Friendly Fire

This week marks the death of one of the great military figures of our history. Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson, was born in 1824 and died in 1863. He served with distinction under Winfield Scott in the Mexican War and from 1851 to 1861 taught at the Virginia Military Institute. He resigned from the army in February, 1852 at the beginning of the Civil War. Though Jackson was practically unknown he was made a colonel of Virginia troops and sent to command at Harpers Ferry. At the first battle of Bull Run, he and his brigade earned their sobriquet by standing, in the words of Gen. Barnard Bee, “like a stone wall.” Jackson was promoted to major general, and in November, Johnston assigned him to command in the Shenandoah Valley. Jackson's attack on James Shields's division at Kernstown on Mar. 23, 1862, was repulsed but forced the retention of Union troops in the valley. In April, Robert E. Lee suggested that Jackson fall upon Nathaniel P. Banks's force in the lower valley, hoping that Irvin McDowell's army would thereby be diverted from joining George McClellan before Richmond. Jackson's renowned Valley campaign resulted. He first defeated part of John C. Frémont's force at McDowell on May 8, 1862, and then, returning to the Shenandoah, routed Banks at Front Royal and Winchester and drove him across the Potomac. When Lee reorganized the Army of Northern Virginia after Antietam, he made Jackson commander of the 2d Corps, and Stonewall was promoted to lieutenant general. Jackson's turning movement completely crumbled Hooker's right. Pressing on in the darkness, Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded by the fire of his own men. His death was a severe blow to the Southern cause. Jackson was a tactician of first rank and, though a strict disciplinarian, had the affection of his men. His devout Calvinism, fighting ability, and arresting personal quirks make him one of the most interesting figures of the war. He was Lee's ablest and most trusted lieutenant. Yet, he was killed by “friendly fire.”

There is another kind of friendly fire that is just as deadly. In many churches today it has become easier to condemn and ostracize those who have had failures in their lives than to pray for and redeem them to fullness of fellowship. John had this in mind when he wrote to the church in Asia.

And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for. If you see a Christian brother or sister sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. Every wrong is sin, but not all sin leads to death. (1 John 5:14-17 NLV).

There is one sin that leads to death. Jesus said it was rejection of Him. Matthew’s gospel calls this sin “blasphemy of the Spirit.” Notice all others call us to pray that they may have life once again. A Japanese magazine has a picture of a butterfly on one of its pages. Its color is a dull gray until warmed by one's hand. The touch of a hand causes the special inks in the printing to react, and the dull gray is transformed into a flashing rainbow of color. What other things can be thus changed by the warmth of your interest and love? Your family? Your church? Even your city? This old world is hungry for the touch of someone who cares, someone who really cares! That someone can transform your home, your entire life. His name is Jesus!