ARMY OF ONE

Having a conversation the other night with some close friends - one is active duty, the other reserve - the subject of "Army of One" came up.  They instructed that "Army of One" was a short-lived slogan that existed only briefly after replacing the popular "Be All You Can Be" (which the Army used for more than 20 years), before giving way in 2006 to "Army Strong".  I must say I was relieved to hear that "Army of One" was no longer in vogue, as I had grave concerns as to the effectivenss of such a small military.  As one political cartoonist jibed when the slogan first came out, "Join today and we'll have an Army of Two".

Listen I recognize I've arrived far too late to the slogan-slugfest to get too much comedic mileage out of it, but I was struck by something when I started researching the reason "Army of One" was so short-lived.  Despite the fact that "One" was meant to be an acronym for Officers-NCO's-and Enlisted, the idea was contrary to the Army core value of teamwork.  One retired Army general is quoted as saying about the slogan, "If you want to be an Army of One, join the Hell's Angels, not the US Army!"

Our conversation wasn't random.  We were talking about what Paul wrote, recorded for us in Ephesians 4:3-6 when he said, "Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.  For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.  There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all".

Now that's an Army of One!  An it's an army that takes teamwork to be healthy and growing.  Be sure to be at Crossroads this Sunday as we wrap up our current series CREED with a look at what it means to be a part of ONE BODY, the church of Jesus Christ!