Just say people think they are all sincere when they say “Thank you for your service.” But of those sincere people, some will turn out to be traitorous and other true patriots:
- The ones who strive to follow the example of service given by those whom they are thanking get it and are true patriots.
- The ones who treat those whom they thank as Martians whose example is not to be taken because there is no analogy of service that can be made [not true] are the ones who don’t yet know that they already have an entitlement spirit (entitled not to serve but be served), a traitorous spirit; thinking they are entitled not to be incriminated by the service of others over against their own lack of service, they will mock the very ones whom they thought they were sincerely thanking not long before: “We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful” (-C.S. Lewis: Abolition of Man).
So, make the analogy with Jesus:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out! You serpents, you brood of vipers, how can you flee from the judgment of Gehenna? Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that there may come upon you all the righteous blood shed upon earth” (Mat 23:29-35 NAB)
If we build the tombs of the prophets it has to be done with the attitude of thanking the prophets for convicting us of our sin. If we thank service members for their service it must be done with the spirit of striving to follow the example of service that is given.
ARISE! LET US BE GOING! 