05/04/2026
From the Pastor...
One motto of our denomination comes from a section of the Gospel of John often called the High Priestly
Prayer. In this prayer, Jesus prays for his followers “that they may all be one.” When we look at the many
divisions within Christianity, it is easy to feel discouraged, as though his followers have failed.
And yet, that raises an important question: Are there things for which we would say, “In the name of Jesus, I
must oppose this”? Is there anything in our faith that would lead us to defy an order, or to risk public scrutiny or
ridicule by speaking out? What, if anything, would we “conscientiously object” to?
Recently, I watched Hacksaw Ridge, a World War II film about Desmond Doss, a medic whose unit fought in
the brutal battle for Okinawa. (A note of caution: the film contains extremely graphic scenes.) The story is
based on Doss’s real life. Raised in rural Virginia as a devout member of the Seventh-day Adventist tradition,
he was firmly opposed to carrying a weapon or taking a life, and he remained committed to prayer and Sabbath
observance.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor attack, Doss enlisted in the Army—not to kill, but to serve as a medic and
save lives. From the beginning, he was ridiculed by fellow soldiers and pressured by commanding officers to
abandon his convictions. Still, he persisted.
Following boot camp, his unit was sent to the Pacific theater. During the battle for Okinawa, amid intense and
deadly combat, Doss single-handedly rescued 75 wounded soldiers over the course of a perilous night—
including a commanding officer who had once questioned his courage. It is, by any measure, an extraordinary
story.
Doss later became the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor. He lived a long life, dying in
2006 at the age of 87.
As a child growing up during the Vietnam era, I remember hearing the phrase “conscientious objector” and
being fascinated by it. My father, who served in World War II and spent 20 years in the Navy, explained what it
meant. I asked him whether being a United Methodist would qualify me as one. Some Christian traditions—like
Doss’s, as well as Mennonites—are fundamentally opposed to war. My father told me that as a Christian, I
could indeed claim conscientious objector status. Fortunately, I was never put in that position. Still, stories like
this make me wonder: Is there anything in my faith that would lead me to draw a line and say, “I
conscientiously object”?
Each of us must wrestle with that question.
Part of the power of this story is the courage it took for Doss to stand firm in his convictions. The film ends with
an interview from his real-life commanding officer, who speaks of the deep respect he came to have for Doss.
What began as disdain was transformed into admiration. There is a kind of unity, strength, and grace that
emerges when we recognize that we do not have to agree on everything in order to stand together.
War is an extreme example, but there are many other issues that can divide us. As Christians, I believe we are
called to bear witness to something deeper—the strength to honor, befriend, and even love those with whom we
disagree, while still holding our convictions.
When Jesus prayed “that they may all be one,” I do not believe he was asking for uniformity of thought. Rather,
he was praying for a unity rooted in love—a unity that can hold difference without dissolving into division.
It is a powerful vision, and one of the many reasons I am grateful to be part of the United Church of Christ.
See you in worship,
Pastor Joel
