December 31. Alvin York. Five years after York committed his life to Jesus, the United States invited York to World War I. On the draft notice, York scrawled, “don’t want to fight.” He thought the war was wrong, but cynics thought his conscience was convenient. That’s about where today’s story begins.
Afterward, York—who had had a total of 9 months of formal education in his life—went on to fight in the war. With 16 other soldiers, he engaged in a firefight with a much larger group of German soldiers, who had a machine gun. Heroically, York disabled the machine gun. Nine of the American soldiers lay dead, and their surviving team members took 132 prisoners. On this date in 1919, York was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
When he returned to the United States, people compared him to Davy Crocket and Abraham Lincoln, and movie-makers tried to woo him. Companies tried to get him to endorse their products. But York only wanted to go home to Tennessee and resume his quiet life. He had been Sunday school teacher and music leader, and now he wanted to find a way for the young people in his area to get education. Turns out—the cynics were wrong about Alvin York. Here’s how it happened.
The man who stands up for the Word of God honors the Creator of men.
York explained, “The Bible said, ‘Thou shalt not kill.’ That was so definite a child could understand it.” But when his nation called him to war in 1917, York faced the greatest dilemma of his life.
“There were two reasons why I didn’t want to go to war. My own experience told me that it weren’t right. And the Bible were agin it, too.” York had admittedly lived a hard life of sin and promised he would never return to that life. A battle raged within him as his conscience told him war was wrong, but his beloved ancestors had fought and killed for his country. He readily identified with the Apostle Paul’s struggle when he wrote, “but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members” (Romans 7:23 ESV).
York wanted to be both a good Christian and a good American. Deep in prayer and contemplation, he trekked through the mountains of his native Pall Mall, TN, and he spent hours reading his Bible. “I jes couldn’t make up mind that that the Bible were wrong. And I couldn’t make up my mind Uncle Sam were right. I was a soul in doubt.”
He wrote his local draft board seeking conscientious-objector status, but they refused. After numerous failed appeals, and in consultation with his pastor, York reported for duty.
During training, he continually informed his superiors of his objection to killing another person in any form. One of his commanders—Major Edward Buxton—also shared faith in Christ, and this pleased York greatly. They talked together about their beliefs and Bible passages. Buxton enlightened York with several verses on just causes for war, such as Jesus’ command to buy a sword.
“I believed the Lord was in that room,” York said.
And he left that room knowing Major Buxton would relieve him from frontline duty if that’s what York decided.
The Army issued York a pass home, and he spent more time in the Bible and praying in the mountains.
The Lord answered him on that mountain and met him in his burden. A peace came over York. And he returned for duty. In due time—for his heroic actions on the battlefield—York became one of the most decorated soldiers of World War I and a national hero.
God delivered York from his internal battle, so he could lead others to victory on a European battlefield.
“Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11 ESV).
Is there a struggle you can take to the Lord today? The man who stands up for the Word of God honors the Creator of men.
York, Alvin Cullum, et al. Sergeant York: His Own Life Story and War Diary. New York, NY: Racehorse Publishing, 2018.
Birdwell, Dr. Michael. “Sergeant Alvin York.” Legends and Traditions of the Great War. http://www.worldwar1. com/heritage/sgtayork.htm.
Story read by Blake Mattocks
Story written by Darren Sapp, darrenlsapp@gmail.com