Degraded

When the leaders of the military set as their highest priority rooting out right-wing extremists and ensuring transgender Americans can serve in the force we can be sure that our readiness is woefully compromised. Who feeds the Commander-in-Chief his information? If it is people from the Palm Center the United States is in big trouble. This organization focuses its attention on America’s LBGT population and they say focusing on transgender issues is an urgent priority for military readiness.[1]  Supposedly “recruitment, reputation, retention, unit cohesion, morale, medical care, and good order and discipline” are compromised by banning transgender Americans from serving.  But they do not back up their statements with evidence outside their small population group. As someone who served in the military for 36 years I can tell you from my experience that their findings are absurd.

What degrades all eight of the above-mentioned areas is when soldiers are not given adequate time to train rigorously, when they are deprived of the resources they need, when they are forced to regularly attend politically-driven meetings and adopt cancel-culture views or be drummed out. Most men and women come into the military to train, to defend their nation’s Constitution and freedom and to patriotically serve.  They benefit from discipline and grow in camaraderie when they are challenged mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. They don’t enlist to focus on sexual choices or cater to a minute population.  
           
Any military that puts political-correctness at the top of its agenda will not win in battle when it is attacked by an enemy hardening itself for combat. China is not spending its time, money and energy worrying about transgender issues, it is focusing on how to defeat us. Already China has attained a level of competency and force projection that puts us in grave danger. We are degraded and extremely vulnerable.  We are depraved and facing judgment. 
 
Meditation
Judges 1:31,32--Asher failed to drive out the residents of Acco or of Sidon, or Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob. The Asherites lived among the Canaanites who were living in the land, because they failed to drive them out.
 
God led Israel to Canaan and gave them clear instruction through Moses and Joshua to wipe out the evil nations that occupied the land. Instead of following His command, they became enamored with Baal and Asherah, a fertility goddess, worshiped by the local inhabitants. They were afraid of their iron chariots—formidable technology in those days.  Sex and idolatry were a lot more fun than fighting. So Israel decided to coexist and the consequences were horrific. They endured cycles of enslavement. They were impoverished and suffered embarrassing defeats. Only when God raised up judges who followed Him did they experience reprieve and victory.  Israel was degraded by sin and compromise—it stands as a historical example of what we ought not to do.  

Why does this matter?  Because our ability and freedom to share Christ is literally at stake.  A defeat at the hand of China would impose communism and the end of religious liberty. That’s not just bad here, that’s bad for the world.  
  
Inspiration
So for the sake of harmony, men who might have stood—and should have stood—for their principles, gave in to other men who demanded to have their own way. And thus were the seeds of darkness sown.—Peter Marshall and David Manuel in From Sea to Shining Sea      

©2021 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the "Click here to receive weekly devotionals" box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)
 

[1] https://www.palmcenter.org/new-research-on-militarys-transgender-ban-lends-urgency-to-bidens-pledge-to-end-it-on-day-one/