By DAVID EPPS
Pastor

A few weeks ago, on a warm Friday morning in March, I journeyed to Fort Benning, an Army base near Columbus, to attend a graduation of soldiers who were completing the 62 days of United States Army Ranger Training. According to a spokesman, Ranger training is the best and toughest leadership training the army has to offer.

During a demonstration prior to the actual graduation, those gathered were treated to a 50-presentation of Ranger skills including demolition, rappelling, close combat, weapons, helicopter disembarking and embarking, river patrols, and a host of other aspects of training that were impressive and noisy. During the demonstration, a brief and illustrious history of the Rangers was presented and, during the graduation, several former Rangers, now old men, were honored for their exploits.

Yet, a more subtle presentation was also being offered, though less obvious. Ranger recruits had to learn the "Ranger Creed," which explained the code of valor, of honor, and of courage. The creed laid down expectations of those who would be Rangers. Rangers, in the creed, were taught to render obedience, to give attention to duty, to fight harder, to go further, to go faster, and to never leave a fallen comrade behind. The creed was designed to train the mind even as the rigorous physical training was designed to train the body.

At various places where the Rangers recruits trained, signs were present which proclaimed, "Courage," or "Never Surrender," or "Rangers lead the way," and other one- second messages. The point was obvious. To be a successful Ranger, one must first think like Rangers think and they must believe what Rangers believe. And what one thinks and what one believes influences, shapes, guides, and determines how one behaves.

The Apostle Paul said: "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11 NASB)

What do these words of St. Paul have to do with United States Army Ranger training? Again, what one thinks and what one believes influences, shapes, guides, and determines how one behaves. This attitude or "mind of Christ" is one that is radically different than that of the prevailing western culture.

The prevailing culture says, "This is my body. I'll do what I want." The attitude of Christ is, "This is my body, broken for you." The "mind of Christ" is a selfless, extending, giving mindset.

When I was a social worker several years ago, I learned that "all behavior is motivated and has meaning for the individual at that particular point in time." What does that mean? It means people do what they do, even insane people, because at that particular time, it made perfect sense for them to do what they did.

In Texas, a woman drowns her five children. Yet, for her, that behavior was motivated and had meaning for that individual at that particular point in time. Why did Susan Smith of South Carolina watch her two kids drown in a lake strapped insider the family car? Because that behavior was motivated and had meaning for that individual at that particular point in time.

What these people thought and what they believed, even though it may make no rational sense to us, determined what they did. Wrong thinking and wrong believing lead to wrong living.

We mistakenly believe that selfish behavior and a burning personal ambition will get us what we think we want. On Sept. 11, 2001, 19 men killed themselves and thousands of people in a belief that their action would bring the United States of America to their knees. They acted on what they thought and what they believed.

Yet, the very opposite occurred. The nation came together, became strong and resolved, and scattered the enemy in a matter of weeks. The Taliban is no more. The terrorist who inspired these 19 men is either dead or in hiding. The organization that threatened doom and destruction is scattered, being dismantled, and is on the run. These 19 men failed in their goals because they thought wrongly, they believed wrongly, and acted wrongly.

Why, in combat, do "Rangers lead the way?" They do so because they were first taught to think that way and to believe that way. Why do Rangers not leave a fallen comrade behind? Because they were taught that it is wrong to leave a fallen comrade behind and Rangers don't do that. When the shooting starts, why do Rangers "fight harder, go further, and go faster?" Because they think it, they believe it, and so they do it. To be a Ranger, one must think like a Ranger and believer like a Ranger.

Likewise, if we want to live a truly Christ-like life then we have no option: Think like Christ, believe like Christ, and live like Christ. Think right and believe right and, with God's help, we will do right.

[The Reverend Canon David Epps is Rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church which meets in Peachtree City each Sunday at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Carmichael-Hemperley on Ga. Highway 74. He may be contacted at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com.]

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