This post originally appeared at https://www.vcy.org/top-news/2025/10/17/from-the-director-24/
By Jim Schneider, Executive Director
VCY America
In late September, 2025 the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth ordered back to the United States top military leaders including generals, admirals, commanders, officers and select high level staff members and advisors from all over the world. On September 30th approximately 730 gathered at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia to hear from the Secretary of War as well as from the Commander-in-Chief, President Donald Trump.
Secretary Hegseth with resoluteness in his voice began his speech by saying, “From this moment forward, the only mission of the newly restored Department of War is this: warfighting, preparing for war and preparing to win, unrelenting and uncompromising in that pursuit. Not because we want war. No one here wants war. But it’s because we love peace. We love peace for our fellow citizens. They deserve peace, and they rightfully expect us to deliver it.” Three times in his speech, he made it very clear this was about “peace through strength.”
As he delivered his near 45-minute message he stated without hesitation the prioritization of matters under his direction. He was both clear and forceful as he brought to light the aim of the Trump Administration calling out, “the social justice, politically correct and toxic ideological garbage that had infected our department, to rip out the politics. No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses, no more climate change worship, no more division, distraction, or gender delusions, no more debris.” No, these were the things that detracted from their core mission.
Throughout his address he emphasized training, physical fitness and physical appearance. Any place where standards had been weakened or compromised, he demanded they be restored to the original standards. He emphasized “a high level of standard that all in the military needed to meet. Good leaders, competent, qualified, professional, agile, aggressive, innovative, risk taking, apolitical, faithful to their oath and to the Constitution.” Without question the Secretary is determined to toughen our troops and has a laser-focused view of their objective.
In reflection of this speech delivered by Secretary Hegseth, there are many parallels to the Christian life. Paul in his letter to Timothy wrote, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (II Timothy 2:3,4)
Often at the first sign of trouble, many a Christian soldier will abandon their mission. “It’s too hard,” or “I can’t do it” or “I didn’t think it would be this hard” escapes too easily from the lips. Many believe they should not have to encounter such challenges. A desire for ease and luxury far surpasses trials, tests and difficulty. Just as Secretary Hegseth is making our nation’s military battle ready, so also must believers be toughened up for the spiritual battle we wage. We must fully realize that this battle will only intensify as time moves forward.
Further, Paul warned Timothy about the entanglements of this world. There are numerous entanglements that cause believers in Christ to disengage. The love of money hangs high on the list and is followed closely by prestige, self-centeredness, fear of missing out on a job advancement, wanting to be liked, social media acceptance, feverishly following sports, entertainment, and the list continues.
It is critical for believers to put on the armor of God as listed in Ephesians 6 and “to stand.” Being a soldier of Jesus Christ is not a spectator sport. It is necessary that each stands for truth, for righteousness, for integrity, and upon the authoritative Word of God without compromise!
Sadly, religious leader after religious leader has been all too ready to surrender biblical doctrine and truth in the same way our military had given way to wokeness. Acceptance has a greater pull than truth.
It is imperative for believers to return to our core mission. We are “ambassadors for Christ.” (II Corinthians 5:20) It is our responsibility to take the Word to a world in need. It is also our responsibility to impact the world around us just as salt impacts that to which it is applied.
Let us remember the instruction God gave to Joshua as he was to lead the children of Israel following the death of Moses. “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9)
Indeed, we have our marching orders! It is high time for believers to return to the unchanging standards of the Scriptures. May we be found faithful in the spiritual battle in which we are engaged!