The Micah Mandate

While reading the book The Faith of the American Soldier by Stephen Mansfield, I came across this message given by President Theodore Roosevelt.

The teaching of the New Testament is foreshadowed in Micah's verse,

"He has shown you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires

of you: but to do justice and to love mercy, and walk humbly with

your God" (Micah 6:8)

Do justice; and therefore fight valiantly against those who stand for

the reign of Molech and Beelzebub on this earth.

Love mercy; treat your enemies well, suffer the afflicted, treat every

woman as though she were your sister, care for the little children,

rescue the perishing, and be tender with the old and helpless.

Walk humbly; you will do so if you study the life and teaching of the

Savior, walking in His steps.

Remember, the most perfect machinery of government will not keep

us as a nation if there is not within us a soul, no abounding of material

prosperity shall avail us if out spiritual sense is atrophied. The foes

of our own household will surely prevail against us unless there be in

our people an inner life which finds its outward expression in a morality

like unto that preached by the seers and the prophets of God when the

grandeur that was Greece and the glory that was Rome still lay in the future.

These words were given by a former president of the United States sending men to battle in the First World War. How much could we as Americans use these words today. So much of our society could use the advice to "Do Justice...Love mercy...and Walk humbly." How different a time we live in. 1917 the President of the United States freely quotes the Bible and tells his soldiers to abide by its teachings. 2010 that is unheard of. The President of the United States would be ridiculed and threatened if he took such a step with the troops. (As this author focuses on throughout the book.)

I don't know- I really like this quote. I like the message it shares- basically "The Golden Rule". Even though you may be soldiers in a war- fighting for your life- there are others that need you. Care for them- love them. You are fighting not just for your own freedom, but the freedom of others. Everyday we enter our own battles. Some are literally in a war zone- others are in a more emotional/spiritual war zone. Yet, if we could each take the advice of President Roosevelt and remember those in need around us, our selves would be better, and our society would be better.