Sermonettes -- xxii

While Chaplain Van argued for the elasticity of the gospel earlier--how men of different particular faiths could and did unite in the face of war--he occasionally refines the peculiar doctrinal avenue he marks as his own--Calvinism. He obviously finds it valuable to think over the particulars that were his by birth, as well as by choice.

October 19:

I asked a sergeant in the utility room to make a placard for my bulletin board reading "Let us all go to church." He said that a person cannot be a Christian in the Army; the church and the Army do not mix. I told him the Army was a good test of a person's Christianity.

Then he asked me if I believed there was a hell. I answered that most ministers no longer believe in a hell.

Whether or not Chaplain Van was right in this sweeping generalization we'll let for others to discuss. What's suggested, however, is that Chaplain Van felt the approach of liberalism to be the most pressing antagonist for the church. That assessment, I'm sure, that was not at all unusual in CRC preachers of his age and era. 

Meanwhile, the conversation goes on:

I then asked him, "Do you believe that Christ preached the truth" He answered, "He definitely did." I said to  him, "Christ preached about hell - a place of eternal punishment - for all those who do not accept him as Savior." He answered, "But I believe that God is a God of Love." I said to  him, "You must never forget that there is no love without justice." 

After the conversation, he said, "Chaplain, you gave me a lot of things to think about."

October 24:

The October 24 note suggests that Chaplain Van was rising in the circle of chaplains in liberated France. His opinions are highly valued. what's more, his original idea grows legs almost immediately and had to have led to a further recognition among the GIs that this particular chaplain had something of importance to say to them.

When we entered Paris, the entire city was in a flux. General Kimball* immediately called a meeting of his staff --about twelve members. Every officer had problems and the general suggested a solution for these problems. Finally, he asked me, "Chaplain, what are your problems?" I answered, "I am the only chaplain for about 15,000 soldiers and I understand that about 1200 WAC will be added to  your command. My problem is in what way I can be of service to all the personanel of your command." The general answered, "Think abut it and give me your solution at our next staff meeting."

Chaplain Van is rightly proud of an extension of his ministry that Gen. Kimball's question offers. There's more to the story.

At the next staff meeting, the general asked. "Well, Chaplain, have you solved your problem?" I answered, "Besides performing all the duties related to the office of chaplains, I would like to write a sermonette every day on one side of a typing sheet, together with a text an explanation, and a closing prayer. And then, I would request your  office in duplicate and distribute the sermonette to every unit under y our command. The officer in charge can then place the sermonette on the bulletin board. Thus an opportunity would be given to all the soldiers to read it."

A kind of shock set in, but the general knows that this chaplain is volunteering work that's over and above the call of duty. 

The general was rather surprised for this was something new in chaplain work. He finally said, "I wish you would send me three or four of those sermonettes, as you call them, and in about a week, I will respond to your request."

After a week, I received a memorandum from the general's office stating that the sermonettes were OK and his office would take care of the duplication and distribution.

One can only imagine how happy Chaplain Van was to hear that news. The opportunity he'd been given meant a mountain more work, of course--meditations require thought and creativity--but he undoubtedly saw the work as a purposeful blessing: he could speak to hundreds of additional GIs, many of whom were in daily crisis between life and death. 

Altogether, I wrote about 130 sermonettes, and 150 copies were made of each one. Later on, it was increased to 175 copies. At the last meeting of the staff, about six months later, the general informed the staff that I was being transferred to a more difficult assignment in Germany. He added that he had read all the sermonettes, and although he did not always agree with what I had written, he hoped that I would continue to write sermonettes at my new assignment and put his name on the mailing list. The general's remarks at this staff meeting made me feel good.

Chaplain Van risks redundancy in that last sentence--how could any one of us feel any different after such high praise? Some might suggest that there's  pride in the whole recitation. I don't think so. In some ways, Chaplain Van's old-fashioned Calvinism stood hard and strong against hubris. I simply don't believe that the man was capable of that kind of pride. He's thrilled that his 150 or so sermonettes have been appreciated--and he should be! Who knows, after all, how God might have used them?

When I say I'd love to read a couple of those meditations, it wouldn't be because I was looking for any kind of fresh approach to meditation. He's an old-fashioned guy and was when he stood in front of our classroom 25 years later.

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*For the record, here's how AI identifies the work of General Allen Russell Kimball, a U.S. Army Brigadier General who served as Commandant of Headquarters in the European Theater of Operations during World War II from 1944 to 1945:

As Commandant of Headquarters, General Kimball was responsible for overseeing administrative and logistical operations that supported the broader Allied campaign in Europe. While not a frontline commander like Patton or Bradley, his work was crucial to maintaining the infrastructure and coordination behind the scenes.