In the book "King Rat" James Clavel explores his observations as a POW of the Japanese in WWII. He even include himself as a minor character in a later book "Nobel House". He has his character comment about the WWII experience as so transformative, that one is unable to live what others call a normal life.
There are combat veterans that have in common life experiences with others such as street cops, abuse victims, emergency room nurses, and even ex-cons that create a disconnection from the more common social currents. Interestingly Christians are expected to mature in their walk with the Lord in a similar way. The transition from the selfishness of the flesh to the selfless love of Christ-likeness should make us also disconnected from the mainstream of the world.
When I was in the Army during the Viet Nam era thoughts of potential death were somewhat liberating. It was not uncommon for people to say, "What are they going to do, send me to Viet Nam?". Such a change in perspective saw lesser threats as insignificant. However, in this disconnection was also a perspective that lost reverence for "important" people, institutions, or social conventions.
The Christian who is able to gain a disconnection from the world is able to direct his attention more towards the Lord and chart a path free from worldly attachments toward the goal of Christ-likeness.
Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
There are combat veterans that have in common life experiences with others such as street cops, abuse victims, emergency room nurses, and even ex-cons that create a disconnection from the more common social currents. Interestingly Christians are expected to mature in their walk with the Lord in a similar way. The transition from the selfishness of the flesh to the selfless love of Christ-likeness should make us also disconnected from the mainstream of the world.
When I was in the Army during the Viet Nam era thoughts of potential death were somewhat liberating. It was not uncommon for people to say, "What are they going to do, send me to Viet Nam?". Such a change in perspective saw lesser threats as insignificant. However, in this disconnection was also a perspective that lost reverence for "important" people, institutions, or social conventions.
The Christian who is able to gain a disconnection from the world is able to direct his attention more towards the Lord and chart a path free from worldly attachments toward the goal of Christ-likeness.
Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
