World News Through the Third Lens

WOMEN TO SERVE ON SUBS (Washington, staff and wire reports, 2/24/10): "The Pentagon has moved to lift a decades-old policy that prohibits women from serving aboard Navy submarines, part of a gradual reconsideration of women's roles in a military fighting two wars whose front lines can be anywhere. At issue is the end of a policy that kept women from serving aboard the last type of ship off-limits to them. The thinking was that the close quarters aboard subs would make coed service difficult to manage. Defense Secretary Robert Gates notified Congress in a letter signed Friday that the Navy plans to repeal the ban on women aboard subs. Congress has 30 days to weigh in."

The article went on to include comments from two local veteran submariners. Bob Hodge, a 24 year veteran said that he wasn't surprised and that "in terms of job skills, it's not a problem." He went on to say that the living conditions present an obstacle though. "There's no privacy on a sub, except for officers' quarters. When you're jumping out of bed at night for a battle stations drill or a fire drill in your underwear, there's no time for privacy." Jim Paulsen, a 20 year veteran said, "I think it's a bad idea. You're in very close quarters. I think discipline could break down."

A BIBLICAL (THIRD LENS) PERSPECTIVE: The Bible has nothing to say about submarines, but that's not the end of the issue. Some people have labeled the Bible as the manufacturer's handbook, referring to the fact that God created everything, including men and women, and the Bible is His revelation to us. In it He tells how things originally were, what went wrong, and then there is a long revealing of His plan to restore things. God tells us (mankind) what our problem is (sin) and how this affects everything. One of the things affected by sin is the whole gender/sex thing. From before the Revolutionary War, the military in this country seemed to understand certain biblical principles, whether or not chapter and verse were quoted.

The Bible records that before the entrance of sin, the relationship between the man and the woman was pure, heterosexual and monogamous (Genesis 2:24-25), and that of co-equal partners (Genesis 2:18). After the entrance of sin, the purity of their relationship was marred and their nakedness became a problem (Genesis 3:7, 10). In addition, contention, pain and sorrow were introduced into their relationship (Genesis 3:16).

Knowing the sinful nature of man, God, through Moses, instituted rules for living because the carnal desires of man were not a sufficient guide. The entire 18th chapter of Leviticus is devoted to standards concerning sexual relationships. The pagan nations into and through which God was about to lead the Israelites had a practice of erecting altars to their false gods that were elevated several feet, and had to be approached by steps. In those days people did not have jockey shorts, so the Lord gave these instructions concerning any altar built for Him. "...if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it. Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness not be exposed on it." (Exodus 20:25-26).

Somebody may be saying at this point, "That was all Old Testament law. We now live under grace and Jesus changed all that." The first thing I must point out at this point is the fact that Jesus made it clear that our (sin) problems went much deeper than outward adherence to some moral code; our (sin) problem was embedded in a sinful heart. His teachings, especially in Matthew 5-7 make it clear that the Law could not save us, and that He came to fulfill the Law. In the midst of this teaching He made it clear that we need a Savior. To stay on point, listen to what Jesus said with respect to "sex." "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:27-28).

I am not saying that every sailor in the submarine service is now going to be guilty of the sin of adultery, inwardly if not outwardly. I am saying that the Navy's latest plans are in defiance with the Manufacturer's Handbook, and as such, are a recipe for disaster. When this gets coupled with the planned repeal of the "Don't ask; Don't tell" policy, it gets even worse. I'm sure we'd agree that not every person who has served in the military has been a paragon of virtue, but at least officially, military and morality have gone hand in hand. This is now being destroyed from the foundation up. "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3) God help us.