This is Not "No Greater Love "

Can we be honest a moment?  I realize that people get caught up in a swell of patriotic warm fuzzies on Memorial Day with all the flags and ribbons and red-white-and-blue bunting, but can we try to put that aside for a few minutes?

Can we put that aside long enough to realize that John 15:13 has nothing to do with military service. And it is inappropriate to apply it that way. 

Because, let's face it, those who serve and die in military action are not "laying down" their lives.  No.  They may be willing to die if they have to, but they are not "laying down." 
Soldiers approach the battlefield to kill the enemy. They are there to take lives.  They might be willing to die in the effort but they are not going there with the purpose of dying.  Our example for that is Jesus, who did not go into a field of battle with a just willingness to die if he had to - but with the specific purpose of dying.  And Jesus didn't try to take out as many of his enemies as he could before he was forced to lay down his life. 

Can we stop the misapplication of Jesus' words? Please.