the help of God. Before I started acting like the Christian I couldn't figure out why I hated my life. I couldn't figure out why my marriage was on the rocks.
Now that I am trying my best to live like a Christian should, my marriage has improved. My children are not scared to be around me. I found a way to get back in college and go to work in a career that does not require me to break down my body even further.
I recommend every veteran to contact a Vet Success Rep on any college campus around the nation. They are all vets also and not like the county VA Reps or the folks at VA hospitals. They won't just try to get you in college. They will try to help you get started on a path that can help you.
It was not until years after I left the Army that I was able to come back to God. My life has drastically improved now.
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LTC Stephen F.
Danny, thank you sharing your testimony. I thank God that He enabled you to survive long enough and that He placed boundaries around you while you were struggling and that He has blessed you so much and that He will continue to bless and uphold you. [We generally realize long afterwards how much God has actually protected us from ourselves].
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SPC Danny Cannon
Amen! Thank you for your kind words. I still struggle on a daily basis but I have a goal and inspiration to use to achieve it.
Since I moved to Arkansas (away from the influences of my neighborhood in Dallas), I have begin to teach Sunday school at the Jr. High level. I have been traveling to congregations that do not have a full-time Preacher to fill in as an interim Preacher. You can sit through all the classes you want, but until you teach one you never realise how much thought and study goes into each sentence that comes from the teacher/preacher's mouth.
I had been married to my wife for 6 years before I ever mentioned Christ to her. A year after we moved here, she finally started attending with me and my boys. My boys are 9&8 today. A week before Thanksgiving in 2011, she was baptized and gave her life to Christ.
Now we attend at the Bella Vista, AR congregation of the church of Christ.
If you are ever this way, please stop in and visit.
Since I moved to Arkansas (away from the influences of my neighborhood in Dallas), I have begin to teach Sunday school at the Jr. High level. I have been traveling to congregations that do not have a full-time Preacher to fill in as an interim Preacher. You can sit through all the classes you want, but until you teach one you never realise how much thought and study goes into each sentence that comes from the teacher/preacher's mouth.
I had been married to my wife for 6 years before I ever mentioned Christ to her. A year after we moved here, she finally started attending with me and my boys. My boys are 9&8 today. A week before Thanksgiving in 2011, she was baptized and gave her life to Christ.
Now we attend at the Bella Vista, AR congregation of the church of Christ.
If you are ever this way, please stop in and visit.
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