Will Social Conservatives Stop Paying the Ultimate Sacrifice? James A. Davids J.D. Duke University School of Law President-Elect, Christian Legal Society Assistant Dean, Robertson School of Government, Regent University October 12, 2005

Having grown up and spent most of my life in the Chicago area, I had never considered the importance of BRAC musings or fighter jet accident zones.  The Chicago area had very few major military installations, and when one of them (Ft. Sheridan) closed, it had relatively little impact on the metropolitan area.  Because of its lack of importance to the local economy, I never had a military officer for a client in my 25 years of practicing law in Chicago, nor did I know any present or former military officers socially.
Having moved to Hampton Roads, I now encounter present and former military personnel all the time.  The radio talk show host who wakes me up each morning is a former Marine.  Two of my colleagues in the Robertson School of Government at Regent University are former Marines, I have a student who is a Navy SEAL, two others are on active duty with the Navy, a couple serve in the Army, and yet another with the Coast Guard.  I know about a dozen present and former military officers in my church, and our church’s fondness for the military is evidenced by its “adoption” of a nuclear submarine.

Other than the radio announcer, all of the individuals identified above are Christians.  They love God, they love their country, and they are willing to die for both.  They more likely tune in to talk radio than log on to moveon.org.  They prefer NASCAR to C-Span book reviews.  They go to church frequently, but never to ACLU or PETA meetings.  They and their military colleagues predictably vote Republican, which is why the Democrats in 2000 challenged their write-in votes in the Florida presidential recount. 

I wonder how long the military will attract people like my students and fellow church members.  Will there come a time when the corruption of our culture will cause social conservatives to think that their country and culture are not worth the ultimate sacrifice?
I doubt that social conservatives mourn the loss of every element of pre-flood New Orleans.  Granted, the love and compassion of Christians is most evident through volunteering time and donating millions of dollars to Christian relief organizations that provided food and shelter to thousands of flood victims.  Our hearts and prayers cry out for those churches, individuals and ethical businesses that have suffered extensive damage.  We grieve for those individuals and businesses that were victims of looting and other crimes after the levies broke. 

We do not grieve, however, for the flooded and destroyed sex clubs that filled men with lust and degraded women.  We do not miss the casinos that preyed upon individuals whose lack of self-control deprived families of needed food and shelter.  We do not lament the destruction of voodoo stores prevalent in New Orleans before the flood. 
My present and future students are driven by a sense of community and a love of freedom; a freedom to worship, a freedom to start and raise a family.  They did not enlist to make the world safe for depravity.

As America slides into more sex clubs, casinos, and voodoo stores, who will lament for the demise of America?  Who will defend an ever increasingly debauched America?  Will the promoters of licentiousness defend America and its culture?  Will the promoters of individual rights, rather than the defenders of community values, sacrifice their lives for America?  Will those who press their rights, rather than their duties, die for the community?  I have my doubts.

In the unusually harsh winter of 406-07, the Rhine River froze, permitting thousands of German barbarians to pour into the remnants of the Roman Empire.  One year later, the Goths laid siege to Rome, causing widespread starvation and eventual payment of tribute.  Two years later, the Goths returned, this time sacking and looting Rome, the first of a series of sacks which would eventually bring Rome’s demise.  Human nature being no different 1600 years ago, the survivors engaged in finger pointing.  Favorite targets of their blame were the Christians, who refused to serve in the Roman legions.  Many Christians at the time were pacifists, but I suspect many others thought the sex and violence obsessed Roman Empire was not worth their ultimate sacrifice.  I wonder if we are approaching that situation again.