COME OUT OF THE BAG

 3998

Pt. 1

There is an unusual verse of scripture in the New Testament Book of Romans:

“O, wretched man that I am. Who will deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24)

But grant me permission to return to this verse, and its little-known meaning a little later.

A reservist friend of mine served in the Regular Army during the Vietnam War. He was and is a wonderful man. He emulates his own motto in every respect; “Know your stuff, (well that’s not exactly the word he used). Take care of your people. Be a Man.”

Staff Sergeant ‘Cliff Landon’ served in a very singular and generally unpleasant position. He was assigned as an intake supervisor with the Army Casualties Team. Cliff performed the initial processing which expedited shipment of our deceased soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines back to the United States.

He routinely unzipped body bag after body bag, orange deodorant spray in one hand, and a wooden baton in the other hand.

Oft times, military casualties lay on the field of their labor for days at a time. And “vermin” (to characterize it politely) would often hitch a ride in the body bags, having been scooped up with the deceased military man; (thus the need for the club).

As the months rolled by, one day was very much like another, and Sergeant Cliff became almost immune to the sights and smells of his gruesome profession. And so, it was until that one particular day…

Pt. 2

The hardened soldier bent to unzip another bag; among the dozens which covered the hanger floor. It was then he noticed a slight movement, and he raised the club above his head. Zip went the bag, and at that instant something happened which never occurred in all his months in this gruesome vocation.

 “Whew. It’s hot in here!”

 Well, my dear readers, I assure you Sergeant Morton almost “lost it.”

“We have a live one. We have a live one!!!” my friend screamed. From somewhere in the distance medics came running, and the “living corpse” was rushed to a nearby operating theatre.

And rather than keep you in suspense, I can tell you that young soldier was spared, and is alive and well today. Granted, he came away from the experience with only one arm, and one leg, but he will tell you how fortunate he is to still be among “the land of the living.”

A footnote to this story.

Sergeant Landon was, ultimately, released from active duty, and immediately registered at a local community college. It was the first day of the semester, and he reported to a Room 203, and sat down. First course. First semester. First year.

Suddenly, Cliff heard someone wheel in behind him, and turned to look.

To his amazement he recognized a very familiar face, and the body below it. A man with one arm and one leg. The smiling fellow managed to wheel himself up to our hero, and the reunion was nothing short of Outstanding.

Pt. 3

Interestingly enough, (at least to me) the earlier passage of scripture is eerily similar to the predicament of the poor soldier in the body bag.

Let me refresh it for you.

“O, wretched man that I am. Who will deliver me from the body of this death?”

I love the hidden implications of various passages of scripture; verses which we are prone to “run right by,” but which spoke volumes to believers of the first century church.

Allow me to characterize the meaning of this scripture.

During the time of Christ, the Roman government used a primary form of execution. Crucifixion. However, this wasn’t the only method by which a condemned criminal was put to death. (And after I summarize this secondary method, I think any one of us would have begged to be hung on a cross).

For you see, the foregoing scripture refers to is this particular method of ancient execution.

It seems that under this gruesome regimen, …a dead body was tied securely to a condemned prisoner. And under penalty of death, no man was permitted to remove it from him. And thus, this condemned criminal was forced to eat, drink and sleep with that awful burden on his back. And, (as you might easily imagine) as that terrible organic weight on his back putrefied, the prisoner grew progressively sicker, and, ultimately, died.

“Who, indeed, shall deliver me?”

Obviously, the Apostle Paul is using a powerful illusion of an actual practice here.

In the same way that any man would be required to pay the ultimate penalty for the slightest attempt to release the condemned criminal, this (and the following verse of scripture) serve as a witness that you and I were condemned to die a spiritual death, and suffer the eternal penalty, when Christ Jesus volunteered to wrest that dead body of sin from our back, and set us free; but as a result was forced to lay down His life in exchange for our own.

Pt. 4

I can tell you, I am struck with the similarities between the two stories, one ancient, and one current; which I have related here.

I have often shared the story of Sergeant Cliff and the unfortunate soldier in the body bag. This tale has had an impact on countless people over the years. Of course, it’s not enough to merely tell the story. It is imperative that my readers understand the spiritual interpretation I have assigned to the story.

Our poor “corpse” was shut off in that dark, airless bag. How long he lay there is still a mystery. Somehow, this singular soul existed in a coma-like state; devoid of human contact.

But suddenly, he found himself resurrected; not unlike Lazarus of old! And can there be any doubt that the good sergeant represents the figurative Christ figure who unzips the dark enclosure which confines the poor man, and cries out,

“Come out of the bag!”

I deal with the dregs of humanity, those who suffer from addictions to alcohol and substances, clients who exhibit various psychological maladies, as well as ‘normal folks’ who struggle with unforgiveness, hurtful memories, and failed relationships; those who are figuratively closed up in a body bag, enveloped by darkness, deprived of human affection, and deprived of oxygen.

 

Come out now! Don’t hesitate another moment. You don’t belong there. There are those among us who will help you find your way out of the bag! But you must cooperate. You must be willing. Only decay and airlessness reside therein. Rise out of that awful place. Come out of the bag!

by William McDonald, PhD