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and'so'the'role'is'very'similar'to'that'of'most'of'our'church'members.'^Ž͕ Ă ŚĂƉůĂŝŶ͛Ɛ'role'can'be'seen'
as'ways'for'Gospel'ministers'personally'to'match'texts'such'as'Gal'6:10,'or'to'apply'WĂƵů͛Ɛ ĞŵƉŚĂƐĞƐ ŝŶ
Titus'chs'2T3'by'living'lives'which'exemplify'and'commend'the'Gospel.''Part'2'of'this'paper'supplies'
broader'Chaplaincy'Biblical'examples'and'principles,'but'the'broad'brush'strokes'are'as'follows:''

a. Creation'and'Fall.''God'made'a'very'good'creation'(Gen'1:31),'in'which'human'society'
and'enterprise'flourishes'ďǇ 'ŽĚ͛Ɛ ĐŽŵŵŽŶ ŐƌĂĐĞ (Gen'4:17T22),'albeit'tainted'by'human'sin'
(v23)'in'every'way.''The'defacing'of'creation'by'ŚƵŵĂŶ ƌĞďĞůůŝŽŶ ŚĂǀĞ ŶŽƚ ĞĨĨĂĐĞĚ 'ŽĚ͛Ɛ
sovereignty'over,'claim'to,'or'interest'in'this'world'(John'3:16).'So'a'Chaplain'ŝƐ 'ŽĚ͛Ɛ ǁŝƚŶĞƐƐ ƚŽ
'ŽĚ͛Ɛ'blessing,'rule'and'care.'

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b. Election.'''ŽĚ͛Ɛ ƐĂǀŝŶŐ and'common ''grace''is'focussed'in'and'channelled'through'a'
chosen'man'(Gen'12:2f'ʹ'Mt'12:18),'and'a'chosen'nation'(Ex'19:5f).'God'chooses'people'of'
grace'as'means'of'grace'to'those'outside'his'Kingdom.'Election'brings'distinction'to,'and'
frequently,'conflict'with'the'world'from'which'we'have'been'called.'Hence,'there'will'be'tension'
in'a'Chaplain͗ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŽŶĞ ŚĂŶĚ͕ ĂǁĂƌĞŶĞƐƐ ƚŚĂƚ 'ŽĚ͛Ɛ ďůĞƐƐŝŶŐƐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ĐŽŵĞ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ him'to'
individuals'and'to'the'institution'he'serves:'on'the'other'awareness'that'he'must'be'deeply'
diƐƚŝŶĐƚ ŝĨ ŚĞ ŝƐ ƚŽ ďƌŝŶŐ 'ŽĚ͛Ɛ Őrace'to'others.''Remembering'his'prime'loyalty'to'God'is'key'to'
ministering'within'that'tension.'The'Chaplain'is'called'by'God'to'ďƌŝŶŐ 'ŽĚ͛Ɛ ŐƌĂĐĞ͕ ĐŽŵŵŽŶ ĂŶĚ
saving,'to'those'he'serves'in'faithfulness'to'his'truth'and'righteousness.''

c. Atonement.''On'the'Cross'and'through'the'Resurrection,'Christ'became'our'substitute,'
making'atonement'for'sin'(2Co'5:21).'He'also'gave'example'(1'Pet'2:21),'secured'absolute'
victory'(1Co'15:54,'Col'2:15)'and'brought'in'the'New'Creation'(2Co'5:16f).'Chaplains'are'earthen'
vessels'containing'great'treasure,'living'examples'of'gracious'perseverance'in'the'New'Creation'
secured'by' ŚƌŝƐƚ͛Ɛ ƚŽŶĞŵĞŶƚ.'When'curiosity'is'aroused,'we'are'free'to'give'reason'for'all'this'
(1'Pet'3:15f),'and'offer'Christ'in'his'Gospel'as'the'Bread'of'Life,'in'the'expectation'that'
abundance'will'enter'the'lives'of'those'who'receive'Him'(John'6:35,'10:10).'This'Gospel'outcome'
is'the'prayer,'hope'and'aim'of'an'Evangelical'Chaplain,'but'this'does'not'invalidate'his'patient'
͚ĐŽŵŵŽŶ ŐƌĂĐĞ͛ work'mandated'by'the'other'considerations'noted:'Evangelical'Chaplains'
should'neither'despise'nor'abuse'the'opportunities'simply'to'do'good,'even'if'they'never'see'
conversion.'Chaplains'need'to'be'content'to'imitate'Christ'(Acts'10:38)'in'his...'

d. ...Incarnation.''God'Himself'entered'this'world'in'Christ.'As'his'elect'people'have'
maintained''ŽĚ͛Ɛ footprint'among'the'nations'for'thousands'of'years'previously'and'since,'so'in'
Christ,'God'personally'planted'His'feet'here.''Incarnation'ǁĂƐ ƉƌŝŵĂƌŝůǇ 'ŽĚ͛Ɛ ŵĞĂŶƐ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ
Christ'the'High'Priest'of'salvation:'but'even'His'Priestly'Office'extended'beyond'Calvary,'both'
forwards'and'backwards.'The'Incarnation'was'about'more'than'one'day:'Immanuel"ʹ"God"with"
us'was'fulfilled'in'His'physical'presence'here'for'33'years:'it'was'again'fulfilled'as'He'rose'into'

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
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'Does'the'Church'have'a'role'in'dispensing'Common'Grace?'Her'calling'is'to'minister'saving'grace'through'the'
'ŽƐƉĞů͕ ǇĞƚ ĂƐ ǁĞ ǁŽƌŬ ƚŚĂƚ 'ŽƐƉĞů ƉƌŝŽƌŝƚǇ͕ ǁĞ ƐŚĂůů ĐŽŵĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ŵĂŶǇ ǁŚŽ ŶĞĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞ 'ŽĚ͛Ɛ ŐŽŽĚŶĞƐƐ
which'should'offer'them'in'the'Name'of'the'Lord'.'Matt'14:14ff,'esp'v16,'Acts'3:6,'Gal'6:10.'

Gospel'Chaplaincy'in'a'Secular'Age'ʹ'page'3'of'9'ʹ'September'2011'

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